Scramble for Africa

1. Scramble for Africa

2. “New Imperialism” • European countries wanted to directly control African regions by creating “countries” governed by them for economic, political and cultural reasons.

3. Economic Interests • Discovery of the new world = cash crops = need for labor = slavery • Industrial Revolution = even stronger need for raw materials • Entrepreneurs were in control NOT governments (some governments blindly supported private citizens in their quest for profits)

4. Political Competition • Old rivalries rear their ugly heads = Great Britain vs. France • Nationalism= extreme pride in ones nation • Solution? • Berlin Conference (1884-1885) • All European nations agreed to notify each other when they claimed new territory. • No Africans were invited to this meeting, which split their continent into different countries with NO regard to tradition or tribal lines. • Map Activity

5. Cultural Motives • Social Darwinism- “certain nations or races are more fit than others.” • White Man’s Burden Reading • Some Europeans felt it their duty to bring “civilized” life to Africa through technology and religion. • But many still felt that even after becoming “civilized” Africans were below Europeans • “The White Man’s Burden” is a phrase normally associated with Europeans colonialism in Africa. In fact, however, Kipling wrote the poem in response to the annexation of the Philippines by the United States. How does this historical context change the meaning of the poem for you?

6. Heart of Darkness Words to know: • Enigmatic – “perplexing; mysterious” • Prodigious – “extraordinary in size” • Cannibals – people who eat other people • Portico- “a structure consisting of a roof supported by columns or piers, usually attached to a building as a porch” • Edifying- “to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge” • Chinua Achebe – Nigerian author of Things Fall Apart • Antithesis – “the direct opposite” • Recrudescence – “a new outbreak after a period of abatement or inactivity” • Evocation – “evoking or calling forth” • Antithetical – “being in direct and unequivocal opposition” • River Thames – River in the heart of London, England

7. Scientific Advances that helped European Imperialism in Africa: • Quinine- medication that fought off malaria • Automatic Machine Gun • Telegraph • Railroad • Steamship

8. Suez Canal • Opened for use in November of 1869, after 10 years of construction • Connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea • In 1882 Great Britain felt the Egyptian government was unstable so they claimed Egypt as a protectorate in order to ensure safe European use of the canal

9. Boer War • Boer’s were Dutch settlers that came to South Africa in the 1600’s. • Once gold was discovered in this region Great Britain tried to include Boer territory with their own. • War broke out between the Boars and British in 1899. • The British used concentration camps to beat down the Boar’s, killing over 20,000 women and children. • By 1902 the British created the self governing Union of South Africa under their control.

10. Belgian Congo • This territory was personally owned by the King of Belgium, King Leopold II. • A high demand for rubber led to the mistreatment and eventual death of millions of Congolese peoples. • By 1908, the inhumane treatment stopped when under international pressure the Belgian government took over the colony

11. Ethiopia • In 1889, King Menelik II modernized his country, which included buying guns • Italy invaded in 1895, over a treaty dispute. • Italy was met with great resistance and was defeated at the Battle of Adwa

12. African Resistance: The Zulu • In 1879 Britain invaded Zulu territory and were defeated • 6 months later the Zulu could no longer fight off the militarily advanced British power and were annexed.