Imperialists Divide Africa Chapter 27 Section 1 Pages

Objectives: To describe Africa before European domination. To summarize the motives of European colonizers and the factors allowing them to control Africa. To identify the three groups that clashed in South Africa.

Main Idea: Ignoring the claims of African ethnic groups, kingdoms, & city-state, Europeans established colonial claims. Why it Matters Now: African nations continue to feel the effects of the colonial presence of 100 years ago.

Africa before imperialism African peoples divided into hundreds of ethnic & linguistic groups Most followed tradition beliefs/others converted to Islam/Christianity Groups spoke more than 1,000 different languages Ranged from large empires to independent villages Largest empire  West Africa (10 million peak) Europeans established contact as early 1450s/controlled very little land Powerful African armies kept Europeans out most of Africa for 400 years 1880 Europeans controlled only 10% of continent's land  mainly on coast Interior travel was virtually impossible  Europeans could not navigate African rivers until steamboats Large networks of Africans conducted trade Trade networks kept Europeans from controlling trade items such as gold & ivory  Chokew  ivory & beeswax in Angola highland

Nations compete for overseas empires Congo sparked interest for European powers David Livingstone 1860s  traveled to find source of Nile River  deep into central Africa No news…thought to be dead…until American news report (Henry Stanley) found him in 1871 on shores of Lake Tanganyika  Story made headlines around the world 1879 Stanley returned to Africa & 1882 he signed treaties with local chiefs of Congo River Valley Gave King Leopold II of Belgium person control of these land  Motive  est. colony to abolish slave trade/ licenses companies to exploited Africans forcing to collect sap from rubber plants  Humanitarians would demand change on conditions of Congolese  1908 Belgian government took over colony & Belgian Congo Belgian seizure of Congo alarmed other European countries & soon followed example: France 1882 approved a treaty gaining northern bank of the Congo River Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal & Spain would following claiming parts of Africa

Motives driving imperialism Mid 1800s Europeans started to expand their control to new lands  Imperialism (Control by a strong nation over a weaker nation) 4 Basic reasons for Imperialism: 1. $$$$$$$$ -Europeans wanted colonies to provide raw materials for their factories & to sell their goods 2. Nationalism  gain colonies to show national strength 3. Racism  belief that one race is better than others  Social Darwinism- use Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution to explain human societies  “Survival of the Fittest” 4. Christian Missionaries  convert people to their religion

Forces enabling imperialism

African Lands Become European Colonies Scramble for African territory began 1880 French expand from West Africa coast toward western Sudan Discovery of diamond 1867 & gold 1886 in South Africa increased European interest colonizing land No European power wanted to left out

Berlin Conference Divides Africa Competition was fierce to prevent fighting  Berlin Conference (14 European Nations) in Agreed: European country could claim land in Africa by notify other nations of their claims & showing they could control area Divided Africa with little thought of how African ethnic or linguistic groups were distributed. No African ruler attend these meetings 1914 only Liberia & Ethiopia remained free from European control

Demand for Product Shapes Colonies European countries began colonizing in the belief that Africans would buy European goods in great quantity  not the case European businesses still needed raw materials from Africa Business developed cash-crop plantation  peanuts, palm oil, cocoa & rubber Hurt local farmers  displaced families/couldn’t feed kids Major source of great wealth in Africa  rich mineral resources Belgian Congo contained untold wealth in copper & tin South Africa  gold & diamonds

Three Groups Clash over South Africa 1800s Zulu  chief Shaka fought to win more land Shaka’s successors not able to keep kingdom intact British controlled by 1887 British took over control Dutch colony on southern coast  Dutch settler/Boers  moved to escape British control  Great Trek Boer War- diamonds & gold discovered in S. Africa /outsides from all parts rushed in to make a fortune Boer tried to keep outsiders from gaining political rights Rebellion against Boers failed/Boers blamed British  1899 took up arms against the British First modern “total” war  Boers launched commando raids & guerrilla tactics against British  British countered burning Boer farms & imprisoning women & kids Britain won the war & 1902 Boer republic joined self governing Union of South Africa controlled by British