Learn: The Scramble For Africa (11.1)

Imperialism

The seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country

Two reasons why vast areas of Africa were seized by Europeans during the 19th and early 20th centuries

1. Raw materials in Africa Europe needed for manufacturing

2. Market for industrial products

Divisions in Africa in the mid-1800s

Political, Religious beliefs, linguistic

Political divisions

Ranged from large empires to many ethnic groups to independent villages

Divisions in religious beliefs

Ranged from traditional beliefs, Islamic, Christianity

Linguistic divisions

100s of ethnic and linguistic groups with different languages

Europeans had established contacts with Africa in the 1450s. However...

They were unable to gain control of the continent

Four reasons why Europeans couldn't gain control of Africa before the late 1800s

1. Powerful African armies kept them out for 400 years

2. European travel (on a large scale) to interior of Africa was virtually impossible—couldn't navigate

3. Disease killed many (malaria)

4. Africa had and controlled their own trade networks—were specialized, provided own trade items

Though they couldn't control Africa just yet, what did the Europeans do?

1. Enslaved millions of Africans (1518-1860s) to work in Americas

2. Ports on coast (sea route to Spice Islands)

3. Acquired gold—increased profit

Three groups who did penetrate Africa's interior

1. Explorers

2. Missionaries (spread Christianity)

3. Humanitarians (opposed slave trade)

How did Europeans and Americans learn about Africa?

Through travel books and newspapers

The story of Stanley and Livingstone

-Dr. Livingstone, a sensational explorer, was exploring Africa

-Coast hadn't heard from him in a ling time—feared him to be dead

-Stanley was hired to go out to find Livingstone, and he did find him

-"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

Who did Stanley's explorations spark the interest of?

King Leopold of Belgium

Who did Stanley sign treaties with and what did these treaties do?

He signed with local chiefs of the Congo River Valley, which gave King Leopold control of these lands

What did Leopold claim was his primary motive in obtaining the Belgian Congo?

To abolish the slave trade and promote Christanity

What, however, did Leopold do despite his claims and what resulted?

He licensed companies that brutally exploited Africans by forcing them to collect sap from rubber trees; at least 10 million Congolese died due to abuses (no record kept, so exact number is unknown)

How big was the Belgian Congo?

80 times larger than Belgium

What effect did the Belgian Congo have on the rest of Europe

Many countries (Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) became alarmed and rushed to claim parts of Africa

Factors that drove colonization in Africa and in other lands

1. Industrial Revolution--need for resources and markets

2. National pride

3. Racism--Europeans believed they were superior

4. "Successes" of King Leopold (still brought in profit despite the horrors of the conditions in Congo)

5. Social Darwinism

6. Missionary motive--spread of Christanity

Social Darwinism

Social theory that applied Charles Darwin's ideas about evolution to society; the fittest/strongest nations would survive and overpower the unfit/weaker nations

Four factors that contributed to the European's conquest of Africa

1. Technological superiority of Europeans

2. Europeans had the means to control their empire

3. Quinine (a drug) protected Europeans against malaria, which had killed many before

4. Africans had no unity (had a variety of languages and cultures) and warred a lot - Europeans played rival groups against each other

When did the Division of African begin in earnest?

About 1880, when the French began to expand from the West African coast and into the mainland

What 1860s discoveries increased European interest in colonizing Africa?

Diamonds and gold

The Berlin Conference

European countries feared war among themselves in the race for Africa, so 14 European nations met to set rules for the division of Africa

What two steps were required for a nation to claim land in Africa?

1. Notify other nations of its claims

2. Show that it could control the area

Who was not invited to the Berlin Conference?

African rulers

Which two countries were free from European rule by 1914?

Liberia and Ethiopia

What was the major source of great wealth in Africa?

Rich mineral resources

Businesses eventually developed what?

Cash-crop plantations (grew peanuts, palm oil, cocoa, and rubber)

What is the history of South Africa?

A history of Africans, Dutch, and British clashing over land and resources

The first Europeans to settle in South Africa

The Dutch

Where did the Dutch settle?

The Cape of Good Hope

Why did the Dutch settle at the Cape of Good Hope?

They wanted to establish a way station for their ships sailing between the Dutch East Indies and the Netherlands

Why were the Dutch called Boers?

Boers is Dutch for farmers - the Dutch took over the and and established farms for the benefit of their ships

What were the Boers also known as?

Afrikaners

Who came in the early 1800s and took over the Cape Colony permanently?

The British

What became of the Dutch when the British came?

The Dutch and the British clashed over the land and slaves, so many of the Boers moved north in the *Great Trek*, where they found themselves clashing with the Zulu and other groups for the land (the Dutch won)

What did the Dutch establish?

The Orange Free State and Transvaal (The South African Republic)

In 1816, native Africans, the Zulus, led by their chief Shaka, were able to gain control over a large part of the area

Shaka's successors were unable to keep the kingdom together against the superior arms of the British; lost control to the British in 1887

What caused the Boer War between the Dutch and the British?

-Boers tried to keep "outsiders" from getting political rights, rebellion attempted, so they blamed the British for their internal issues

-Disputes over mineral claims, etc.

Who won the Boer War?

The British won

What nation was formed after the Boer War?

Union of South Africa

The Union of South Africa

-*Racially segregated, white dominated*

-90% of land reserved for whites

-Skilled jobs for whites only

-Blacks had to carry ID passes, couldn't hold office or even vote

In what ways was the Boer War the first modern total war?

1. Boers launched commando raids and used guerrilla tactics against the British

2. British burned Boer farms

3. Civilian targets (everything was fair game, all in all)

4. Imprisoned women and children in concentration camps

5. Camouflage uniforms

6. Natives forced to fight for the British

As Europeans colonized Africa...

They made efforts to change the political, social, and economic lives of the peoples they conquered

When did Europeans first make contact with Africa?

1400s

Why did the Europeans contact Africa in the 1400s?

Age of Exploration; finding way to Spice Islands