Imperialism/ Colonialism in Africa

Imperialism

• A stronger nation conquering a weaker nation in order to control its resources.

• 1400s: The Portuguese begin exploring West Africa – New technology for longer

ocean voyages

• Purpose- looking for:– Gold– Direct route to India– Later: convert to Christianity

• Gain power in Africa

Avoiding Muslims in N. Africa

Slavery Increases Interest In Africa

• Practiced in many civilizations:– China, – Parts of Africa – Egypt, – Rome – Greece

• Europeans take slavery worldwide

• Justifications:– Nationalism

• Pride in one’s country usually demonstrated through military

– Feelings of racial and religious superiority

Discovery of the Americas

• Europeans needed to remove/ process natural resources from the New World

• How?– Trade goods (guns,

alcohol) for slaves to work fields for tobacco, sugar, etc.

Triangular Trade

• Europe to Africa– Guns, alcohol

• Africa to Americas– Slaves

• Americas to Europe– Sugar, rum, tobacco

Colonialism

• A stronger nation conquering a weaker nation, occupies it, and replaces its governments with its own representatives.

European Colonialism in Africa

• 1800s: Europeans begin to move into the interior of Africa

• Reasons for increased Colonialism:– Global Power

• Need to keep up with other nations

– Control Resources– Convert to Christianity

Partition of Africa (1895)• European nations clash in

“The Scramble For Africa”– Possible war

• Partition of Africa– 14 European nations meet

to divide Africa amongst themselves.

• Create most of the national borders which still exist

– 2 nations remain Independent

• Ethiopia: Repelled Italy• Liberia: Connections to the

US

End of Imperialism in Africa

Why did it end?

• The people of Africa:– Resented European

presence in their land– Resented the

inequities of colonialism

WWI/ WWII

• The wars:– Proved that

Europeans can be beaten

• Increased resistance in parts of Africa

– Drained European power and will to control colonies

1950’s & 1960’s

• Europe leaves many African nations to become independent

• By 1970s most African nations were free of the European powers and were independent nations

Challenges for the new nations

• Who is in charge?– Tribal/ ethnic rivalries

• What type of government?– Authoritarian?– Democracy?– Communism?

Legacy of Colonialism

1. Social and Cultural Disruption

• Europeans encouraged Africans to change their culture

Legacy of Colonialism

2. Underdeveloped Human Potential

Most Africans used as labor

No African leadership encouraged

Little wealth in African hands

Legacy of Colonialism

3. Weak Infrastructure & Exploited Resources– Europeans built

infrastructure:• Roads, hospitals,

bridges, etc– Built to increase profit

(not to benefit the people)

• Much of the continent left with little infrastructure

Legacy of Colonialism

4. Destroyed Trade Before Colonialism:

- most trade was within Africa

- External trade was with the Middle

East Colonialism destroyed those patterns & contacts

- Therefore, they were still dependent on Europe for trade

Legacy of Conquest

5. Colonial Boundaries 1885: Partition of Africa

- 14 European nations meet to divide

Africa- Ethnic groups

divided- rival ethnic

groups within same nation

- this encouraged war after independence

Legacy of Colonialism

6. Colonial Governments were a poor role model

Democracy discouraged

Power through violence

Corruption