Unit Questions: Imperialism in Africa

Why did European countries conquer Africa? How did European contact impact Africans?

Imperialism A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate

other countries politically, economically, and/or socially.

Imperialism

Case Study:

Africa

Early Man

Early Civilizations

West African Kingdoms

Songhai1400 -- 1600s C.E.

Mali1200 -- 1550s C.E.

Ghana300 -- 1200 C.E

Mali

Reasons for European Imperialism

Why did Europeans want to conquer Africa?

Economics

Economics

As the industrial revolution was gaining steam in Europe in the 19th century many European countries believed they need new markets for their products. They hoped and believed that by controlling Africa they could sell their products to them. They also wanted Africa as a source of raw materials. Europe’s factories were producing at a great rate, and they consumed great amounts of materials.

European Superiority

European Superiority

Europeans also believed in a particular European superiority. The manufacturing output created by the industrial revolution gave Europeans great advantages and lead many to believe in European superiority. Many asked why shouldn’t Europeans dominate the world?

Social Darwinism

Charles Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest.”

Applied to human societies and races. Europeans considered more evolve and

therefore better.

Nationalism

Nationalism

In some ways imperialism was little more that Nationalistic competition between European countries. In a way they believed that the more land and people they controlled the better they were.

Missionary Impulse

Missionary Impulse

Finally, as was the case of Latin America, many Europeans believed it was their responsibility to spread the word of Christianity, and Africa was another source of souls to be saved.

Mnemonic Activity

With a partner come up with a mnemonic device to remember what the Reasons for European Imperialism

Reasons for European Success

Why were Europeans able to conquer Africa?

Technological Advantages

Technological Advances

Along with the industrial revolution came great advancements in technology. Many of those technologies gave Europeans advantages over Africans. The maxim gun, steam ships, railroads

Cure for Malaria

Cure for Malaria

Once a cure for Malaria was discover, Europeans no longer had to fear disease which kept many away from Africa.

Exploitation of African Diversity

Exploitation of African Diversity

As we discussed, Africa is and was highly diverse. Europeans were able to use this diversity against them by playing one group against another and forming strategic alliances. It also made coordination between African groups difficult.

Mnemonic Activity

With a partner come up with a mnemonic device to remember what the Reasons for European Success in Africa

Europeans Carve Up Africa

Impact of Imperialism

Over the course of the 19th and early-twentieth century Europe took over and carved up almost every last inch of Africa. They did this will little attention paid to the needs, wants or desires of Africans themselves.

IndustrialRevolutionIndustrialRevolution

Source forRaw

Materials

Source forRaw

Materials

Markets forFinishedGoods

Markets forFinishedGoods

EuropeanNationalismEuropean

Nationalism

MissionaryActivity

MissionaryActivity

Military& NavalBases

Military& NavalBases

EuropeanMotives

For Colonization

EuropeanMotives

For Colonization

Places toDump

Unwanted/Excess Popul.

Places toDump

Unwanted/Excess Popul.

Soc. & Eco.Opportunities

Soc. & Eco.Opportunities

HumanitarianReasons

HumanitarianReasons

EuropeanRacism

EuropeanRacism

“WhiteMan’s

Burden”

“WhiteMan’s

Burden”

SocialDarwinism

SocialDarwinism

BERLIN CONFERENCE

Meeting at the Berlin residence of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1884, the foreign ministers of fourteen European powers and the United States established ground rules for the future exploitation of the "dark continent." Africans were not invited or made privy to their decisions.

The Horizon: History of Africa, Alvin Edt Josephy, American Heritage Publishing Co., New York, 1971, p. 452.

What was the Berlin Conference?

In November 1884, the imperial chancellor and architect of the German Empire, Otto von Bismarck, convened a conference of 14 states (including the United States) to settle the political partitioning of Africa. Bismarck wanted not only to expand German spheres of influence in Africa but also to play off Germany's colonial rivals against one another to the Germans' advantage. Of these fourteen nations, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal were the major players in the conference, controlling most of colonial Africa at the time.

Impact of Berlin Conference

The Berlin Conference was Africa's undoing in more ways than one. The colonial powers superimposed their domains on the African Continent. By the time Africa regained its independence after the late 1950s, the realm had acquired a legacy of political fragmentation that could neither be eliminated nor made to operate satisfactorily. The African politico-geographical map is thus a permanent liability that resulted from the three months of ignorant, greedy acquisitiveness during a period when Europe's search for minerals and markets had become insatiable.

Dividing up the Land

The French dominated most of West Africa, and the British East and Southern Africa. The Belgians acquired the vast territory that became The Congo. The Germans held four colonies, one in each of the realm's regions. The Portuguese held a small colony in West Africa and two large ones in Southern Africa.

After colonial rule was firmly established in Africa, the only change in possessions came after World War I. Germany's four colonies were placed under the League of Nations, which established a mandate system for other colonizers to administer the territories.

Africa- The cultural and ethnic diversity of the African people was disregarded by European imperialist nations

•European medicine & improved nutrition increased life span of Africans. This caused an increase in population.

Modern transportation & communications; telegraphs, railroads, steamships, and telephones

A small minority received improved education and economic opportunities.

Positives

NegativesEuropean domination led to an erosion of traditional African values and destroyed many existing social relationships

African peoples were treated a s inferior. Forced to work long hours for low pay.

Europeans divided up Africa ignoring tribal, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. These divisions have led to ongoing tribal clashes