Imperialism in Africa

Before Imperialism  Diversity  1,000 languages and groups  Various sizes of political bodies (from villages to empires)  Christian, Muslim and Traditionalist religions  Europeans enter the scene 1450 AD  They only could build forts on the coasts because of disease and strong African armies  Wanted slaves and refueling stations to reach Asia

Explorer Dr. David Livingstone  Goal = “Christianity, commerce and civilization” to Africa  Three trips into Africa ( )  Wrote travel-adventure books about Africa’s beauty and vast natural resources  “Discovered” Victoria Falls

The Scramble for Africa A 33 year period from about 1881 to 1914 when European powers conquered nearly all of Africa.

The Berlin Conference  What: Meeting hosted by Otto von Bismarck, leader of Germany, to make rules for claiming territory in Africa.  Rules created:  Colonies had to be "effectively occupied” (planting a flag does not equal ownership)  Had to defend and administer the area  By 1913, only Ethiopia and Liberia were independent

Imperialism in Africa Case Studies

Opening What happens to people who don’t unite against a common threat?

Let’s look at a few specific case studies of imperialism in Africa

Case Study: The Congo

Case Study: The Congo Before Imperialism  Rain forest, plateau  Early site of iron and copper work  Bantu speaking peoples  Traded in ivory, people for slavery

Case Study: The Congo Motives for Imperialism  Belgian King Leopold II  Economic  Rubber for shoes and gloves, but especially automobile tires  Ivory, iron, copper  Ideological  Claimed he wanted to “end the slave trade”

Case Study: The Congo Methods of Imperialism  Belgian King Leopold II  Enslaved native Africans  Ordered the “Force Publique” to beat, mutilate and kill to meet quotas for rubber and ivory  Millions were killed

Case Study: The Congo After Imperialism Time Period (Years)What Happened The African Congo Free State (1877–1908)Period of King Leopold II’s exploitation Belgian Congo ( )Direct rule by Belgium’s parliament The Congo Crisis (1960 – 1971)Independence leads to civil war Zaire ( )Corruption and dictatorship Democratic Republic of Congo (1997 – ???)Civil wars in neighboring Uganda and Rwanda have spilled into the country

Case Study: The Congo After Imperialism  Today  Civil war continues  5 million killed  45,000 killed per month  Attacks on civilians  Millions of refugees  Child soldiers  Rape used as a method of warfare (200,000 reported)  One of the poorest countries in the world

Closing Considering what happened in the Congo, people should unite against a common threat because…

Opening What happens if you have two plants, but only water one of them?

Case Study: South Africa

Case Study: South Africa Before Imperialism  Early human sites  United by Shaka Zulu  “Cape of Good Hope” was a key port for Europeans on the way to trade in Asia  Dutch settlers called the Boers arrived in 1652

Case Study: South Africa Motives for Imperialism  Political Motive  Strategic location  Economic Motives  1. Diamonds  2. Gold -1886

Case Study: South Africa Methods of Imperialism  British vs. Zulu (Blacks)  Zulu nearly win with spears and shields!  Zulu lose kingdom (1879) submit to British (1887)  British vs. Boers (Dutch)  Boer War (1899 – 1910)  Racial Discrimination

Case Study: South Africa After Imperialism  Independence from Britain (1910)  Racial Discrimination (1910 – 1948)  Laws restricting voting, housing, property, schooling, jobs…  Apartheid (1948 – 1994)  Segregation of whites, blacks and mixed people ends with Nelson Mandela

Case Study: South Africa After Imperialism  Today  80% Black  Developing Nation  Economic growth – success story  Huge wealth/income gaps remain between racial groups

Closing Considering what happened in South Africa, people should water all their plants because…

Opening Can someone be forced to change?

Case Study: Ivory Coast

Case Study: Ivory Coast Before Imperialism  Large rich societies  Kong Empire  Gyaaman  Baoule  Islam, traditional religions  Transatlantic slave trade (1500 – 1870)

Case Study: Ivory Coast Before Imperialism To slavery in the Americas

Case Study: Ivory Coast Motives for Imperialism  Political Motive  France wanted all of West Africa  Ideological  Wanted to make West Africa French  Economic Motive  Natural resources – people for slavery, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and IVORY

Case Study: Ivory Coast Methods of Imperialism  Faster Transportation  Controlled trade on the rivers and in and out of the country’s ports  Assimilation  Forced Africans to learn French language, culture and Christianity

Case Study: Ivory Coast After Imperialism  Independence from France (1960)  Official language is French  Islam, Christianity and traditional religions are practiced

Closing Considering what happened in the Ivory Coast, people should not force others to change because…