In previous years you learned about European exploration and colonization.

Why did the Europeans explore and colonize? Gold God Glory

Today we are going to examine how European colonization affected the continent of Africa.

How did European partitioning affect Africa? SS7H1a. Explain how the European partitioning across Africa contributed to conflict, civil war, and artificial political boundaries.

What does the word Partitioning mean? Divide or Separate

With an elbow partner discuss the meaning of this image.

The picture illustrates the European “Scramble for Africa” The picture illustrates the European “Scramble for Africa”. Why was it called a scramble?

The Berlin Conference

Actual Divisions made by European countries

What were the problems of the European partitioning of Africa? This slide is to see what issues the students can come up with on their own before you go over the problems.

Discuss the following Graphic Organizer

European Partitioning of Africa: Why and How? European countries recognized the vast wealth of natural resources in Africa and began to “scramble” to colonize valuable areas In 1884, fourteen European countries met to establish rules for trade and territorial claims in Africa. No Africans were present.

European Partitioning of Africa: Why and How? Europeans divided Africa with the desire to profit from Africa’s riches, not for the benefit of any Africans. Artificial political boundaries were drawn with no respect for Africa’s internal boundaries or societies.

What is meant by artificial political boundary? European countries just made up the borders of each country.

Impact of European Partitioning European division of Africa caused conflict and destroyed many African traditions. Many Europeans treated the Africans cruelly and tried to impose their way of life on them without considering African customs and beliefs.

Impact of European Partitioning The European partitioning of Africa contributed to conflict, civil war, and artificial political boundaries.

Once African countries gained independence, they had a hard time establishing stable governments and keeping the boundaries set by Europe. New African governments did not have experience governing or solving conflicts so force became a way to solve problems.

Example of the Impact of European Partitioning The Tutsi and Hutu had lived as neighbors before Belgian colonization, but artificial boundaries merged them in to the country of Rwanda. Once Rwanda gained its independence, civil war broke out between the Tutsi and Hutu. The Hutu army killed between 500,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi.

Example of the Impact of European Partitioning Belgium treated the people in the Congo violently and the people gained their independence in 1960 to form the Republic of the Congo. The new leaders did not have experience in government and conflict started which continues today among some groups.

Example of the Impact of European Partitioning Conflict over diamonds have caused brutal wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Summarizer: Describe the impact of European partitioning of Africa.