Transcript Document

Impact of Imperialism in Africa
Major Ideas:
•European powers conquered
Africa with no regard for traditional
boundaries, cultures or desires of
native peoples
•Paternalism and lack of respect for
Africa’s people was the predominate style of rule—the British
best prepared “their natives” for
eventual independence, while
France, Germany, and Belgium did
worse.
Great Scramble for Africa—1880s
From 1600 on there was some
European contact on coasts of Africa
(esp in South African on trade routes
to Asia & West African slave routes)
It was closest continent to Europe, but
last to be fully invaded because:
•Geography & Climate—few easily
navigable rivers; Sahara Desert in
North; tropical diseases
•Powerful Rulers—good tribal
organization kept Europeans from
parts of interior
•Eur focused on other regions—Asia,
the Americas since 1500s
In 1880s imperialism began
because:
•Valuable Resources were
discovered
•New tech gave Europeans
the ability to conquer (esp.
steam engine for ships, new
weapons)
•European nations fiercely
competed for African territory
(fought wars with each other,
but realized there was a “more
civilized” way to sort out who
got African land)
Led
to:Conference (1884—85)
Berlin
•European nations divided up
Africa among them
•No African rulers involved
•No regard for traditional
boundaries or groups which
led to major problems in
the future
Styles of Colonial Rule in Africa
•Varied by nation, but all were paternalistic (European “father” to
African “children” —very arrogant and condescending)
•All thought that European culture was superior on all levels
•(Their belief in Social Darwinism was unquestioning.)
•Most European people who went to Africa were
--mid-to lower class, adventurous—looking to make money
--members of military— many resented being far away
--missionaries—looking to convert people to Christianity
Great Britain:
•Most diverse and most valuable
territory—required an organized system
of indirect rule.
•GB gov’t officials oversaw native people
in gov’t posts (especially in rural areas)
•Worked with traditional rulers, but if
uncooperative, created “new” rulers
which angered people
•natives were treated as second-class
people in their own homelands —
massacred by Brit. military if protested
•provided some benefits—inc. education
(usually at Christian missions) mil &
gov’t job training & infrastructure
•Overall, GB treated African peoples best
(but that isn’t saying much!)
France:
•2nd largest amount of land, not all valuable
•Dealt w/ more organized groups—based on
Muslim faith which made it difficult to rule
•Did not entrust natives to help rule, instead
used more of a direct rule, very repressive style
•Forced native people to adopt French
language, culture etc — led to major
resentment & rebellions
•French did v. little to improve the lives of
native people except for roads etc.
Belgium:
•Region in Central Africa last conquered
because the Congo River was not navigable &
region had dense jungle. Many slave traders
operated in the area though (brought slaves to
European ships)
•1870’s—King Leopold II of Belgium wanted
a colony (crazy & jealous of other imperialist
powers—wanted same prestige as Great
Powers)
•New technology helped explorers (led by
Livingstone & Stanley) claim Congo River
basin for Leopold (who paid them a lot)
•Congo became Leo.’s personal colony
(didn’t belong to Belgium, but to him)
•Leo. said his purpose was “help” the people of
the Congo (convert them to Christianity,
educate them, “take care of them”—Whiteman’s
Burden)
•Real purpose was to take resources (obviously)
•1880’s rubber was very valuable
•People in Congo used as slave
labor to harvest rubber although
slavery had been banned (Leo
became even more rich)
•VERY HARSH & CRUEL
TREATMENT—people in the
Congo were kidnapped, mutilated
and worse
•Cruelty in Congo became
publicized & some in Europe &
US protested (1st time whites
spoke up in large numbers to
protest treatment of Africans)
•1908—Leo was forced to give up
control of his “personal” colony to
Belgium which kept Congo until
1960
Legacy of Imp in Africa
•1950s—70s—European colonizers realized
that holding on to African colonies was no
longer worth the trouble because:
--many in Africa wanted independence
--world opinion was against imperialism
--too much $ to rule there (especially
because of losses suffered in WWII)
--resources could still be had through
Europe companies operating in Africa
•Great Britain granted independence 1st (to
Gold Coast, which changed to Ghana) and
others soon followed.
•MAJOR issues followed because European
powers had not prepared Africa for
independence in a 20th c. world.
•Strongest (not best) people took power—usually
military, which led to corruption & theft of resources
(although Africans themselves should take blame too)
•Traditional ethnic conflicts (exaggerated by
Europeans) broke out into civil wars (some lasting
decades)
• Breakdown of traditional tribal structures & poverty
led to many social issues (some fault of Europeans)
•War, corruption & poverty led to destruction of
infrastructure and spread of disease (esp. AIDS)