Results of the Berlin Conference

The borders of the African states were decided by European powers. No African representatives were invited or present at the Berlin Conference.

Rules

At this meeting the following rules were decided:

• European powers who controlled a coast also controlled the land directly behind

• To control land the country had to actively have people there (/have influence there)(soldiers, settlers, administrators)

• Each European nation had to openly state their intention for controlling an area

• Borders were to be decided by physical barriers (mountains, rivers…)

Overview of results

• slavery was outlawed (happened anyways)

• King Leopold II of Belgium received 2.5 million square kilometers that would be known as the congo

• France receives a large part of the Sahara and part of Niger

• Great Britain kept control of the Suez Canal area and south Africa as well as the Niger Delta (resource rich territory)

• Germany gains some territory and becomes more of a key European power

Countries that Received Significant Amounts of Land

• Great Britain

• France

• Germany

• Portugal

• Belgium (King Leopold II)

• Italy

• Spain

Countries that attended

• Austria-Hungary

• Belgium

• Denmark

• France

• Germany

• Great Britain

• Italy

• Netherlands

• Ottoman Empire

• Portugal

• Russia

• Spain

• Sweden-Norway

• United States