Transcript Ch. 27.1 Imperialists Divide Africa

Ch. 27.1 The Scramble for Africa
Objective:
Summarize
the motives
of European
colonizers.
Imperialism
• In the 19th Century, Europeans competed for
world domination .
• Historians call this search for power and
strength imperialism:
- Stronger countries dominate weaker countries
politically, economically, and socially.
Forces Driving Imperialism
• Industrialization in
Europe fueled a need
for raw materials.
• Competing nations
needed new markets
for their products.
The Race for Colonies
• Europeans developed
a strong sense of pride
and competition.
• Building of empires
were seen as a
measure of greatness.
• No nation wanted to
be left out of the race!
Europeans were Racist
• The belief that one race is
superior to another is
called racism.
• Technology gave
Europeans the idea that
they were better than
other peoples.
Darwin’s Theory is Applied
• Racist attitudes were
driven by Social
Darwinism.
• Africans were seen as
lower on the scale of
development.
• Europeans saw this as
their right and duty to
bring progress to Africa.
Case Study: Africa
• Before imperialism
Africa had hundreds of
ethnic and linguistic
groups.
• African armies kept
Europeans out of most
areas.
• African rivers were
almost impossible to
navigate.
External Forces Helped
Europeans Enter Africa
• Europeans had superior
technology: The Maxim
Gun.
• They built railroads,
steamships and
communication lines.
• Discovery of quinine
protected Europeans
from malaria .
Internal Forces Also Helped
Europeans
• Africans were not unified
under one language or
culture.
• Wars were often fought
over land and resources .
• Euro’s learned to play
rivals against each other.
Adventurers Spark Interest in Africa
• Outsiders learned of
Africa from explorers,
missionaries.
• News reporters
searched for stories of
adventure.
Stanley and Livingstone
• In the 1860’s,
missionary David
Livingstone, traveled
to Africa searching for
the source of the Nile
River.
• Fearing he had died,
reporter Henry
Stanley was sent to
find him.
Stanley
Meeting at Lake Tanganyika
• Stanley’s finding of
Livingstone in 1871
made headlines
around the world.
• This would also have
grave consequences
for Africa.
“Dr. Livingstone, I Presume ?”
Stanley Returns to Africa
• Stanley signed treaties
with local chiefs of
Congo River Valley.
• These “treaties” gave
personal control of
Congo lands to the
king of Belgium.
King Leopold II
Misery for Africans of the Congo
• Leopold claimed his
motive was to abolish the
African slave trade.
• He licensed companies to
run his possessions.
– These companies
brutalized Africans
physically and
emotionally.
Abuses of Africans
• People were forced to
collect rubber sap at
the expense of
growing food.
• People were tortured
if quotas were not
met .
The World Demands Change
• Leopold turned
control of Congo over
to the Belgian gov’t in
1908.
• The “Belgian Congo”
was 80 times larger
than Belgium !
Europeans React
• Europeans watched with
interest and fear.
• How would this affect
the balance of power in
Europe ?
• The nations of Europe
began to claim parts of
Africa.
The Scramble for Africa
• European nations met
to avoid war over land
in Africa.
• The Berlin Conference
of 1884-85 laid down
rules for dividing up
Africa.
Claiming Land was Simple
• Any nation could claim
land if they notified
others and showed they
could control an area.
• Land was divided
without concern for
splitting or combining
different groups of
people.
Cash Crops over Food Crops
• Main crops included
peanuts, palm oil,
cocoa and rubber.
• Mining of gold and
diamonds made great
riches for colonies in
South Africa.
3 Groups Clash over S. Africa
• African groups fought for
control of S. Africa for
many years.
• In 1816, Shaka, the
chief of the Zulu created
a large state using well
trained warriors.
• Britain would conquer
and take Zulu lands.
Boers and British
• Dutch settlers called
“Boers” settled in the
Cape of Good Hope.
– They took over African
land and began large
farms.
Boers and Africans Clashed over Land
• The British took over in
the 1800’s - the Dutch
began the “Great Trek”
The Boer War
• Discovery of gold and
diamonds brought more
people to Africa .
• The Boers blamed the British
for inciting a rebellion .
• Soon, British and the Dutch
began a “total war.”
– The British soon
controlled S. Africa
Impact of Colonial Rule
• Lives of Africans were
changed forever.
• Some positives came to
Africa.
• Most effects of
colonization were
negative.
Negative Effects of Colonization
• Africans lost control of
their lands.
. Many people lost to
resisting invaders and
their diseases.
.
Traditional cultures
were broken down.
Negative Effects Continue
. Colonial boundaries
had no regard for
peoples they divided
or placed together.
. When given freedom,
Europeans left African
colonies in a poor
state.
Before
After