Imperialism of Africa

The dominance and power asserted by one nation over less powerful

nations

European Motives

Economic

• Needed colonies that Europe could force to buy European products

• The need for raw materials• There was greater wealth and investors

needed a place to invest this wealth

Nationalistic

• New countries (Italy and Germany) set out to prove themselves worthy of being a world power

• France was looking to regain its standing in the world

Religious

• A way to open Africa to spread the gospel

Racist

• Europeans felt they were superior to the African race

• John Africanus Horton, an African scholar, challenged this prejudice in his book.

The Scramble for Africa

Phase One

• Treaties between the African states and European nations

1. Gave the European nation exclusive trade and natural resources of that African state

2. European nation promised protection

• “No man if he understood would sign it, and to say that a savage chief has been told that he ceded all rights to the company in exchange for nothing is an obvious untruth. If he had been told that the Company will protect him against his enemies, and share in his wars as an ally, he has been told a lie, for the Company have no idea of doing any such things and no force to do it with if they wished.”

• Lord Lugard, British agent for British East India Company

• Some leaders refused to sign, like African king Macemba.

Phase Two

• The Berlin Conference – European nations met to sign treaties amongst

themselves to define their regions and boundaries

Phase Three

• Arrival of troops and ships to Africa

African Reaction to Imperialism

Submission

• The African’s could not compete with the advanced weapons of the Europeans

Alliance

• Hoped that an alliance would allow them to stay on the throne and help with their hostile neighbors

• Usually the alliance offered no protection at all

Confrontation

1. Diplomacy– Negotiated with European powers for as much

control of their land as possible2. Armed resistance– Used when they realized the Europeans true

intentions