1. Imperialism in Africa notes

2. Main ideas & background information

3. 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

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

7. Why now? MARKETS FOR GOODS ACQUIRE RESOURCES INTRODUCE CHRISTIANITY
NATIONALISM

8. 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)

9. 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

10. Scramble for africa

11. 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

12. 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
Notorious for ruthless rule
Britain, France, Germany soon jump in as well
France=Northwest
British=East
Germany=Central

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

18. 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