European Imperialism in Africa
Document A: Partition of Africa in the Late 1800s
Map depicts the partition of Africa in the late 1800s, a direct result of the Berlin Conference.
Source: Map created from various historical sources.
Seven European countries held African colonies by 1914: Belgium, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
The two biggest winners in the race to seize African colonies were:
French: Controlled most of Northwest Africa.
British: Controlled the Northeastern Region.
Germany controlled East Africa, blocking the British ambition of building a railroad from the Mediterranean Sea (Cairo, Egypt) to South Africa (Cape Town).
Two African countries remained independent during imperialism: Liberia (West Africa) and Ethiopia (East Africa).
Liberia: Founded by former American slaves and was protected due to US involvement.
Ethiopia: Successfully fought for its independence from Italy.
Significant national competition in Europe for African colonies was a driving force behind European imperialism.
The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) involved 14 European countries, with no African representation, discussing how to divide African land.
King Leopold of Belgium gained private ownership of The Congo and forced natives into conditions resembling slavery to extract resources.
He established quotas for gathering wild rubber, palm oil, and ivory, with severe punishments for failure to meet them.
The estimated death toll under Leopold's rule ranged from two to fifteen million people (Congolese genocide).
Eventually, Leopold was forced to relinquish control to the Belgian government, but harsh conditions persisted.
Liberia was founded by former American slaves, proclaiming independence in 1847 and modeling its constitution after the US Constitution.
Ethiopia retained its independence thanks to Emperor Menelik II, who reunified the old Ethiopian empire, modernized the country, and defeated an Italian army in 1896 at the Battle of Adowa.
Document B: Excerpts on Colonialism
Two excerpts:
John Ruskin (1870s): Lecture at Oxford University, advocating for England to found colonies to show its greatness, advance its power by land and sea, and serve as a model.
Friedrich Fabry (1879): "Does Germany Need Colonies?" arguing for Germany to compete with the Anglo-Saxons (British) and maintain its new position of industrial greatness.
Ruskin says England must found colonies as fast and as far as she is able to show its greatness and serve as a model.
The colonists' first aim should be to advance the power of England by land and sea.
According to Fabry, Germany's strengths at its peak were in trade and sea power.
Fabry believed that Germany needed to strive after colonies to compete with the Anglo-Saxons and maintain its industrial greatness.
Both sources suggest that imperialism was driven by national competition and the desire to be economic and industrial powers.
Nationalism increased in Europe as the industrial revolution and ideas of the French Revolution spread.
Nationalism = Country is not mere territory.
Nationalism = The sentiment of love, the sense of fellowship which binds together all the sons of that territory.
John Ruskin was a prominent writer and social critic supporting British imperialism.
Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Germany until 1890, called the Berlin conference but was not initially interested in German imperial policy.
Bismark hoped to stir up nationalistic rivalries to distract from Germany's growing Strength.
After Bismarck's dismissal, Germany became embroiled in colonial disputes
Document C: Technological Developments and European Imperialism
The industrial revolution led to many discoveries and inventions that aided European takeover of Africa.
Most of the technology in the chart was invented in the 19th century (1800s).
Quinine, derived from tree bark, helped reduce the threat of dying from malaria for Europeans in Central Africa.
The repeating rifle and Maxim gun gave European armies a significant advantage over African armies.
Possible answers for the most important invention include=
Bessemer process and steam engine for railroad and bridge development.
Telegraph for improved communication.
Quinine for managing tropical diseases.
Europeans were able to use technological advantages in travel, communication, disease management, and weaponry to conquer Africans.
Technological factors allowed Europe to subdue the contient and exploit its resources.
Quinine was originally derived from the bark of a specific tree that is native actually to South America, medicinal properties known as far back as the sixteen hundreds
Bessemer process is a quicker and cheaper method of manufacturing steel
Maxim machine gun is the first machine gun that was created in the late eighteen hundreds.
Document D: African Colonies and Their Exports
Shows selected African colonies, their European colonizers, resources exported, and industrial/economic use.
European industries that benefited from African resources: textiles, food processing, electrical equipment, metal manufacturing, soap and candle manufacturing, jewelry, and weapon manufacturing.
If owning a textile mill, colonies of interest would include:
Angola (Portugal) and French West Africa due to their access to fabrics.
Germany's colonies (access to clothes and cotton for high-quality clothing manufacture).
Great Britain had the most valuable colonies due to resources such as gold and diamonds.
Europeans desired resources from Africa that were not readily available in Europe, bringing them riches and improving their lifestyles.
Economic interests allowed market expansion for manufactured goods and getting rich = trade and markets more importat than politics and nationalism or technology
Document E: Great Britain and Sub-Saharan Africa Imports and Exports
Data on Great Britain's trade with Sub-Saharan Africa (imports and exports) over time.
Both imports and exports increased over time, with exports experiencing a higher rate of growth.
Data suggests Africa was valuable to Europeans as both a source of materials and a market for products.
Africa was extremely valuable for both its resources and as a market for European goods.
Economic reasons are the most important because of the wealth gained exploiting resources and using Africa for finished goods
The strongest motive Britain had for taking colonies in Africa was to protect the strategic routes to their colony of India. The British had an idea to establish colonies from The Cape, to Cairo.
Great Britain also controlled what are now the nations of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and much of the West Indies, including Jamaica.
Document F: Cultural Beliefs and Justifications for Imperialism
Two poems:
Rudyard Kipling: "The White Man's Burden," encouraging British citizens to take up the "imperial cause". Expresses a sense of superiority over native populations.
Chief of South African Tribe: (Response to the ideas in Kipling's poem)
Rudyard Kipling is talking to British citizens and encouraging the best and the brightest from England to take up imperialism.
"Your new caught sullen people, half devil and half child" makes references to the natives of European lands.
Kipling is encouraging the British to help feed the colonized population and to help them live healthy lives,
European are superiors to teh Africans and its their duty to bring civilization
The chief would probably resent being called a burden by people who are essentially stealing his land and dislocating his people
Europeans were motivated by a sense of superiority and a perceived moral duty to "civilize" native populations.
Ethnocentrism, or the belief that one's culture is superior, helped justify actions
paternalism, kind of like a country watching over, taking care of a weaker nation. A child. The child is someone that needs rearing, someone that needs nurturing, someone that needs guidance and discipline.
Kipling wrote The Jungle book and won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1907
. The chief of the South African tribe negotiated with associates of Cecil Rhodes
Driving Forces behind European Imperialism in Africa:
Exploratory: To explore and assess the value of African lands.
National Competition: Rivalry among European countries for territory.
Technology of the Industrial Revolution: Enabled European expansion.
Economic Motives:
Need for natural resources to create goods.
Need for new markets to sell products.
Cultural Beliefs (Ethnocentrism): A sense of superiority over native populations.