The Berlin Conference

1. The Berlin Conference The Who, What, When, Where and Why

2. Who Portugal saw a need to avoid conflict over the colonization of Africa. Because of this need representatives from Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Sweden , Norway, the Ottoman Empire and the U.S. were invited to work out a policy concerning African colonization. The U.S. did not actually participate.

3. What • The conference of European powers set out to regulate colonization and trade in Africa. They divided up the continent without accounting for ethnicand cultural variations among the native people, which lead to struggles when colonization ended. Many of the struggles continue today.

4. When • The Berlin Conference began in November 1884 and lasted until February 1885. But the negotiation for territory continued until 1914.

5. Where? • The conference opened in Berlin by Otto von Bismark, a German Imperial Chancellor.

6. Why? • Europeans were competing for the resources that Africa provided but natural and human. • European nations were in an era of Imperalism which meant that each felt superior to the other based on • Religious beliefs • Nationalism • Racism