1. Before we begin our next unit, there are several concepts that I will try to explain. But before I do that, I just want to have a conversation about you and what some of your thoughts are about money and power. 1. First of all, if I offered you a job right now, how many of you would be interested in the opportunity? If I told you that there was a way for you to gain a constant stream of income (guaranteed CASH every week without working for it) by simply overpowering and outsmarting less savvy teenagers your age (teenagers who would ultimately work for you),would you be interested? Do you think others would be interested in this opportunity as well? 2. Ok. Now, you have succeeded in amassing (gaining) a ton of wealth, but socially conscious individuals emerge and enact laws that say that what you’ve done is WRONG. You are forced to relinquish your power and release the workers from their forced labor. How do you maintain your wealth? Who might be willing to continue working for you? 3. If you could run a business with free or cheap labor, how do you think this would affect your ability to amass wealth?

2. You have just explored the world of business and economics as it relates to the Free World. During the time period in the early 20 th century that we now refer to as Imperialism, most of the Western world possessed thriving economies and military power that rivaled other parts of the globe. However, as in our scenario above, the opportunity to amass even greater wealth turned into a feeding frenzy and Africa became the spoils (riches). Since the greater part of any business is labor, Africa became a resource of free labor and resources, eliminating much of what a normal business would have to invest to amass its wealth.

3. Individual perspective to a Global Country Present Day Economics (getting students to think about -Look at tag on clothes—where is it made? -China and other labor force nations—why is everything made there for little to no money? -What is the largest cost of a business? (rent of building, cost of employees, creating/buying materials, etc.) -What goals do most powerful nations have? -Knowledge/Power  Wealth -Goal=acquire and attain—source of that is in property -What will you do for power? How will you get power? Why do we want power? (to feel important/for privileges) -what makes a country powerful? -what makes them a #1 super-power in the world? You want to feel like you’re the best, and will do whatever you can to get that. Countries will do the same. In the world, countries do the SAME thing.

4.  Look at the political cartoon and answer the questions in the “Notes” section of your binder

5. By Chinua Achebe Before we begin this novel, we need some background information. This will help us have a better understanding of what the novel is all about. At your table, try to fill in the blanks on the notes using the word bank provided.

6.  By the mid-1800s, most of the European countries had industrialized. This means that they had gone through the Industrial Revolution. Industrialized nations had cities, factories and advanced technology.

7.  At the same time, many Europeans started to believe that they were better than other nations because they had technology that the rest of the world didn’t (factory machines, steam rollers, train systems, weaponry, more organized economy). This feeling of strength led European nations to believe that because they could take over other parts of the world, they should. This idea is called Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism is based on scientist Charles Darwin’s idea “survival of the fittest”, which means that only the strongest will survive. Europeans used this idea of Social Darwinism to justify or defend their taking over other nations by force.

8.  The need for natural resources and the idea of Social Darwinism led to the Scramble for Africa. Many European countries took over significant portions of land in Africa. When one country takes over another country by force, it is called Imperialism. When they settle there, it is called colonization.

9. NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF COLONIALISM/IMPERIALISM POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF COLONIALISM/IMPERIALISM 1. Loss of independence: Africans lost control over the large majority of their land and in many cases lost control of all political, social and economic decisions. 2. Loss in population_: Death- the African population was seriously decreased by resistance wars and new diseases such as smallpox that arose in Africa because of Colonization. 3. Loss in Culture: European countries did not only take over African Land—they took over African life completely. These changes affected African culture, spiritual beliefs, practice and customs. Europeans did not believe the culture of Africa was “civilized” so they attempted to change that during colonization. 4. War: Dividing that African continent. Europeans created their own new boundaries that sometimes split African tribes or forced two warring tribes to be a part of the same nation. 1. Humanitarian efforts improved sanitation and brought schools and hospitals to Africa. 2. Economic Expansion- European colonization brought African natural resources and products to the international marker where they were highly valued. 3. Increase in Technology- European industrial revolution inventions such as railroads, damns, telephone/telegraph lines were brought to Africa during the age of imperialism.

11. Things Fall Apart is set in the 1890's and portrays the clash between Nigeria's white colonial government and the traditional culture of the indigenous Igbo (Ibo) people. Achebe's novel shatters the stereotypical European portraits of native Africans. He is careful to portray the complex, advanced social institutions and artistic traditions of Igbo (Ibo) culture prior to its contact with Europeans. Yet he is just as careful not to stereotype the Europeans; he offers varying depictions of the white man, such as the mostly benevolent (kind) Mr. Brown, the zealous Reverend Smith, and the ruthlessly calculating District Commissioner.

13. 1. What is the Scramble for Africa? 2. What is imperialism and colonialism? 3. Why did Europeans colonize Africa? 4. In your opinion, was this a good or bad thing? 5. Where is Nigeria? 6. Do you think a native Nigerian person would like or dislike being colonized by Europeans? Why? 7. Based on the information we learned in class, make 2 educated predictions about the novel.