1. Nibbling at Africa

2. Tiny bites . . .
Ports of convenience: landings established by European nations along the coast of Africa to resupply ships on the way to the Pacific.
Ports expanded into colonies.

3. Advantages of Colonies
More land, more prestige, more power
Natural resources
Military bases
Tax revenues, built-in market

4. Royal Niger Company Standard Treaty
Read treaty & answer questions.

5. Royal Niger Company Standard Treaty
By accepting this treaty, what were the chieftains giving up?
What benefits were the Africans to receive by signing the treaty?
What does use of the standard treaty signify about English attitudes toward and knowledge of the Africans?
What does the treaty indicate about the motives of the British in Africa?

6. By accepting this treaty, what were the chieftains giving up?
Their territory, forever.
Power to settle internal disputes
The ability to wage war without permission of the Royal Niger Company
The right to mine, farm, and build in any portion of their country
No business dealings with other countries or companies without permission of the Royal Niger Company

7. What benefits were the Africans to receive by signing the treaty?
Royal Niger Company will not interfere with existing laws or customs except to maintain order and good government
Will be paid a “reasonable amount”
British will protect them from neighboring tribes
Will pay “native value”

8. What does use of the standard treaty signify about English attitudes toward and knowledge of the Africans?
They were interchangeable
They were only important for the land and resources they could provide the British
They were not considered capable of managing their own affairs
They could be “bought”

9. What does the treaty indicate about the motives of the British in Africa?
They were there to acquire the maximum amount of land and resources for the minimum investment
They would do just about anything to acquire the land
They wanted to control the land after the treaty