Key Concepts in Colonialism, Imperialism, and African Resistance

Eurocentrism

A worldview where the European or Western cultures are viewed as superior, and Europe is viewed as the center of human development.

Missionaries

People who travel to colonies to spread religion.

Colonialism

Acquisition and exploitation of territory.

Imperialism

Where one country influences another in some way. i.e. Cultural, economic, political

Concessionary companies/company rule

European companies being granted large lands to exploit for economic gain

Direct control

Type of control where the government sends representatives to colonies to govern.

Indirect Control

Type of control where the ruling country lets its colony keep their traditional rulers, but they are overseen by the country.

Colony

A land governed by a foreign power, using direct or indirect rule.

Protectorate

When a land has its own internal government, but a foreign power has control, especially in foreign policies.

Sphere of influence

When a country tries to influence the economy and people out of their culture.

Economic Imperialism

Foreign private companies control trade somewhere else.

Trans-Atlantic Slave trade

A period in time when Africans were transported to the Americas by force and enslaved. This ended in 1807.

Divide and rule

Colonial strategy where the Europeans would intentionally break relationships between Africans to make colonial rule easier.

Liberia

The country established by American Colonization Society as a home for Free African Americans who wanted to return to Africa.

Ethiopia

The country which defeated Italy to stay independent.

Menelik II

Emperor of Ethiopia during their war with Italy.

Scientific Racism

Theory that Europeans were a superior race, they evolved more, better physical characteristics, ...

Pseudoscience

Fake science

Social Darwinism

The belief that warps Darwin's ideas and says that Europeans have evolved further than other races.

Popular Racism

Racism justified by beliefs and personal experiences

Race as a social construct

A racial hierarchy created over time to justify racism and how some races are at the bottom of society.

Scramble for Africa

The European's flurry of colonizations in Africa.

Berlin Conference

A conference consisting of Europeans, goal is to resolve conflicts for African land and set rules. 1884-1885.

Maxim gun

A rapid-fire gun used by Europeans at the time

Congo

The land which Leopold II owned for many years, the Africans there suffered

Ghana/Gold Coast

The British Colony that was a prime example of indirect rule. Conflicts between educated and leaders.

Algeria

French colony that demonstrated assimilation and direct rule

Paternalism

European powers treated African people like children who couldn't govern or make decisions for themselves.

Assimilation

Policy based on the idea that the local populations would adopt French culture and be like the French.

White Man's Burden

Poem by Rudyard Kipling addressing US after their colonization of Philippines.

Rudyard Kipling

Poet, author of White Man's Burden

Leopold II

Cruel and greedy Belgian King, owned Congo like private property.

Chief Mojimba

Congonese chief, met Henry Morton Stanley

Henry Morton Stanley

Explorer who Leopold sent to the Congo, first white man they saw.

King Machemba

King of the Yao people, famous for his quote resisting colonial rule.

UGCC

United Gold Coast Congress, moderate nationalist group that proposed gradual change through political reform.

CPP

Convention People's Party, proposed for fast change and immediate self-government.

Kwame Nkrumah

Leader of the CPP, later first prime minister of Ghana.

Congo River

The river that goes through Congo.

Force Publique

Belgian army in Congo

Settler colonialism

A colony with significant population of European settlers that wielded a great deal of political power.

Subject vs Citizen

Subject is under rule but don't have a say in the government, while the citizens have a say in the government.

FLN

Front de Liberation Nationale, Algerian organization that led their independence war vs France.

Ahmed Ben Bella

First president of Algeria