1. African
Imperialism

2. Imperialism React to this quote…
“The path of progress is strewn with the wrecks of nations; traces are everywhere to be seen of the [slaughtered remains] of inferior races…Yet these dead people are, in very truth, the stepping stones on which mankind has arisen to the higher intellectual and deeper emotional life of today.”
British Professor Karl Pearson
“National Life from the Standpoint of Science” (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 1900)

3. Causes of Imperialism
Excitement and Dangers of Exploration---The Thrill
Political, Militarism, and Nationalism
(Doc. B – New Imperialism Reading)
Industrial Revolution and New Technology
(Doc C – New Imperialism Reading)
Economic Reasons
(Docs D & E – New Imperialism Reading)
Racism and Social Darwinism
(New Imperialism Reading)
Religion and Humanitarianism

4. Europeans In Africa Britain France Germany Italy Belgium Portugal
By 1914
Portugal
Spain

5. Britain’s claims in Africa were second in size only to France, but included heavily populated areas with greater natural resources.
British Territory
Britain controlled Egypt because of its strategic location.

6. France was very powerful in North Africa, and later spread into West and Central Africa. The territory France controlled was as large as the United States.
French Territory

7. The newly formed German empire had to fight many battles against African natives to take lands in the southern half of Africa.
German Territory
Germany would lose its colonial territories after its loss in World War I.

8. The Italians crossed the Mediterranean and conquered Libya
The Italians crossed the Mediterranean and conquered Libya. They then took Somaliland in the horn of Africa, but were beaten badly by the Ethiopians.
Italian Territory

9. King Leopold and other wealthy Belgians exploited the riches of the Congo, and brutalized the natives. Many Africans were enslaved, beaten, and killed.
Belgium Territory

10. Although the leaders of the old imperialism, the African claims of the Portuguese and Spanish were minimal.
Portuguese Territory
Spanish Territory

11. Liberia and Ethiopia Independent Africans
After the slave trade was outlawed, abolitionists in the United States promoted the idea of returning freed slaves to Africa.
In the early 1800s, President Monroe helped free slaves settle in Liberia. The former slaves named the capital city Monrovia in his honor.
President
Monroe

12. Liberia

13. Liberia and Ethiopia Independent Africans
The Ethiopians kept their freedom through a successful military resistance. Emperor Menelik II modernized the army, along with roads, bridges, and schools.
When the Italians invaded they were defeated so badly by Menelik that no other Europeans tried to take Ethiopia until the 1930s.

14. Ethiopia
Menelik

15. Effects of Imperialism
Positive Results
Negative Results
1. Unified national states created
1. Encouraged tribal wars by creating artificial borders
2. Improved medical care, sanitation, and nutrition
2. Created population explosion  famine
3. Increased agricultural production
3. Produced cash crops needed by Europeans, and not food for Africans
4. Improved transportation and communication facilities
4. Exploited natural resources: minerals, lumber, rubber, human rights.
5. Expanded educational opportunities
5. Downgraded traditional African culture  westernization

16. Congo Free State
The worst atrocities in Africa took place in the Congo Free State
Founded after the Berlin Conference by King Leopold II of Belgium

17. Congo Free State
Leopold claimed he was involved in humanitarian and philanthropic work
He was granted personal control over the region
He was actually after gathering wealth from:
Minerals
Ivory
and especially Rubber (for the booming tire business)

18. Congo Free State
Leopold pledged to suppress the East African slave trade; promote humanitarian policies; guarantee free trade within the colony; and encourage philanthropic and scientific enterprises
Instead, he virtually enslaved the native populations to work for him by using brutal techniques

19. Congo Free State High quotas were set for laborers
If you did not reach the quota, the punishment was torture or death!
“Lazy workers were whipped – sometimes to death
Wives and children were held as hostages to force men to work harder

20. Congo Free State
In order to “prove” they weren’t wasting bullets or hunting, soldiers were required to bring the severed hands of their victims.
The result was solders would collect the hands of children and women as a way of “proving” how many “lazy” workers were punished

21. Congo Free State
In 1903, this brutal treatment was exposed thanks to Roger Casement
Casement Report
He submitted a report to the British Parliament detailing the abuses
This helped lead to forcing Leopold to surrender control of the Congo Free State
It is estimated that over 10 million natives died due to Leopold’s policies