History Test 2/25/25 - Imperialism

New Imperialism: Scramble for Africa

• Colonialism

  • A system in which one country takes control of the political and economic affairs of another nation and imposes policies to control the population.

  • Lasted in Africa from 1884 to 1960.

• The Scramble for Africa

  • In 1880 80% of Africa was independent

  • By 1900 Europeans had laid claim to the entire continent, except Liberia and Ethiopia

  What events and movement contributed to the rapid colonization of Africa by Europe?

• Industrial Revolution

  • Gave European countries a huge advantage over African nations.

  • Had financial resources needed to fight wars of conquest in Africa.

  • Had Professional armies and navies

  • New advancements in medicine, transportation, and weapons made it easier to conquer african nations.

  • Atlantic slave trade had depleted African populations.

• European Rivalry

  • Competition to find new sources or raw materials.

  • Competition to establish themselves in Africa - Countries did not want to fall behind in competition for national prestige and economic growth.

  • Some claimed territories so rival nations couldn’t have them.

• Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

  • Representatives from 14 countries came together - No african countries were represented.

  • Set up by German Chancellor Otto Von Bismark.

  • Countries would need their claims on African territories ratified by other European countries.

  • European countries now required to actually occupy the territories they claimed

  Colonization of Africa - How were Africans affected by cultural, economic, and political colonial policies?

• Cultural

  • Language: European languages become official ones throughout Africa.

  • Racism: Europeans believed racist ideas that Africans needed to be “civilized”

  • Women: African women lost a great deal of power and rights

  • Education: For a minority, western education generated a new identity and meant better jobs/more opportunities.

  • Religion: Transformed identities through widespread conversion to christianity.

• Economic

  • Reorganized African economic to grow cash crops (peanuts, cotton, wheat, timber, palm oil, coffee) For export to Europe instead of crops for local consumption.

  • Europeans bought up the land and paid low wages.

  • Mining was a major economic source in some areas (ex. dimonds)

  • European countries essentially ran the economy

• Political

  • Europeans drew new boundaries and grouped diverse, often rival, groups together.

  • Some borders divided united groups.

  • European powers set up new governments - Though while Europe was becoming more democratic, their systems in Africa were less democratic.

  • African traditional leaders continued to be important in many areas, and often led to resistance movements.