Transcript Imperialism - Churchville-Chili Central School District

Imperialism
Africa
The Scramble for Africa
The Scramble for Africa
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The focus of most of
Europe’s imperialist
activities in the 19th
century was Africa.
The demand for raw
materials, markets, and
the prestige of having
colonies drove
imperialist Europe to
Africa.
External Reasons for Imperialism
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After the 1880’s Europeans had technological
superiority due to the Industrial Revolution
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Europeans fought with machine guns/Africans had spears
and bows.
Better maps
Easier travel with the steam ship and railroads. Made travel
on water or land faster and allowed for close contract with
colonies.
Medical treatment of malaria with the drug quinine.
Internal Reasons for Imperialism
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African nations lacked unity
No common language
 Lack of common culture
 Wars between different groups
 Lack of technology
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The Scramble for Africa
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King Leopold of
Belgium
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In the 1870’s Leopold
establishes a trade in the
Congo River basin.
Leopold forced Africans
to work on rubber
plantations
Harsh taxation and forced
labor leads the world to
call for humanitarian
changes in the Congo.
The Berlin Conference
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Rules for the
Colonization of Africa
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In 1884 European powers
trying to colonize Africa
were coming into conflict.
To avoid further conflict
14 European powers set
up rules for colonizing
Africa.
No members of the
African community were
present.
The Berlin Conference
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The agreement between the European powers
specified
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European powers could acquire colonies in the
following methods.
 Through
occupation.
 Notifying other European states of the occupation and
claim.
 Showing that the European power could control the area.
The Berlin Conference
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Results of the Conference
In 1850 most of Africa had been free.
 By 1914 only Liberia and Ethiopia were free of
European control.
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Result of Colonization
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Europeans did not find a new market for goods
in Africa
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Africans had little currency to buy goods.
Instead Europeans found that Africa had a great
deal of wealth and raw materials to supply the
European nations
Result of Colonization
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Raw Materials
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Europeans developed
cash-crop plantations
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Peanuts
Palm oil
Cocoa
Rubber
These plantations
displaced food crops
Africans needed to feed
their families.
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Wealth
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Africa contain rich
mineral resources
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The Belgian Congo
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Tin
Copper
South Africa
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Gold
Diamonds
The British In Africa
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Britain was the most
active and successful in
colonization of Africa.
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Nigeria
South Africa
East Africa
Egypt
Sudan
British Problems in Africa
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South Africa
Prior to British colonization of South Africa Dutch
farmers called Boers settled in South Africa.
 In the early 1800’s Britain acquired South Africa
from the Dutch.
 The Boers hated the British and clashed with the
British over policies of land ownership and slavery.
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British Problems in Africa
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The Boers clashed with the
British in the Boer War.
The war pitted European
nation against European
nation.
The war was known as a total
war and both guerrilla
warfare and commando
tactics were used.
British Problems in Africa
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The Zulus were strong
African nation who
clashed with the British.
Superior British
technology and weapons
defeated the Zulu.
This was a common
result for those who
resisted European
Imperialism.
Impact of Imperialism in Africa
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Positives
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Reduced local warfare
Brought hospitals and schools
to Africa.
Increased life spans and
literacy rates.
Gained railroads, dams, and
telephone lines
Africa products were valued on
the international market.
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Negatives
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Africans lost their land
Lost of independence
Large amounts of the African
population died of European
diseases.
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Smallpox
Loss of traditional culture
Division of African nations by
European boundaries
Forced labor