In previous years you learned about European exploration

and colonization.

Why did the Europeans explore and colonize?

GoldGodGlory

Today we are going to examine how European

colonization affected the continent of Africa.

How did European partitioning affect

Africa?

SS7H1a. Explain how the European partitioning across Africa contributed to conflict,

civil war, and artificial political boundaries.

What does the word Partitioning mean?

Divide or Separate

With an elbow

partner discuss the meaning of this image.

The picture illustrates

the European “Scramble for Africa”. Why was it

called a scramble?

Berlin Conference Activity

Resources for Berlin

Conference Activity

Actual Divisions made by European

countries

What were the problems of the European partitioning

of Africa?

Scramble for Africa

Map

Use your graphic organizer to record important information.

European Partitioning of Africa: Why and How?

OEuropean countries recognized the vast wealth of natural resources in Africa and began to “scramble” to colonize valuable areas

OIn 1884, fourteen European countries met to establish rules for trade and territorial claims in Africa. No Africans were present.

European Partitioning of Africa: Why and How?

OEuropeans divided Africa with the desire to profit from Africa’s riches, not for the benefit of any Africans.

OArtificial political boundaries were drawn with no respect for Africa’s internal boundaries or societies.

What is meant by artificial political boundary?

European countries just made up the borders of

each country.

Impact of European Partitioning

OEuropean division of Africa caused conflict and destroyed many African traditions.

OMany Europeans treated the Africans cruelly and tried to impose their way of life on them without considering African customs and beliefs.

Impact of European Partitioning

The European partitioning of Africa contributed to conflict, civil war, and

artificial political boundaries.

New African governments did not have experience governing

or solving conflicts so force became a way to solve

problems.

Once African countries gained independence, they had a hard

time establishing stable governments and keeping the

boundaries set by Europe.

Example of the Impact of European Partitioning

The Tutsi and Hutu had lived as neighbors before Belgian colonization, but artificial

boundaries merged them in to the country of Rwanda.

Once Rwanda gained its independence, civil war broke out between the Tutsi and Hutu. The

Hutu army killed between 500,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi.

Example of the Impact of European Partitioning

Belgium treated the people in the Congo violently and the people

gained their independence in 1960 to form the Republic of the Congo.

The new leaders did not have experience in government and

conflict started which continues today among some groups.

Example of the Impact of European Partitioning

Conflict over diamonds have caused brutal wars in Angola, the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Partitioning of Africa Video

[see reources]

Summarizer:

Describe the impact of European

partitioning of Africa.