african colonization scramble for africa

1. Colonization on the African
Continent
T-Dawg, 2008

2. The “Scramble for
Africa” had
originally been
made regardless of
indigenous
(existing) ethnic
diversity.
The boundaries created
by Europeans led to civil
wars
among Africans
-Why would this cause
fighting?

3. Early Africa saw the rise of powerful empires
and city states that became important cultural
centers
From the 1500’s to the
1800’s
 Europeans explored
the continent
(missionaries + maps)
 Enslaved many Africans
 Sent them to other
parts of the world
-Where were they going?

4. Resist or Submit?Resist or Submit?
 Think about the following:Think about the following:
– You are as you are: young man or young woman.You are as you are: young man or young woman.
– A group of people have come into your land andA group of people have come into your land and
homes and demanded you to give up your rights andhomes and demanded you to give up your rights and
become slaves, or die. They have superior weapons.become slaves, or die. They have superior weapons.
– You have parents, siblings, friends, etc.You have parents, siblings, friends, etc.
– If you submit,If you submit, you will liveyou will live but you will lose your rightsbut you will lose your rights
 Life will be hard. You will be forced to work for them andLife will be hard. You will be forced to work for them and
they will take all of your possessions and money.they will take all of your possessions and money.
– If you chose to resist:If you chose to resist:
 You will fight a losing battle. Even if you do not die, yourYou will fight a losing battle. Even if you do not die, your
friends and family will.friends and family will.
 What do you do? Resist or Collaborate?What do you do? Resist or Collaborate?

5. This conference would avoid a European
conflict/war that might arise from claims.
Commercial greed, territorial ambition, and political rivalry
fuelled the European take over of Africa. This resulted in
Africa's partition (division of land on the continent) at the
West African Conference in Berlin November, 1884 through
February,1885. The process became known as "The
Scramble for Africa".
The “Scramble for Africa” had the effect of defusing and
displacing tensions between the European powers in Europe.
However, the tradeoffs and alliances could not disguise the
fact that Imperial Germany was on a collision course with
Britain and France resulting in WWI.
-Why is this?

6. The West African Conference in Berlin to divide the African
Continent among the European nations.
Berlin Conference of 1884-1885

7. France
Belgium
Great Britain
Independent
Portugal
Italy
Spain
Germany

8. Industrial
Revolution
Industrial
Revolution
Source for
Raw
Materials
Source for
Raw
Materials
Markets for Finished
Goods
Markets for Finished
Goods
European
Nationalism
European
Nationalism
Missionary
Activity
Missionary
Activity
Military &
Naval Bases
Military &
Naval Bases
European
Motives
ForColonization
European
Motives
ForColonization
Places to dump
Unwanted/Excess
Population
Places to dump
Unwanted/Excess
Population
Social & Economic
Opportunities
Social & Economic
Opportunities
Humanitarian
Reasons
Humanitarian
Reasons
European RacismEuropean Racism
“White Man’s
Burden”
“White Man’s
Burden”
Social
Darwinism
Social
Darwinism

9. Africa has some of the world’s largest
deposits of gold, diamonds, and
copper. Oil is found in western and
central Africa.
Europe felt depleted of natural resources
needed for industrialization.
Many of the nations had an interest in the
raw materials found in Africa.
Foreign trade increased

10. How Did Europeans Get Land?How Did Europeans Get Land?
 Advancements in Exploration,Advancements in Exploration,
Medicine (Quinine) andMedicine (Quinine) and
Technology (Weapons)Technology (Weapons)
 Two Methods:Two Methods:
– Take Through ForceTake Through Force
 Superior weaponsSuperior weapons
(repeater rifles and gatling(repeater rifles and gatling
guns) to the African bowsguns) to the African bows
and spearsand spears
– Take Through TreatiesTake Through Treaties
 Become “Protectorate”Become “Protectorate”
 Chiefs agree to give upChiefs agree to give up
powerpower
 Lugard: “Not a one wasLugard: “Not a one was
obtained legally.”obtained legally.”
– Lie, steal, cheat, kill.Lie, steal, cheat, kill.

11. Biography: Cecil RhodesBiography: Cecil Rhodes
 The Man Who BoughtThe Man Who Bought
Africa for BritainAfrica for Britain
– Earned $ by fruit farmingEarned $ by fruit farming
 Borrowed to buy his fieldBorrowed to buy his field
 Created De BeersCreated De Beers
– Berlin ConferenceBerlin Conference
 Convinced Britain to takeConvinced Britain to take
smaller areas rich insmaller areas rich in
diamonds.diamonds.
– Pushed workers to the maxPushed workers to the max
 Firm racist (whitesFirm racist (whites
superior)superior)
 Whites: Easy jobsWhites: Easy jobs
 Blacks: Work in minesBlacks: Work in mines
 Millions worked to death!Millions worked to death!

