2015 Ms. Barben’s Examples of a One Sliders on Western Imperialism in

AfricaTwo Different Approaches to the One Slider

Assessment

Cecil Rhodes Example

Thesis Rationale• Thesis: The career of the British entrepreneur, Cecil Rhodes, clearly illustrates

the Western views on their right to conquer and exploit the world during the Age of Imperialism.• Throughout the study of Western Imperialism in Africa, South Asia, and East

Asia, under the guise of scientific discovery and learning and religious and humanitarian values, the West was truly motivated by greed, power, and racism.• This is seen in the six main reasons for the New Imperialism of the 19th century:

exploration and adventure, Industrial Revolution and new technology, economic demands for raw materials, new markets, and investments, political agendas based on militarism and nationalism, racists views based on Social Darwinism, and lastly their missionary and humanitarian actions.• Classic examples of this are Cecil Rhodes and King Leopold.

Cecil Rhodes was a famous British imperialist: “We must find new lands from which we can easily obtain raw materials and at the same time exploit the cheap slave labor that is available from the natives of the colonies. The colonies would also provide a dumping ground for the surplus goods produced in our factories.”

Cecil Rhodes “I think what [God] would like me to do is paint as much of Africa British Red as possible.”

Cecil Rhodes: “We happen to be the best people in the world, with the highest ideals of decency and justice and liberty and peace, and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for humanity.”

Thesis: The career of the British entrepreneur, Cecil Rhodes, clearly illustrates the Western views on their right to conquer and exploit the world during the Age of Imperialism.

Key• The political cartoon in the far right corner represents the years between 1870

and 1914 were the height of the Age of Imperialism. The major players were France, Great Britain, U.S. Japan, Germany, and Belgium.• The Cecil Rhodes quote in red underneath represents the political competition

between European powers. Imperialism in Africa reflected struggles for power in Europe, such as long-term rivalry between France, Britain France expanded control over West, Central Africa; Britain began to expand colonial empire to block French• The political cartoon under the red quote represents the economic motives.

Many saw emigration as a chance to strike it rich or make a name for themselves Cecil Rhodes, a British adventurer, made a fortune from gold and diamond mining in Southern Africa. Rhodes went on to found a colony that bore his name: Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). He went to South Africa in 1871 and by 1889 he controlled 90% of the world’s diamond production. He also gained a healthy stake in the gold market. And he served as prime minister of the British Cape Colony from 1890-1896 and saw the Cape Colony as a base of operations for the extension of British control to all of Africa.

Key• The Cecil Rhodes quote in green also represents the economic motivations for the Age of

Imperialism. Before early 1800s, several European nations profited from slave trade in Africa. After some nations passed laws abolishing slave trade, Europeans looked to Africa as source for raw materials. Materials like coal, metals needed to manufacture goods during Industrial Revolution . These needs fueled Europeans’ desire for land with natural resources—available in Africa. To gather and export natural resources, European entrepreneurs developed own mines, plantations, trade routes. Entrepreneurs sometimes called on home countries to protect economic interests from European competitors. In this way, the drive for colonization came from ambitious individuals, not just European governments.

• The Cecil Rhodes quote in blue represents the supposed religious and humanitarian reasons for the Age of Imperialism. The missionaries believed that Christianity and Western civilization together would benefit and transform the world. They believed that, in order to become “civilized”, the people of Africa and Asia would have to reject their old religions and convert to Christianity. They believed Europeans had a moral responsibility to civilize primitive people. To some this meant bringing the Christian message to the heathen masses. To others this meant bringing the benefits of Western democracy and capitalism to these societies. Many religious groups both Protestant and Catholic went to the colonies to try to bring religion to the “heathen” people. Many doctors came as well, and school teachers… people who wanted to bring health care and education to the colonies.

Key

• The heading from the Pear’s Soap White Man’s Burden advertisement represents the racist and Social Darwinist ideas behind the Age of Imperialism. European imperialists felt superior to non-European peoples. Some began to argue humanity divided into distinct peoples, races. They claimed biological differences existed between races. Their racist view—people of European descent superior to people of African, Asian descent. As result, some Europeans believed rule in Africa justified by teaching Africans good government. Some imperialists believed actions noble, their duty to educate those considered inferior. They referred to their influence in Africa as “the white man’s burden,” after poem by Rudyard Kipling. Social Darwinism interpreted Darwin’s evolutionary theory in terms of powerful nations in that “only the strong survive”. Powerful nations able to develop areas and resources being “wasted” by native peoples

Key• The illustration from the textbook represents the Social Darwinism notion that certain nations,

races were more fit than others. Social Darwinists believed “fit” nations came to rule over “less fit” nations, often showed discrimination against citizens of ruled nations. Social Darwinism advocate Cecil Rhodes, “I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better…” He believed British-built railway would bring benefits of civilization to all Africans. Social Darwinism was accepted by most white westerners. Popular non-fiction included the works of Walter Baghot, Benjamin Kidd and Charles Dike. Popular fiction writers, like Rudyard Kipling echoed their views. Tabloid newspapers upheld these notions.

