The Scramble for The Scramble for AfricaAfrica
Africa Before European Africa Before European DominationDomination
Mid 1800s – African peoples divided into hundreds of ethnic & linguistic groups
Most followed traditional beliefs, some converted to Islam or Christianity
African armies had kept Europeans out of most of Africa for 400 years
By 1880 – Europe controlled only 10% of Africa
Disease, difficult rivers, specialized African trade networks = discouraged European Exploration
The Congo Sparks The Congo Sparks InterestInterest
1860s – David Livingstone traveled to central Africa to spread Christianity
1871 – Henry Stanley sent to find Livingstone – found him living on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
1879 – 1882 – Stanley signed treaties with local chiefs of the Congo river for King Leopold II of Belgium
Soon, Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, &Spain claimed parts of Africa
1880 – 1914 = Age of Imperialism
Causes for Imperialist Causes for Imperialist ExpansionExpansion
Economic
European countries needed raw materials (IR)
Wanted places to sell new goods
Gold, Diamonds, Copper, Tin
Political
Nationalism – Nations were proud to have colonies – build empires
Europeans learned to play rival groups against each other
Causes for Imperialist Causes for Imperialist ExpansionExpansion
Social
Missionaries wanted to spread Christianity
Racism – Belief that the white race was superior
Social Darwinism – nations that were fittest for survival enjoyed wealth & success, were superior to other nations
The Partition of AfricaThe Partition of Africa
European nations began to compete for control of African nations
1884-85 – Berlin Conference – 14 European Nations met to lay down rules for the division of Africa
1st – Nation must tell other countries about its colony
2nd – Move people to the colony
By 1914 – only 2 countries remained independent
British Imperialism in British Imperialism in IndiaIndia
Cecil RhodesCecil Rhodes
“I contend that we [Britons] are the first race in the world, and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race…It is our duty to
seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means
more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most
human, most honourable race the world possesses.
Which country is represented by the octopus?
Imperialism in IndiaImperialism in India
Imperialism in IndiaImperialism in India
Imperialism in IndiaImperialism in India
Imperialism in IndiaImperialism in India
