Colonization on the African Continent

T-Dawg, 2008

The “Scramble for Africa” had

originally been made regardless of

indigenous (existing) ethnic

diversity.The boundaries created by Europeans led to civil

warsamong Africans

-Why would this cause fighting?

Early Africa saw the rise of powerful empires and city states that became important cultural

centers

From the 1500’s to the 1800’s

Europeans explored the continent (missionaries + maps) Enslaved many Africans Sent them to other parts of the world-Where were they going?

Resist or Submit?Resist or Submit? Think about the following:Think about the following:

– You are as you are: young man or young woman. You are as you are: young man or young woman. – A group of people have come into your land and A group of people have come into your land and

homes and demanded you to give up your rights and homes and demanded you to give up your rights and become slaves, or die. They have superior weapons.become slaves, or die. They have superior weapons.

– You have parents, siblings, friends, etc.You have parents, siblings, friends, etc.– If you submit, If you submit, you will liveyou will live but you will lose your rights but you will lose your rights

Life will be hard. You will be forced to work for them and Life will be hard. You will be forced to work for them and they will take all of your possessions and money.they will take all of your possessions and money.

– If you chose to resist:If you chose to resist: You will fight a losing battle. Even if you do not die, your You will fight a losing battle. Even if you do not die, your

friends and family will.friends and family will. What do you do? Resist or Collaborate?What do you do? Resist or Collaborate?

This conference would avoid a European conflict/war that might arise from claims.

Commercial greed, territorial ambition, and political rivalry fuelled the European take over of Africa. This resulted in Africa's partition (division of land on the continent) at the

West African Conference in Berlin November, 1884 through February,1885. The process became known as "The

Scramble for Africa".

The “Scramble for Africa” had the effect of defusing and displacing tensions between the European powers in Europe. However, the tradeoffs and alliances could not disguise the fact that Imperial Germany was on a collision course with

Britain and France resulting in WWI.-Why is this?

The West African Conference in Berlin to divide the African Continent among the European nations.

Berlin Conference of 1884-1885

France

BelgiumGreat Britain

Independent

Portugal

Italy

Spain

Germany

IndustrialRevolutionIndustrialRevolution

Source forRaw

Materials

Source forRaw

Materials

Markets for FinishedGoods

Markets for FinishedGoods

EuropeanNationalismEuropean

NationalismMissionaryActivity

MissionaryActivity

Military & Naval Bases Military & Naval Bases

EuropeanMotives

For Colonization

EuropeanMotives

For Colonization

Places to dump Unwanted/Excess

Population

Places to dump Unwanted/Excess

Population

Social & EconomicOpportunities

Social & EconomicOpportunities

HumanitarianReasons

HumanitarianReasons

European RacismEuropean Racism

“White Man’sBurden”

“White Man’sBurden”

SocialDarwinism

SocialDarwinism

Africa has some of the world’s largest deposits of gold, diamonds, and

copper. Oil is found in western and central Africa.

Europe felt depleted of natural resources needed for industrialization.

Many of the nations had an interest in the raw materials found in Africa.

Foreign trade increased

How Did Europeans Get Land?How Did Europeans Get Land? Advancements in Exploration, Advancements in Exploration,

Medicine (Quinine) and Medicine (Quinine) and Technology (Weapons)Technology (Weapons)

Two Methods:Two Methods:– Take Through ForceTake Through Force

Superior weapons Superior weapons (repeater rifles and gatling (repeater rifles and gatling guns) to the African bows guns) to the African bows and spearsand spears

– Take Through TreatiesTake Through Treaties Become “Protectorate”Become “Protectorate” Chiefs agree to give up Chiefs agree to give up

powerpower Lugard: “Not a one was Lugard: “Not a one was

obtained legally.”obtained legally.”– Lie, steal, cheat, ki l l .Lie, steal, cheat, ki l l .

Biography: Cecil RhodesBiography: Cecil Rhodes The Man Who Bought The Man Who Bought

Africa for BritainAfrica for Britain– Earned $ by fruit farmingEarned $ by fruit farming

Borrowed to buy his fieldBorrowed to buy his field Created De Beers Created De Beers

– Berlin ConferenceBerlin Conference Convinced Britain to take Convinced Britain to take

smaller areas rich in smaller areas rich in diamonds.diamonds.

