Scramble for Africa and Imperialism

What is imperialism?

The policy of a stronger nation taking control of weaker territories for economic, political, or military gain.

What was the Scramble for Africa?

A rapid takeover of almost all African land by European powers from the 1870s to WWI.

Why did industrialization push Europeans toward imperialism?

Factories needed raw materials and new markets to sell goods.

Which European nations competed for Africa?

Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

What is ethnocentrism?

The belief that your own culture or way of life is superior to others

What is Social Darwinism?

The idea that "stronger" races or nations are naturally meant to rule over "weaker" ones.

How was Social Darwinism used to justify imperialism?

Europeans claimed they were biologically superior and "fit" to rule Africans

How did Christianity contribute to imperialism?

Missionaries wanted to convert Africans and saw Christianity as a "civilizing" force.

Why did European rivalry cause imperialism?

Nations wanted to increase national power and compete for territory.

Which major invention gave Europeans a military advantage?

The Maxim gun, the first automatic machine gun.

How did new transportation technology support imperialism?

Steamships, railroads, and cables allowed faster travel and tighter control.

What geographic challenge protected Africans before the 1800s?

Rivers were hard to navigate until steam-powered boats appeared

What medical advancement helped Europeans survive in Africa?

Quinine, a drug that protected them from malaria.

Why did African diversity make colonization easier?

Hundreds of languages and ethnic rivalries prevented unity.

What event sparked European interest in the Congo?

Stanley's exploration and treaties that gave Belgium control of Congo lands.

How did King Leopold II rule the Congo?

Through extreme brutality, forcing Africans to collect rubber; millions died.

What was the Berlin Conference (1884-1885)?

A meeting where 14 European nations divided Africa without African input.

What resources motivated European colonization?

Gold, diamonds, rubber, copper, tin, and fertile land for cash crops.

How did imperialism affect African farmers?

Europeans replaced food crops with cash crops like cocoa, rubber, and palm oil.

What overall forces drove imperialism?

Economic gain, nationalism, racial superiority, religion, and new technology.