The Scramble for Africa

Ch 11 Section 1

Africa before European domination

• Africa was divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups.

• Europeans had established contact with some African regions south of the Sahara desert as early as 1450, but powerful African armies stopped them taking over. (By 1880, Europe controlled a mere 10% of Africa)

• Africans controlled their own trade systems.• Traditional African beliefs were practiced along with

Christianity and Islam.

Causes of Imperialism• Belief of Europeans in racial superiority

(racism)

• Social Darwinism- the belief that evolution and nature apply to humanity, survival of the fittest applied.

• Need for raw materials (petroleum, ivory, rubber. Gold and diamonds in southern Africa)

• New technology (from industrial revolution)

• Military Strength (i.e. machine gun v spears)

Factors allowing Europeans to overcome the main difficulties of “The Dark Continent”

• Technology, new weapons, new steam ships, railroads.

• Europeans developed quinine as a protection against malaria.

• Europeans played off African rivalries on one another and kept them from becoming unified.

The Division of Africa

• Berlin Conference- in 1884-1885, European nations met to establish rules for the colonization of Africa.– They agree any European nation could take parts

of Africa after notifying other European nations. (no African consent required)

• By 1914 Africa was divided up with only Ethiopia and Liberia remaining free.

• New boundaries did not consider the rights or needs of Africans.

Percentage of Africa Controlled by European Countries in 1913

The need for raw materials

• Africans did buy many of Europe’s goods.• The real wealth for the Europeans came from

raw mineral resources found in Africa.• Belgian Congo- tin and copper• South Africa- diamonds and gold• Cash crop plantations such as peanuts, palm oil,

cocoa and rubber replaced food as a source of agricultural production.

• Famine and starvation would soon become a problem.

The “Need” for Raw Materials

From the Belgian Congo, came copper & tin

The clashes in S. Africa• Zulu fight the British-Shaka the leader of the Zulu formed a well

trained army in an effort to create a bigger state.

-The Zulu bravely fought the British using spears and shields but eventually were defeated by the British in July 1879 at the battle of Ulundi.

-By 1887, the Zulu had fallen under British domination.

The Zulu

The Boer Wars

The Boer Wars

• The Boers were Dutch settlers (farmers) who had arrived in Africa in the 1600’s.

• They built large farms through the 1800’s until the British arrived.

• In the 1830’s, they moved north to escape British rule in what is called The Great Trek.

• The Boers then found themselves fighting the Zulu and other tribes whose lands they were taking. The Boers were ultimately successful and created their own lands

The Boer Wars

• When gold and diamonds were discovered in the areas inhabited by the Boers in 1890’s, the British sought to take the land from them.

• The Boers fought back against the British using guerilla tactics. Britain burned much of the Boer lands in retaliation.

• The British used concentration camps and over 14,000 Africans were killed.

• By 1910, the Boers were defeated and the union of South Africa was formed under British rule.