Post on 26-Dec-2015
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