The Scramble for Africa – The Scramble for Africa – Late 19Late 19thth Century Century

What did Africa have What did Africa have that others wanted and that others wanted and

would kill for?would kill for?

What did Africa have that What did Africa have that others wanted? others wanted?

Phase OnePhase One1. 1. Good ports along route to Good ports along route to India India and and spice trade.spice trade.2. 2. Defensive posts to keep Defensive posts to keep others others away from trade away from trade (monopoly)(monopoly)3. 3. Cape Town – good farm lands Cape Town – good farm lands to to grow crops to supply sailors.grow crops to supply sailors.4. 4. Market for European finished Market for European finished

goodsgoods5.5. SlavesSlaves

What did Africa have that What did Africa have that others wanted?others wanted?

Part Two – After Slave Part Two – After Slave Trade Ended (Early 19Trade Ended (Early 19thth century)century)

1.1. Land = greed & ego Land = greed & ego (Belgium Congo > Belgium).(Belgium Congo > Belgium).

2. 2. Slaves, Diamonds (DeBeers), Slaves, Diamonds (DeBeers), Gold, Gold, Salt, Minerals, etc.Salt, Minerals, etc. 3. 3. European rivalryEuropean rivalry 4. 4.

Scramble for AfricaScramble for AfricaEuropean ColoniesEuropean Colonies

Africa Political Boundaries Today

European Colonies

How did rubber change the How did rubber change the world? world?

The cost of Colonization on The cost of Colonization on Africa. Africa.

A look at the Belgium Congo.A look at the Belgium Congo.

King Leopold of BelgiumKing Leopold of BelgiumHe PERSONALLY owned The He PERSONALLY owned The

CongoCongo

BelgiumBelgium Congo Congo

Prisoners at work in the Belgium Congo Prisoners at work in the Belgium Congo 19121912

WWhich tribe do you think was the stronger one before hich tribe do you think was the stronger one before Belgium supplied the guns?Belgium supplied the guns?

How did Belgium impact tribal relations?How did Belgium impact tribal relations? What do you think will happen after Belgium pulls out?What do you think will happen after Belgium pulls out?

Belgium kept tight control of Belgium kept tight control of the bullets it supplied to the the bullets it supplied to the tribes. For every bullet fired tribes. For every bullet fired

a human hand had to be a human hand had to be brought back. In one year brought back. In one year alone more than 2 million alone more than 2 million

bullets were shipped to the bullets were shipped to the Congo. An estimated 8-10 Congo. An estimated 8-10 million people died as a million people died as a result of Belgium’s/King result of Belgium’s/King

Leopold’s policies.Leopold’s policies.

How do you think these How do you think these policies impacted tribal policies impacted tribal

relations?relations?

Rudyard Kipling in his poem Rudyard Kipling in his poem “White Man’s Burden” “White Man’s Burden” justified the European justified the European

colonies and their policies of colonies and their policies of total submission of the total submission of the

people in Africa.people in Africa.

How prepared (educated How prepared (educated and trained) were the and trained) were the

Africans for their Africans for their “independence” once it was “independence” once it was

finally obtained?finally obtained?

What kind of rulers had the What kind of rulers had the Europeans taught them to Europeans taught them to

be?be?

Initially King Leopold’s Belgium Congo was the world’s primary Initially King Leopold’s Belgium Congo was the world’s primary supplier of rubber, a crucial component of the Industrial supplier of rubber, a crucial component of the Industrial

Revolution. However, rubber trees were being planted in the US Revolution. However, rubber trees were being planted in the US controlled Philippines and elsewhere, and they would be ready to controlled Philippines and elsewhere, and they would be ready to

be harvested in approximately 20 years. Time was running out be harvested in approximately 20 years. Time was running out for Belgium’s domination of the rubber industry. for Belgium’s domination of the rubber industry.

A village in the Congo before being destroyed to make room for A village in the Congo before being destroyed to make room for more rubber trees.more rubber trees.

AfterAfter destruction destruction

Congo women being held captive Congo women being held captive to force their husbands to go into to force their husbands to go into

the rain forest to gather wild the rain forest to gather wild rubber.rubber.

Unloading Rubber – Congo Unloading Rubber – Congo 19001900

Analyze Analyze this picture. this picture.

What is What is happening happening and why?and why?

Why did Europeans feel they Why did Europeans feel they had the right to conquer the had the right to conquer the

Africans?Africans?

How were they able to defeat How were they able to defeat and conquer a continent of and conquer a continent of

millions?millions?

How were the Europeans able How were the Europeans able to maintain power?to maintain power?

The Racial The Racial Ladder: European Ladder: European

belief in the belief in the superiority of superiority of

whites whites

Remember: Remember: Rudyard Kipling’s Rudyard Kipling’s

White Man’s White Man’s Burden.Burden.

How Africa was being How Africa was being portrayed during Colonial portrayed during Colonial

PeriodPeriod

A European traveling in the A European traveling in the Belgium Congo 1912 – Belgium Congo 1912 – A White Man’s BurdenA White Man’s Burden

A postcard showing a tribal chief on his A postcard showing a tribal chief on his honeymoon French Congo 1902 honeymoon French Congo 1902

What is the message here?What is the message here?How is this portraying the African’s?How is this portraying the African’s?

Cecil Rhodes “We are the finest Cecil Rhodes “We are the finest race in the world and the more of race in the world and the more of the world we inhabit the better it the world we inhabit the better it

is for the human race.” 1877is for the human race.” 1877

European Colonies late 19European Colonies late 19thth Century right before & after Century right before & after

The Scramble for AfricaThe Scramble for Africa

American Cartoon 1900American Cartoon 1900What is the message?What is the message?

What is the What is the message message

here?here?

How were they able to How were they able to defeat and conquer a defeat and conquer a continent of millions?continent of millions?

Think PREMSThink PREMS

Soldiers of the Force Soldiers of the Force PubliquePublique

Congo - 1912Congo - 1912

Military Military Whatever happens, we have gotWhatever happens, we have gotThe Maxim gun, and they have notThe Maxim gun, and they have not

Maxim Machine Gun - 1883Maxim Machine Gun - 1883

Steam-powered Gunboats Steam-powered Gunboats travel up the Nile to rescue travel up the Nile to rescue

British forces - British forces - 18831883

Boer Wars 1898 - 1902Boer Wars 1898 - 1902

How would/could you keep How would/could you keep millions enslaved and millions enslaved and

“peaceful”?“peaceful”?

How would/could you keep How would/could you keep millions enslaved and millions enslaved and

“peaceful”? PREMS“peaceful”? PREMS

1. Divide and conquer1. Divide and conquer2. Put minority tribes into positions 2. Put minority tribes into positions

of of “power” (i.e. Yugoslavia, Rwanda)“power” (i.e. Yugoslavia, Rwanda)3. Restrict Education3. Restrict Education

4. European rules, judges, officers4. European rules, judges, officers5. European supplies5. European supplies