France was very active in West Africa in the late 19th century, with some politicians wanting to expand French control over the interior of Africa for commercial gain. During the Scramble for Africa from 1881-1914, France gained control over Algeria and other parts of West Africa, with imperialists hoping to boost the French economy following its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and depression in the 1870s. However, the Scramble disrupted African cultures and societies as European influence brought changes to technologies, religions, and forms of government.

1. FRANCE
SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA
Craig & Breanna

2. IMPERIALISM 1800 -1914
• When more developed countries took over
less developed countries.
• “the creation and maintenance of an unequal
economic, cultural and territorial relationship,
usually between states and often in the form
of an empire, based on domination and
subordination.”

3. WHAT CAUSED IT?
• In 1873, Africa offered up an open market
• Europeans realized that they could make a profit
off of Africa
• They came with goods, including guns, gin, and
clothes, and sold them to the local people.

4. SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA
• The Scramble for Africa, also known
as The Race for Africa, was when
European powers took over African
territory
• Took place during the New
Imperialism period
• Between 1881 and 1914

5. FRANCE’S ROLE
• In West Africa, there was a lot of interest in the trade
market.
• By the late 19th century, it started to interest European
countries
• France was very active in trading in West Africa
• Some French politicians wanted to expand into the
interior of Africa for commercial gain.
• By1870s, European states still controlled only 10
percent of Africa, and Algeria was controlled by France.

6. FRANCE’S ECONOMICS
• West Africa had a large trade industry
• Jules Ferry lead a group of politicians who wanted
to take over Africa for commercial gain after the
defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871
• During the Long Depression, Africa offered
France, Britain and Germany an open market that
would give them a trade surplus.

7. AFRICAN ECONOMICS
• The trade with the foreigners which made some of the empires in Africa rich at that
time.
• Many crops were introduced, such as maize, pear and cassava

8. FRENCH POWER
• France gained control of
Algeria and other parts of
West Africa
• French imperialists hoped to
enhance the French economy
to help recover from the
Great Depression of the
1870s.

9. AFRICAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE
• The contact with Europeans in Africa helped promote the idea of state systems.
• Trading with the Americans and Europeans did not encourage the development of
Africa.
• Many Africans were carried away as slaves, and it effected the population of Africa.

10. AFRICAN CULTURE
• Because of the Scramble for Africa, the
original tribal cultures were altered because
of the contact with the technology, religion,
weapons and government forms of the
Europeans.

11. WE BELIEVE
We believe that the Scramble for Africa was good and bad. The
Scramble for Africa helped France, but hurt Africa.
The contact between the two countries helped spread culture, but
France ended up hurting Africa.