• The Cecil Rhodes political cartoon represents political motivations of nationalism. He was Prime Minister of Cape Colony (1890-1896). He wanted British control over South Africa. He wanted Cape-to-Cairo Railroad. He was the architect of British imperialism in southern Africa. And due to his influence, Great Britain became the leading colonial power in southern Africa.

• The historical map of the European colonies in Africa represents how the economic, political, and social philosophies of Europe were spread around the world. The effects of 19th century imperialism still affect the world today in developed vs. developing countries (U.S. vs. Ethiopia), , modern day borders (Uganda/Tanzania border), and ethnic Conflicts (Rwanda Genocide).

Another Example on King Leopold II

Observations• Thesis: The exploitation of the Congo by King Leopold II clearly

disproves any “noble” motivations for Western imperialism in Africa.• Please note that in the following King Leopold Example, there are five

visual primary sources and six written primary sources. There are more written primary sources in this example. •When you are approaching this with your partners, you must meet the

minimum criteria.• But think critically about what primary sources you choose...sometimes

a visual is the more powerful option, sometimes it is the written quote.• Turn to your partner and examine my choices...what information would

I include in my key and why.

Thesis Rationale• Thesis: The exploitation of the Congo by King Leopold II clearly disproves any

“noble” motivations for Western imperialism in Africa.• Believed Europeans had a moral responsibility to civilize primitive people as seen

in the phrase “the white man’s burden”• To some this meant bringing the Christian message to the heathen masses• To others this meant bringing the benefits of Western democracy and capitalism

to these societies• The missionaries believed that Christianity and Western civilization together

would benefit and transform the world• They believed that, in order to become “civilized”, the people of Africa and Asia

would have to reject their old religions and convert to Christianity

Thesis Rationale• European imperialists felt superior to non-European peoples• Some began to argue humanity divided into distinct peoples,

races• Claimed biological differences existed between races• Racist view—people of European descent superior to people of

African, Asian descent• Western (White Europeans)

• Inventive• Scientific• Rational• Self-Controlled• Democratic• Civilized• Economically Progressive• Moral Christian • Independent• Eastern (Non-whites, Non-European)• Ignorant• Irrational• Superstitious • Lazy• Childlike• Savage• Dependent

• As result, some Europeans believed rule in Africa justified

• Teaching Africans good government

• Some imperialists believed actions noble, their duty to educate those considered inferior

• Referred to their influence in Africa as “the white man’s burden,” after poem by Rudyard Kipling

• Social Darwinism: Interpreted Darwin’s evolutionary theory in terms of powerful nations, “Only the strong survive”

• Powerful nations able to develop areas and resources being “wasted” by native peoples

• Joseph Gobineau (1816-1882)• Claimed that race is the most important “index of human potential.”

• Africans: intelligent and lazy• Asians: smart but docile • The Native Americas: dull and arrogant• EUROPEANS: INTELLIGENT, NOBLE and MORALLY SUPERIOR TO

OTHERS.

King Leopold on Competition Primary Source“I don’t want to miss the chance of getting us a slice of this magnificent African cake.”

Here Nkwabali took up the tale from Moyo, the Bangongo chief: ‘We said to the white men, We are not enough people now to do what you want us. Our country has not many people in it and we are dying fast. We are killed by the work you make us do, but the stoppage of our plantations, and the breaking up of our homes.’”

King Leopold: “To open civilization the only part of our globe where it has not penetrated, to pierce the darkness which envelops whole populations, is a crusade, if I may say so, a crusade worthy of this century of progress.”

Edmund Morel, upon the discovery of King Leopold II’s system of forced labor and genocide in the Congo wrote: “It must be bad enough to stumble upon a murder. I have stumbled upon a secret society of murderers with a King for a crony.”

