Transcript Chapter 11 Section 2 Imperialism

Chapter 11 Section 2
Imperialism
Objective: Analyze Britain’s
rule of Nigeria & contrast it
with other types of
imperialism
Vocabulary: Paternalism,
Assimilation, & Menelik II
Setting the Stage
• Europeans argued &
fought amongst
themselves over the lands
of Africa
• They paid little or no
attention to historical
political divisions or to the
many ethnic & language
groupings in Africa
• In the minds of most
Europeans was the
ability to control
Africa’s land, its
people, & its resources
A New Period of Imperialism
• Europeans demanded more
influence over the economic,
political, & social lives of the
people
• Each European nation had
certain policies & goals for
establishing colonies
• 4 forms of colonial control
emerged (colony, protectorate,
sphere of influence, &
economic imperialism)
• Two basic methods of
management emerged
(indirect & direct)
Indirect Control
• Indirect control relied on
existing political rulers
• British would have local
rulers handle most of
the daily management of
the colony
• The assumption was the
legislative councils set up
would train local leaders
would be able to govern
themselves
Direct Control
• Other European powers viewed the
Africans as unable to handle the
complex business of running a country
• Paternalism: a policy of treating
subject people as if they were
children, providing for their needs
but not giving them rights
• Assimilation: a policy in which a
nation forces or encourages a
subject people to adopt its
institutions & customs
• All local schools, courts, & businesses
were patterned after French institutions
• However, they still recognized African
institutions as inferior to French culture
A British Colony
• Britain gained control of
southern Nigeria through both
diplomatic & military means
• Some local rulers agreed to treaties
while other rebelled against foreign
rule
• British conquest of northern Nigeria
was through their control of the palm
oil trade along the Niger River
• Nigeria was one of the most
culturally diverse areas in
Africa
• In 1914, the British claimed the
entire region as a colony
African Resistance
• Africans across the continent
resisted European attempts to
colonize their lands
• However, the contest between
African states & European
powers was never equal because
of Europeans’ superior arms
• The unsuccessful resistance
attempts included active
military & resistance
through religious
movements
Ethiopia: A Successful Resistance
• Ethiopia was the only African
nation that successfully
resisted the Europeans
• Menelik II played the Italians,
French, & British against each
other
• Ethiopia obtained weapons from
Russia & France
• When Italy betrayed Menelik, he
declared war
• Ethiopia successfully defeated
the Italians & kept their nation
independent
Negative Effects
• On the negative side of
imperialism, Africans lost
control of their land & their
independence
• Africans also suffered from a
breakdown of their traditional
cultures
• The most harmful political
legacy from colonial rule was
the division of the African
continent
• These boundaries continue to
create problems for the nations
that evolved from the former
colonies
Positive Effects
• On the positive side,
colonialism reduced local
warfare
• Humanitarian efforts improved
sanitation & provided hospitals
& schools
• Life-spans increased & literacy
rates improved
• To aid economic growth,
railroads, dams, &
telephone lines were built
in African colonies