Imperialism in Africa

A. Motives for Imperialism

B. Africa before Imperialism

C. Why does it begin?

D. Berlin Conference

A. Motives for ImperialismGovernments:

1. Wanted to gain power by expanding territory

2. Compete with other European nations

Industrialists:

1. Make money

2. Selling goods to the conquered people

3. Gaining valuable resources from new colonies

Missionaries:

1. Desire to spread Christianity to the heathens of the world

Social Darwinists:

1. Those that were the fittest enjoyed wealth and success and were therefore superior

2. The Superior Race = Europeans

3. The Inferior Race = Africans & Asians

“White Man’s Burden”

• It was the duty of the Europeans to fix or civilize those that were inferior

B. Africa before Imperialism

• Africans divided into hundreds of different ethnic groups

• Africans did not speak the same languages or have the same cultures

• Fought one another constantly for land

Europeans controlled very little land because:

1. Europeans could not travel into the interior b/c of the terrain – Rivers & Deserts

2.Diseases like Malaria also stopped the Europeans

3. African armies stopped them

C. Why does it begin?Industrialization finally allowed the Europeans to gain access to Africa because of:

1. the Maxim gun2. Railroads &

Steamships3. A cure for malaria was

developed called quinine

• King Leopold II of Belgium gained control of the Congo in 1882

• Was the 1st European to gain control over a colony in the interior

• Other Europeans will race to claim territory as well

• Called “The Scramble for Africa”

• Causes tension in Europe because everyone wants a piece of Africa, but there is only so much

• Some countries are willing to go to war

• Berlin Conference (1884-85) – 14 European nations agreed to rules for dividing Africa

• Who’s not invited?– AFRICANS!!!

D. Berlin Conference