Imperialism in Africa

Unit 8 – Ms. Doyle

Page 3: Imperialism in Africa

WARM UP

Make a list of everything you know about Africa(Hint: Think people,

countries, culture, history, events, etc.)

Agenda:Warm UpNotesPolitical CartoonViewpoints Impacts Chart – Positive

vs. Negative

Scramble for Africa

Day 2: Page 2: Imperialism in Africa

• Africa is approximately 3 times the size of Europe and was made up of many regions, languages, cultures, and governments.

• Transatlantic slave trade: the trading of slaves from their home in Africa to European traders in North and South America, across the Atlantic Ocean.

• European traders began to move further inland in Africa because they were fascinated with African geography

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• Christian missionaries followed explorers into Africa with the hope to spread Christianity– Missionaries built schools, churches, and fought against

the evil of the slave trade• As missionaries reported back to Europe, rulers

sent explorers to “check out” Africa• Shortly after, Kings hired explorers to arrange trade

treaties with African leaders• Before long, Britain, France, and Germany were

claiming land in Africa

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• In order to avoid war with the European countries claiming land in Africa, the countries met at the Berlin Conference in Africa to discuss how Africa would be divided. NO AFRICANS WERE INVITED TO THE CONFERENCE– The redrawing of Africa was done without

consideration of traditional patterns or ethnic boundaries

• The rush to colonize Africa was on!

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• The European countries exploited the riches of Africa (ivory, copper, rubber) and drastically declined the labor force using brutal force and mutilation

• Boer War lasted for 3 years between Britain and Boers and was fought over the discovery of gold and diamonds– War involved guerilla fighting– Britain won at a great cost to the Boers– Britain set up a new government with a constitution which

segregated the whites and Africans; this segregation lasted until 1993

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• Africans resisted imperialism constantly fighting wars against European nations

• These wars often led to European nations burning hundreds of acres of farmland which led thousands of African locals to starve

• Ethiopia and Liberia were the only African nations to preserve their independence!

Imperialism in Africa: Cartoon Response

Directions: Answer the following questions based on the cartoon.

1. According to this cartoon, which European countries were fighting for a position in Africa?

2. How did the Berlin Conference lead to the situation shown in the cartoon?