Chiefs of Ngombi & Mafela, in return for "one piece of cloth per month to each of the undersigned chiefs, besides present of cloth in hand," they promised to "freely of their own accord, for themselves and their heirs and successors for ever...give up to the said Association the sovereignty and all sovereign and governing rights to all their territories...and to assist by labour or otherwise, any works, improvements or expeditions which the said Association shall cause at any time to be carried out in any part of these territories....All roads and waterways running through this country, the right of collecting tolls on the same, and all game, fishing, mining and forest rights, are to be the absolute property of the said Association.”--Treaty handing over land to Leopold II

Thesis: The exploitation of the Congo by King Leopold II clearly disproves any “noble” motivations for Western imperialism in Africa.

Congo Free State

Leopold pledged to uphold Berlin Conference--Suppress East African slave trade, Promote humanitarian policies, Guarantee free trade within the colony, Impose no import duties for 20 yrs., Encourage philanthropic and scientific enterprises

Key• The following documents address the motives of King Leopold in the Congo and relate the historical information

below: Henry Stanley Quote, King Leopold Cake Quote, Cake Political Cartoon, and Treaty Quotes• The Congo Free State was the personal domain of King Leopold II of Belgium• His rule is known as the most brutal of all colonial rulers• He gave Belgian businesses free access to the Congo, who administered the colony and exploited the mineral and

human resources• The treatment of the Africans was so hard that when the Belgian government took control of the territory in 1908, it

became known as the Belgian Congo• However, the Belgian businesses still ruled the colony• In 1872, Henry Stanley, an American journalist, ventured into the central region of Africa, known as the Congo, and

located a “lost” British explorer named David Livingstone. • The news of Stanley’s successful venture became a sensation in Europe, and the King of Belgium, Leopold II, became

instantly interested in the territory known as, “The Congo”.• In particular, Leopold was drawn to Stanley’s reports of rubber trees, ivory-tusked elephants, and gold-wearing

natives.• Leopold sent the famous explorer of Africa, Henry Morton Stanley, to negotiate treaties with the natives.• Native chiefs were offered trinkets or cloth if they would place an X on a document in foreign tongue.• Stanley began to sign treaties with over 450 native chiefs from the Congo• As a result, Leopold gained rule of these lands given up by the chiefs

Key

• The following documents address the motives of King Leopold in the Congo and the manipulative campaign he used to get the Congo and relate the historical information below: Congo Free State, King Leopold Civilization Quote, and King Leopold’s Pledge at Berlin Conference.• Leopold waged a skillful public relations campaign to promote his “Congo Free State”

as an effort to stop the Arabs from running a slave trade in Africa. This, of course, was a ruse. • Leopold promised the European nations at the conference that he would build a nation

of free Congo states, like the United States, and end the slave trade• He claimed that, “millions of men still plunged in barbarism will be at the dawn of a

better era.”• But he really wanted the Congo’s natural resources: copper, rubber and ivory.• In 1885, after the Berlin Conference, Leopold was given personal rule over the newly

declared Congo Free State• Leopold had what he wanted because other European powers recognized his hold over

Congo

Key• The following documents address the horrible treatment of the Congolese by King Leopold: Head of State Political Cartoon,

Snake Political Cartoon, Edward Morel Quote, Two Photos, and the Nkwabali Quote.

• He forced the locals to work for almost nothing and had them killed and tortured if they complained or disobeyed.

• Instead, Leopold began a 70 year plunder of the Congo of its rubber, ivory, gold, diamonds, copper, and tin.

• And, his Belgian forces enslaved Congolese peoples with regularity.• Rubber was harvested by climbing the rubber tree, tapping into it and letting the sap run all over the slave’s body, where it

would congeal. • Later he would peel the rubber off his body, taking any body hair with it.• Rubber harvesters were given impossible quotas to fill each month. • In addition to enduring the hardships of gathering rubber in the jungle, many of them were killed by wild animals.

• Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by holding their wives and children captive until each man’s quota was met.

• Many who resisted were killed on the spot.

• Others were beaten with whips made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges.

• 20 lashes resulted in unconsciousness; 100 lashes resulted in death.• Revolt broke out.• Leopold sent troops into villages to exterminate the young men.• To make sure bullets weren’t wasted, soldiers were expected to return with the severed right hands of those they killed.• Soldiers who couldn’t meet quotas or spent bullets hunting would cut hands off of living women and children.

Key•Between 1895-1908 an estimated 8-10 million people died

due to murder, mistreatment and starvation.•One of the greatest international scandals of the early 20th

century• Forced/slave labor• Starvation•Disease• Torture/mutilation•Directly and indirectly eliminated 20% of the population