The Scramble for Africa

Flashcards reviewing the causes and effects of the Scramble for Africa.

What was the primary reason European countries were not initially interested in Africa before the 1800s?

They were mainly interested in using people from West Africa as slaves.

Between 1820 and 1900, how many colonies were added to the British Empire?

16 colonies

What natural resources and 'cash crops' did explorers and missionaries report from Africa?

Gold, diamonds, ivory, rubber, coffee, and timber

What was the economic plan for African land taken over by European countries?

Strip the natural resources and sell finished goods from Britain back to the people who lived there.

What was the 'Empire building' motivation behind colonizing Africa?

Having control of lots of land made a country seem more important than rival countries.

How did Christian missionaries view Africa, and what was their perceived role?

They referred to Africa as the 'Dark Continent' and thought their job was to 'enlighten' it by preaching Christianity.

In the late 1870s, which European nations began to colonize West Africa?

The French and Belgians

Which European powers showed interest in colonizing East and South Africa in the late 1870s?

The Germans and the British

Name some of the large areas of land (or colonies) that Britain took over in Africa during the 'scramble'.

Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia)

What percentage of Africa had Britain claimed by 1900?

32 percent

Why was Britain's control of key areas of African land important?

It lay along part of Britain's sea route to India.

What invention gave the European armies a major advantage over the Africans?

The Maxim gun (a type of machine gun)

What hardships did many Africans face after being defeated by European invaders?

Hardship and hunger as their traditional way of life was destroyed, and they were forced to work as cheap labor.