The Scramble for Africa

Cecil Rhodes

Imperialist, statesman, diamond magnet

What are two main reasons for imperialism?

1. Raw materials

   1. Ivory

   2. Cash crops: peanuts, palm oil, rubber, cocoa

   3. Minerals: DIAMONDS, GOLD, copper, tin

2. Markets: Africans weren’t really interested in buying European goods

What European attitudes propelled imperialism?

1. Nationalism: Empire building was an indicator of wealth and power. The more colonies, the wealthier and more powerful

2. Social Darwinism: Survival of the fittest. The weaker countries will be colonized.

3. Racism: Belief that your race is superior to other races

4. Ethnocentrism: Belief that your culture is superior

5. Missionaries: The desire to Christianize the “heathens”

Causes

• Africa was disunited

  • thousands of tribes, languages, and religions

• Tribal warfare

• Limited technology

Europeans had:

• The steam engine to get inside Africa

  • Ex: steam ships, railroads

• Maxim gun

• Medicine and more technology

How are Europeans going to “care up Africa”?

1. 14 European countries met at the Berlin Conference 1884-1885 to lay down rules for the division of Africa

2. Not a single African leader was invited to this conference in Berlin, Germany

3. Europe literally carved up Africa like a cake, each taking a slice or several

The Scramble for Africa

The race to divide up Africa among European powers

Why?

• Berlin Conference - 1884-1885

• 14 European nations met to divide Africa

• Supposed to prevent Europeans from fighting with each other

• Created artificial borders in Africa

• They did not consider tribes, languages, etc.

• By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained free from European control