Imperialism in Africa notes

Main ideas & background information

What is imperialism? Definition Types Stronger countries dominated the political, economic, and social life of the weaker countries. SPHERE OF INFLUENCE - trading rights only COLONY - ruled directly by imperialist power PROTECTORATE - own gov’t but guided by foreign power

Where & When? Strong=Western Europe, Japan, United States Weak=Africa & Asia Begins around 1870

Why now? MARKETS FOR GOODS ACQUIRE RESOURCES INTRODUCE CHRISTIANITY NATIONALISM

Why did it take so long? Problems Solutions Domestic Issues Susceptible to Malaria Difficulty navigating the rivers Political and Economic Stability Quinine (protection from malaria) and other medicines Steamboats Maxim Gun – first automatic machine gun (1883)

Social Darwinism Racism Application of Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest and natural selection European races were superior to all others and imperial domination of weaker races was nature’s way of improving the human species Racism Racial superiority of the West

Scramble for africa

Increased European Contact Technology allows explorers to enter interior of Africa, not just trading posts along the coast Missionaries follow explorers to convert native Africans to Christianity Paternalistic view of Africans=seen as children that need guidance Dr. Livingstone was well-known missionary and explorer who spent 30 years in Africa Wrote about Africa and writings inspired other Europeans to travel there

Scramble for Colonies King Leopold II of Belgium was first ruler to send explorers into African interior to establish colonies Congo established as colony in 1908 Notorious for ruthless rule Britain, France, Germany soon jump in as well France=Northwest British=East Germany=Central

Berlin Conference (1884-1885) Held to prevent war among Europeans Laid down rules for dividing up Africa European nation could claim land if they notified other European nations they took it and showed they had control of it No natives in attendance

Boer War (1880 South Africa) Boers (Dutch farmers) fought England in order to regain the independence they had given up in order to obtain British help and protection against the native Zulu tribes in the area Significant because this war served as another example of British domination over (white) Africans

Suez Canal Egypt was semi-independent province of Ottoman Empire By late 1800s, Europeans powers has gained economic control over the Ottomans by offered high interest loans In 1875, Egypt begins construction of canal that connects Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea Country had too much debt so they sold shares of the canal and Britain bought them (“owning” the canal) In 1882, Egypt became a protectorate of Britain and continued to modernize

Results? Ethiopia and Liberia remain as only “free” African states at this time Suez Canal promotes trade and travel between Europe, Africa, Asia Some native revolts occurred, but were unsuccessful African tribal and ethnic groups arbitrarily assigned to European nations Will create tensions that will carry into 20th Century