Imperialism of AfricaImperialism of Africa

European Scramble for ColoniesEuropean Scramble for Colonies

Basic Principles of ImperialismBasic Principles of Imperialism• Imperialism?:Imperialism?:

• Stronger, more powerful country Stronger, more powerful country taking over less powerful countriestaking over less powerful countries

• Racism?:Racism?:• The negative attitude or actions towards The negative attitude or actions towards

people of other races based on the belief people of other races based on the belief that one’s own race is superiorthat one’s own race is superior

• Social Darwinism?:Social Darwinism?:• Belief that Europeans were “more Belief that Europeans were “more

fit” for survival because of their fit” for survival because of their development, and therefore development, and therefore justified in taking over less justified in taking over less developed countriesdeveloped countries

Cecil Rhodes, Cecil Rhodes, Confession of FaithConfession of Faith, , 18771877

“ “I contend that we [Britain] are the I contend that we [Britain] are the first race in the world, and the more first race in the world, and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race…It is our duty is for the human race…It is our duty to seize every opportunity of to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the Saxon race, more of the best, the most human, most honourable race most human, most honourable race the world possesses.”the world possesses.”

SOCIAL DARWINISMSOCIAL DARWINISM

IndustrialRevolution

Source forRaw

Materials

Markets forFinishedGoods

EuropeanNationalism

MissionaryActivity

Military& NavalBases

EuropeanMotives

For Colonization

Places toDump

Unwanted/Excess Popul.

Soc. & Eco.Opportunities

HumanitarianReasons

EuropeanRacism

“WhiteMan’s

Burden”

SocialDarwinism

Why the Scramble for Africa??Why the Scramble for Africa??• External Factors?:External Factors?:

• European countries were industrializing (better European countries were industrializing (better • Better means of travel to Africa & communication w/Africa Better means of travel to Africa & communication w/Africa

• Europeans developed vaccine for malaria (quinine)Europeans developed vaccine for malaria (quinine)• Europeans wanted natural resources to fuel Europeans wanted natural resources to fuel

industrialization and make more wealth!industrialization and make more wealth!• Competition among countries for $$$$$ & Competition among countries for $$$$$ &

Empire!Empire!• Europeans had better technology (guns)Europeans had better technology (guns)

for dominating countries for dominating countries

Why the Scramble for Africa?Why the Scramble for Africa?

• Internal Factors?: Internal Factors?: • Africa disunifiedAfrica disunified

• Many different ethnic and linguistic groupsMany different ethnic and linguistic groups• Slave trade within Africa Slave trade within Africa

• Europeans already involved in Africa due to Transatlantic Europeans already involved in Africa due to Transatlantic Slave TradeSlave Trade

• Africa had desirable resourcesAfrica had desirable resources• Closer to EuropeCloser to Europe

The Berlin Conference (1884-85)The Berlin Conference (1884-85)

• 14 European nations agreed how to 14 European nations agreed how to divide Africadivide Africa

• Problem?!Problem?!

• Outcomes: Outcomes: o Forced distribution of African ethnic & Forced distribution of African ethnic &

linguistic groupslinguistic groupso Transformation of African way of life Transformation of African way of life

2020thth Century Africa Century Africa

Colonial AfricaColonial Africa

European Explorations in mid-19c:“The Scramble for Africa”

The “White Man’s Burden”

Rudyard Kipling

Africain the1880s

Africain

1914

 

• 3 Groups that clashed over territory & 3 Groups that clashed over territory & resources in South Africaresources in South Africa

o ZulusZuluso Boers (Afrikaners) (Dutch)Boers (Afrikaners) (Dutch)o BritishBritish• Outcome of the Boer WarOutcome of the Boer Waro Creation of self-governing Union of South Creation of self-governing Union of South

Africa controlled by BritishAfrica controlled by British

Struggle for South Africa

What were 4 positive sides of What were 4 positive sides of colonialism? colonialism?

• Reduced local warfare (until Reduced local warfare (until decolonization)decolonization)

• Brought humanitarian effortsBrought humanitarian efforts• Economic expansionEconomic expansion• Railroads, dams, telegraph linesRailroads, dams, telegraph lines

What were 6 negative sides of What were 6 negative sides of colonialism in Africa? colonialism in Africa?

• Africans lost control of their land & their Africans lost control of their land & their independence independence

• Many died of new diseasesMany died of new diseases• FamineFamine• Lost thousands of people in resisting Lost thousands of people in resisting

EuropeansEuropeans• Breakdown of traditional culturesBreakdown of traditional cultures• Division of the African continent Division of the African continent