12.  Gold
 Copper
 Diamond
 Iron
 Bauxite
 Phosphate
 Cobalt
 Manganese
Mineral Resources

14. Coffee
Rubber
Cotton
Kapok
Sugar
Tea
EXAMPLES OF CASH CROPS

15. Check for UnderstandingCheck for Understanding
 Why did Africa get divided up betweenWhy did Africa get divided up between
European Countries?European Countries?
– Who had the most land? Who had theWho had the most land? Who had the
highest quality land? Who was upset abouthighest quality land? Who was upset about
getting the least?getting the least?
 Why did Europeans want African Land?Why did Europeans want African Land?
– What was there? How did they get it? WhoWhat was there? How did they get it? Who
was made rich?was made rich?

16. The
Advantages
and
Disadvantages
of Colonization

17. Positives Negatives
Introduced different and
modern ideas of education,
government, and
economics
Tribal warfare was ended
by the colonial
administrators. The
European colonial powers
established their law and
order over large areas of
the continent.
“the Scramble”
prevented the formation
of a unified national
spirit necessary to start
a new independent
country.
Left a legacy of
oppression and
economically crippled
the regions of Africa.

18. The missionaries wrote the languages and made
dictionaries for the many native languages that
had only been passed by oral tradition.
Schools were established and some
African students attended universities
abroad.

19. Colonial rulers built
railroads, but the tracks ran
north and south to carry raw
materials to ports.
Few rail lines went into the
interior of the continent.
Colonial rulers built
railroads.
Positives
Negatives
By the end of the 19th century Europeans were straddling the
continent with railways and roads. This made it possible to take
control – politically and commercially.

20. Medical and sanitary
changes were provided by
the Europeans
Positive

21. Colonial policies turned
Africans into wage earners or
cash-crop farmers.
Hundreds of thousands of
Africans were hired and
trained to operate machines
for getting minerals to surface.
Money was needed (by
the Africans) to pay taxes
to the colonial rulers.
Many Africans became
economically dependent
on European trade.
The profits of all trade
and manufacturing was
not invested in Africa.
PositivesNegatives

22. Life Under Colonized RuleLife Under Colonized Rule
 White Settler RegionsWhite Settler Regions
– Areas where EuropeansAreas where Europeans
were very present and inwere very present and in
chargecharge
 Areas ruled byAreas ruled by
Belgium, PortugalBelgium, Portugal
– Life wasLife was mostmost brutal.brutal.
 Labor, punishment,Labor, punishment,
taxes.taxes.
– No opportunity to succeed.No opportunity to succeed.
 No choices, no life.No choices, no life.
 Non-White SettlerNon-White Settler
RegionsRegions
– Areas where EuropeansAreas where Europeans
put Africans in charge andput Africans in charge and
were not as present.were not as present.
 Areas colonized byAreas colonized by
Britain and FranceBritain and France
– Life was bad, but easierLife was bad, but easier
 Freedom… if youFreedom… if you
labored and paid yourlabored and paid your
taxes.taxes.
 Possible for Africans toPossible for Africans to
get ahead in life.get ahead in life.
– Able to choseAble to chose
what to growwhat to grow
(market economy).(market economy).

23. Push for IndependencePush for Independence
 Africans fought withAfricans fought with
Europeans in both WorldEuropeans in both World
War I & II.War I & II.
 WWII- “A war to makeWWII- “A war to make
the world safe forthe world safe for
democracy anddemocracy and
freedom.”freedom.”
 Africans- “What aboutAfricans- “What about
us?”us?”
– Movements start atMovements start at
“grassroots” level“grassroots” level
– Sometimes multipleSometimes multiple
movements in the samemovements in the same
country.country.
 Some areas were verySome areas were very
bloody, some werebloody, some were
peaceful.peaceful.

24. Political independence did not bring
economic independence.
African countries continued to export agricultural and
mineral products to their former rulers.
There was little money to build
factories. The profits of all
trade and manufacturing were
not invested in Africa – and
most of the profits or benefits
went to Europeans instead of
Africans.

25. Many African countries depended on
a single export crop which was
RISKY
By not DIVERSIFYING a
country leaves itself open
to large LOSSES when the
price of a product falls on
the world market.

26. Check For Understanding 2Check For Understanding 2
 What were some positive aspects ofWhat were some positive aspects of
colonization? What was negative?colonization? What was negative?
 Why would railroads be both positive andWhy would railroads be both positive and
negative?negative?
 Why is cash cropping a positive and aWhy is cash cropping a positive and a
negative thing?negative thing?
 How could life be different depending onHow could life be different depending on
the European nation which ruled?the European nation which ruled?
 Why did World War II encourageWhy did World War II encourage
independence?independence?