The Scramble For Africa

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European Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa

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The Scramble for Africa

Chapter 25 section 2

http://www.boondocksnet.com/congo/index.html

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Topics

I. The Scramble for Africa

II. The Heart of Africa

III. North Africa

IV. South Africa

V. African resistance

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I. The Scramble for Africa

A. Why Africa???

B. Exploration to Competition

C. The Belgian Congo

D. The Berlin Conference

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A. Why Africa???

• Close to Europe.• Europe valued

African trade.– Long history.– Many established

trading posts.

• African empires did not expect relationship to change.

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B. Exploration to Competition

• Early 1800’s Europeans began limited exploration of interior of Africa.– Malaria– Limited military power– As science and military

power improved, Africa became more vulnerable

• David Livingstone explored Central Africa for 30 years

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C. The Belgian Congo• King Leopold II became

interested in colonies by 1870’s

• Declared Congo region of Africa to be under Belgian control.– Henry Stanley had helped

Leopold to secure treaties with Africans to dominate region.

• This alarmed other European Nations and began a scramble for colonies.

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D. The Berlin Conference 1884

• European countries feared war from competition.

• European countries could claim African land if they controlled strategic points.– No African rulers were present.

• Europe also agreed to bring “Commerce, Christianity and Civilization” to Africa– end slavery in Africa.

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II. The Heart of Africa

A. King Leopold II

B. Bring civilization to Africa

C. Diplomacy to indirect control

D. Abuses in the Congo

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A. King Leopold II

• Wanted to “civilize” Africa– End the slave trade– Really wanted the resources

• Had Henry Stanley sign 450 Treaties with African leaders to create a trade zone for Belgium

• This became known as the Congo free State

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B. Bring civilization to Africa

• King Leopold advocated the “Commerce, Christianity and Civilization” plan– Adopted at Berlin Conference

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C. Diplomacy to indirect control

• Belgium passed laws claiming unused land as European

• Europe convinced African leaders to pass laws forcing African workers into mines and plantations.– Taxes were used to force Africans into

mines and plantations.

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D. Abuses in the Congo

• Pacification campaigns• Forced taxes on Africans

– To build infrastructure for European business

• Change from food to cash crops– Rubber instead of food– Mass starvations

• Other human atrocities

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III. North Africa

A. France in Algeria

B. The Suez canal

C. Britain and the Suez

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A. France in North Africa

• Took control of Algeria– Large migration of French population– Led to direct control– Also led to brutal revolts in the 1950’s

• France also built Suez Canal

• Britain viewed canal as essential to their interests

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B. The Suez canal

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/SuezCanal-EO.JPG

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C. Britain and the Suez

• Civil fighting broke out in 1882 in Egypt.– Supported by British

• Britain stepped in and established order.– Made Egypt a protectorate– Forced France out

• Britain and Egypt will invade the Sudan and make it into a condominium.– To protect southern access to canal

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IV. South Africa

A. The Boers

B. British Interest

C. The Boer War

D. Second Class Citizens

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A. The Boers• Boers came to South Africa.

– Strict Dutch , Calvinist Settlers.– Believed they were a chosen

people.

• Britain seized control in 1806.– Boers disliked British rule.– Began Great Trek into interior of

Africa.

• Boers create 3 states.– Natal, Transvaal and Orange

Free state.– Defeated Zulu groups to create

them.

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B. British Interest

• Originally interested in ports for trade

• Gained control of coastline and port towns– Content to leave Boers to interior

• Discovery of Diamonds will change this

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C. The Boer War• Diamonds were discovered in Boer territory.• Cecil Rhodes and other Brits enter interior.• Boers resent this and hostilities increase.• War breaks out.• Britain wins the war but at great cost.

– South Africa will be part of the British empire.– Boers will be able to govern themselves.

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D. Second Class Citizens

• Boers have home rule– Become known as Afrikaners– Despise ad hate local Black population

• African population forced to follow Apartheid– Think Segregation

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V. African Resistance.A. Samouri Toure’ and the Mandingo

Empire

B. Menelik II and Ethiopia

C. Liberia

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A. Samouri Toure’ and the Mandingo Empire

• Purchased weapons from European traders.

• Built his own weapon factory.

• Defended his territory for 6 years.

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B. Menelik II and Ethiopia

• Many European nations attempted treaties with Ethiopia.

• Menelik pitted them against each other.

• Also got European weapons.

• Mountains also protected Ethiopia.

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C. Liberia• Was populated by former American

slaves.

• European nations left it alone.– Feared U.S. involvement in Africa.

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Terms To Know

• Berlin Conference of 1884

• King Leopold II• Suez Canal• Social darwinism

• Menelik II• Liberia • Zulu• Boers• Great Trek

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Summary

• What event started the scramble for Africa?

• Describe King Leopold II’s motivations.

• What were the interests of the French and the British?

• What happened to the rights of Africans?

The Scramble For Africa

Education

Transcript of The Scramble For Africa