– Pushed workers to the maxPushed workers to the max Firm racist (whites Firm racist (whites

superior)superior) Whites: Easy jobsWhites: Easy jobs Blacks: Work in minesBlacks: Work in mines Millions worked to death!Millions worked to death!

Gold Copper Diamond Iron Bauxite Phosphate Cobalt Manganese

Mineral Resources

Coffee Rubber Cotton KapokSugarTea

EXAMPLES OF CASH CROPS

Check for UnderstandingCheck for Understanding Why did Africa get divided up between Why did Africa get divided up between

European Countries?European Countries?– Who had the most land? Who had the Who had the most land? Who had the

highest quality land? Who was upset about highest quality land? Who was upset about getting the least?getting the least?

Why did Europeans want African Land?Why did Europeans want African Land?– What was there? How did they get it? Who What was there? How did they get it? Who

was made rich?was made rich?

The Advantages

and Disadvantages of Colonization

Positives Negatives

Introduced different and modern ideas of education,

government, and economics

Tribal warfare was ended by the colonial

administrators. The European colonial powers established their law and order over large areas of

the continent.

“the Scramble” prevented the formation

of a unified national spirit necessary to start

a new independent country.

Left a legacy of oppression and

economically crippled the regions of Africa.

The missionaries wrote the languages and made dictionaries for the many native languages that

had only been passed by oral tradition.

Schools were established and some African students attended universities

abroad.

Colonial rulers built railroads, but the tracks ran north and south to carry raw

materials to ports.

Few rail lines went into the interior of the continent.

Colonial rulers built railroads.

Positives

Negatives

By the end of the 19th century Europeans were straddling the continent with railways and roads. This made it possible to take

control – politically and commercially.

Medical and sanitary changes were provided by

the Europeans

Positive

Colonial policies turned Africans into wage earners or

cash-crop farmers.

Hundreds of thousands of Africans were hired and

trained to operate machines for getting minerals to surface.

Money was needed (by the Africans) to pay taxes to the colonial rulers.

Many Africans became economically dependent

on European trade.

The profits of all trade and manufacturing was not invested in Africa.

Positives

Negatives

Life Under Colonized RuleLife Under Colonized Rule White Settler RegionsWhite Settler Regions

– Areas where Europeans Areas where Europeans were very present and in were very present and in chargecharge Areas ruled by Areas ruled by

Belgium, PortugalBelgium, Portugal– Life was Life was mostmost brutal. brutal.

Labor, punishment, Labor, punishment, taxes.taxes.

– No opportunity to succeed.No opportunity to succeed. No choices, no l i fe.No choices, no l i fe.

Non-White Settler Non-White Settler RegionsRegions– Areas where Europeans Areas where Europeans

put Africans in charge and put Africans in charge and were not as present.were not as present. Areas colonized by Areas colonized by

Britain and France Britain and France – Life was bad, but easierLife was bad, but easier

Freedom… if you Freedom… if you labored and paid your labored and paid your taxes.taxes.

Possible for Africans to Possible for Africans to get ahead in life.get ahead in life.

– Able to chose Able to chose what to grow what to grow (market economy).(market economy).

Push for IndependencePush for Independence Africans fought with Africans fought with

Europeans in both World Europeans in both World War I & II.War I & II.

WWII- “A war to make WWII- “A war to make the world safe for the world safe for democracy and democracy and freedom.”freedom.”

Africans- “What about Africans- “What about us?”us?”

– Movements start at Movements start at “grassroots” level“grassroots” level

– Sometimes multiple Sometimes multiple movements in the same movements in the same country.country. Some areas were very Some areas were very

bloody, some were bloody, some were peaceful.peaceful.

Political independence did not bring economic independence.

African countries continued to export agricultural and mineral products to their former rulers.

There was little money to build factories. The profits of all

trade and manufacturing were not invested in Africa – and

most of the profits or benefits went to Europeans instead of

Africans.

Many African countries depended on a single export crop which was

RISKY

By not DIVERSIFYING a country leaves itself open to large LOSSES when the price of a product falls on

the world market.

Check For Understanding 2Check For Understanding 2 What were some positive aspects of What were some positive aspects of

colonization? What was negative?colonization? What was negative? Why would railroads be both positive and Why would railroads be both positive and

negative?negative? Why is cash cropping a positive and a Why is cash cropping a positive and a

negative thing?negative thing? How could life be different depending on How could life be different depending on

the European nation which ruled?the European nation which ruled? Why did World War II encourage Why did World War II encourage

independence?independence?