The Scramble for Africa and the Berlin Conference What was the Scramble for Africa?

The Scramble for Africa was the colonisation and annexation of African territory by European powers that took part during the end of the 19th century. In 1871, only 10% of Europe was under European control, however, by the 1900s 90% of the continent was under colonial rule.

What were the causes of the Scramble for Africa?

1. Strategic factors: One of the main causes which historians argued triggered the Scramble for Africa was Britain’s strategic motives in colonising Egypt in order to protect its trade routes with India. After gaining control of Cape Colony in South Africa, Britain established the Suez Canal, which linked the Mediterranean and Red Sea across Egyptian territory, making trade with India much more efficient. Therefore, after instability in Egypt’s government posed a threat to this route, Britain took administration of Egypt in 1882 to have control over the canal, and this arguably triggered the new imperialism of the latter half of the 19th century.

2. Medical Advancement: Before the Scramble, Africa was associated as the “white man’s grave”, due to its deadly diseases such as Malaria, this ultimately restricted European interest in the country, as they viewed it as too dangerous. However, after 1817 with French discoveries of effective treatment for such diseases such worries began to cease and countless expeditions began to try and remove other myths associated with the country.

3. Industrial revolution: The industrial revolution meant that countries were experiencing a rapid increase in production of manufactured goods and therefore there was an ever-increasing need for raw materials to add such development. Africa with its rich resources such as gold, iron, cocoa beans and rubber provided these much-needed resources and due to its rivers – the Congo, Zambezi and Niger transportation and access into the interior of Africa made this exploitation easier.

4. Nationalism: To report acquisition of new land and expand empires was seen to enhance the prestige of the state gaining national pride back home.

5. Technological developments: Before the 1870s African rivers were hard to navigate, making access into Africa difficult. However, after the creation of the steam boats, effective navigation of rivers was now easy and nations could enter the country. As well as steam boats, improved weaponry, such as the introduction of the maxim gun in 1883 meant that Europeans had an advantage over the poorly equipped Africans, making them an easy target who could produce little resistance.

6. Abolition of the Slave trade: Before the scramble, slavery was a popular thing, with Africans being taken either by bartering or simple capturing and shipped to the USA where they would be exploited and forced to work as slaves. However, by 1871 slavery

had been abolished, denying the slave trade of huge profits, therefore, these wealthy businessmen sought after different trades with Africa to make up for their losses.

7. A sense of duty and superiority (white man’s burden + Darwinism): Europeans were convinced of their racial and cultural superiority and believed it was their responsibility to civilise the “uncivilised” African people by introducing Christianity, order and stability. As Africa was less developed than Europeans, they believed it was their duty to bring results of their progress to other countries, however, this was merely a justification for them to invade Africa – in reality their motives were all of self-interest, characterised by exploitation.

8. Political rivalry: Africa offered countries the option to expand without creating a war, and therefore desperate not to miss out in the race, countries all got involved trying to take as much power as possible, trying to not let any of their political rivals get the upper hand.

The Berlin Conference 1884-1885:

The Scramble had become a mad rush between countries and determined not to let this spiral into a war, Bismarck the new chancellor of the newly unified Germany called forth a meeting to settle and discuss the political portioning of Africa. 14 countries were represented at the conference of November 1884, with a series of agreements discussed.

What happened?

The conference lasted until February 1885 and in this time, the European nations drew a new map of the continent in relation to latest acquisitions. This new map disregarded cultural, linguistic and tribal boundaries already established, and placed groups and tribes together who did not get along, whilst separating coherent groups – this had the effect of dividing the country, making unification difficult for Africans (which worked to European advantage)

The Treaty of Berlin:

The treaty of Berlin was established which composed of three main agreements…

1. In order for a country to annex another African country, they had to prove it would be effectively occupied – they had to properly administer and defend it.

2. Free passage was to be given to all for the Congo and Tiber rivers3. Slavery was to be officially abolished – this provided suitable justification to satisfy

those having doubts about Europeans simply exploiting African land to their detriment.

Resultant Map

Effects of the Scramble for Africa:

Positives Negatives Developed states with efficient

systems of administration, government and democracy

Provided education for natives Provided health care and hospitals Improved transport links – roads

and railways Improved sanitation systems and

engineered water

Africans were seen as inferior and experienced racial inequality

Europeans exploited Africa for their own development, halting African progress

African culture undermined with introduction of western ideologies, morals, religion, clothing, buildings etc.

Leopold II forced labour – which was expressing outlawed in the Treaty of Berlin. He treated Africans badly if they did not reach quotas by beating them, mutilating and murdering. Children and women included.

Effects of the Scramble for Africa on international relations:

As shown by the Berlin conference we can see that Europeans were keen not to start a war. Nevertheless, this could not disguise the fact that political rivalry and tension was escalating as countries rushed to acquire land – most notably seen in the Fashoda incident between

Britain and France and the mini arms race that developed as countries tried to protect their empires.

Fashoda Incident:

The Fashoda incident occurred in 1898 when France and Britain crossed paths in Sudan. France was expanding east, while Britain was expanding southwards towards Cape Colony to establish trade links, when these two crossed paths in Fashoda, Sudan. Disputes arose from the common desire to annex the land and war between the two seemed likely, as they both were determined to fulfil their expansionist ambitions. Both countries alike began mobilising their fleets in preparation for war; however finally in the brink of a war a compromise was reached whereby France agreed to respect Britain’s control of Sudan in return for Britain to respect French control of Morocco.

The Boer Wars:

Britain formally annexed the gold and diamond rich Transvaal in 1877. However, once the Zulu threat was removed following the Anglo-Zulu war , the Boers – people of Dutch decent, who resented British rule, rebelled in what became known as the First Boer War 1880-1881. This was nothing more than a series of small skirmishes in which the ill-prepared British troops were easily defeated and resulted in the Pretoria convention that gave Transvaal and the Orange Free state self-governing status over British oversight.

Later, further discoveries of gold and diamonds in the Transvaal attracted many British newcomers to try to exploit the land; however, these new comers were denied political and economic rights by the president Kruger. This led to the failed Jameson raid of 1895, whereby Cape Colony Prime Minister Rhodes tried to invade the Transvaal and was driven swiftly back by the Boers. European nations resented the British invasion and Kaiser Wilhelm even sent a telegram to congratulate Kruger on defeating the raiders – which resulted in deterioration of Anglo-German relations.

Four years in 1899, Kruger demanded removal of British troops and full independence of the Transvaal – when Britain refused, Kruger declared war. After the humiliation of the first Boer War, Britain increased its forces and succeeded in capturing the Transvaal capital Pretoria in 1900. The Boers adopted Guerrilla tactics and had some successes however, two years later in 1902 the Boers were forced to surrender and the British victory was marked by the Treaty of Vereeniging which placed the Transvaal and Orange Free state under British control.

Results of the Boer Wars:

The second Boer war cost the tax payer more than 200 million pounds 22000 soldiers of the British empire died Britain was condemned for its ‘Scorched Earth ‘Policy whereby Woman and children

were imprisoned in concentration camps with poor hygiene, food and common suffering and death.

30000 civilians died

British opinion opposed Britain’s imperialist policies and Britain was left feeling isolated and vulnerable –leading to its alliance with Japan in 1902.