EUROPEAN COLONIALISM IN AFRICA

SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

“CARVING THE MAGNIFICENT AFRICAN CAKE”

European Colonialism in Africa

Prior to mid-1800s = Imperialism

What is Imperialism? literally the act of building an empire, but has the connotation of one country economically dominating another

Imperialism / Maritime Empires1450-mid~1800s Motivated by spice trade (profit

motive) Expansion was gradual European enclaves existed along

coasts Indirect rule (subjugated local rulers) Little to no influence on local culture

Mid-1800sTransition from

Imperialism to Colonialism

After mid-1800s = Colonialism

What is Colonialism?the act of building colonies, areas in which a country has total economical and political (direct or indirect) control over a given region. However, the connotation of the word usually only refers to Europe

Colonialism / Land Empires

mid~1800s-1914 Motivated by competition (empire motive) Expansion is rapid Europeans move inward to rule whole

countries Direct rule Heavily influenced the “inferior” local

cultures (taught European languages, customs etc)

From… To

What caused European colonization?

1. Gold = Industrial Revolution

Allows for the quick consumption & production of goods.

Desire for Raw Materials Desire to sell goods to new

people

Example of Economic Motives

Railroads built in Africa by colonial powers

What caused European colonization?

2. God = Desire to spread Christianity

& European culture Shows belief in racial

superiority Deliberate Westernization

Example of Cultural Motives

“The White Man’s Burden” by Kipling

“White Man’s Burden” Analysis

The White Man’s BurdenBy Rudyard Kipling

TAKE up the White Man's burden - Send forth the best ye breed -

Go bind your son's to exileTo serve your captives' need;

To wait in heavy harnessOn fluttered folk and wild -

Your new-caught sullen peoples,Half devil and half child.

Take up the White Man's burden - In patience to abide

To veil the threat of terrorAnd check the show of pride;By open speech and simple,

An hundred times made plain,To seek another's profit,And work another's gain.

Take up the White Man's burden -The savage wars of peace -Fill full the mouth of famineAnd bid the sickness cease;

And when your goal is nearestThe end for others sought,

Watch Sloth and heathen FollyBring all your hopes to nought…

Analyze the Cartoon

Analyze the Cartoon

Social Relations b/tColonizer & Colonized

What caused European colonization?

3. Glory = Nationalism among European

countries fuels competition Superior weapons of

Europeans Internal rivalries & weakness

of African governments (result of slave trade)

Reason for Change

Innovations: Maxim Gun Quinine Steamship, railroads, telegraphs

Allow Europeans to move inland more effectively

Berlin Conference

1884 meeting to clarify European claims to African lands

Attended by: Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the U.S.

Symbolic of: “Colonialism” Formalized the scramble for Africa Growing European nationalism

Who was not represented at the conference? Why?

African Borders before Conference

European Borders after Conference

Modern Africa

Boundaries (set by

Conference – note

similarity to previous

slide)

Document Analysis

Treaty

Directions: Answer the following questions based on the treaty document.

1. What are the Africans (chiefs) getting from the treaty? What are the Europeans (Royal Niger Company) getting?

2. Why were Africans interested/willing to sign such a treaty? Europeans?

3. What does this treaty say about the actions of Europeans during this time period?

Types of African Colonies

Tropical Dependencies Settler Colonies

Effects of Imperialism

1. African economy became dependent on trade with Europe

Collapse of local economies Africans focus on using natural resources to

trade for manufactured goods2. African culture is westernized

Breakdown of local culture Spread of Christianity Improved local healthcare & education

systems3. European control & boundaries create

civil wars and government weakness