Imperialism in Africa

Define imperialism / colonialism on handout, then do map questions +

think about it question.

Imperialism / Colonialism

• When a stronger country extends its rule over another territory

• Colony- a territory under control of another nation

• Empire- a country (referred to as “mother country”) and all its possessions

Map answers – not taken over

• Liberia- U.S. persuaded Europeans not to take it over. It was founded in the 1800s for freed former slaves who did not wish to live in America any longer.

• Ethiopia*- large population of Christians there, so was not taken over

* Italy did occupy it for a time leading up to WWII

Map answers – main colonial powers

• British – primarily in eastern and southern Africa

• French – primarily in western and central Africa

Map answers – other colonial powers

• Germany - had its colonies taken away after WWI in the Treaty of Versailles – most went to Britain

• Portugal

• Belgium

• Italy

• Spain

Overcoming natural barriers

• Quinine - medicine to prevent malaria, helped make colonization possible since tropical disease was a huge natural barrier

• The Scramble - before the Berlin Conference, when the various European countries were racing for land in Africa

• Complete Berlin Conference section of packet.

Impact of Berlin Conference

• Sometimes ethnic groups were split up when Europe divided Africa.

• Sometimes different ethnic groups were made a part of the same colony.

Reasons for colonization-

• Spread Christianity to Africa (missionaries)

• Modernize and “civilize” the people

• Gain land and power

• Abundance of resources

Racist attitudes of the time-

• Social Darwinism- Survival of the fittest concept applied to people. Led to the belief that the Europeans were a superior race.

• The White Man’s Burden-the name of a poem from the time, came to represent the idea that it was the job of whites, since they were superior, to conquer other lands so the people there can be civilized.

Africa with no borders

Map 1 notes

• Countries as we know them did not exist until recently

• Different African ethnic groups had their own boundaries in place – Europeans unaware or not concerned with these

Africa after Berlin Conference

Map 2 notes

• Lines drawn by Europeans as they divided up who would rule which parts of Africa

Africa Today

• Where did these lines come from?

Map 3 notes

• Many colonial boundaries were used when countries were formed

• This has caused plenty of problems for the new countries