Western Western ImperialismImperialism

The Scramble for Africa

Imperialism• Stronger nations attempt to

create empires by dominating weaker (not necessarily smaller) nations – Economically– Politically– Culturally– Militarily

4 Main Factors in the Growth of Imperialism

1. Economic2. Nationalistic3. Military 4. Humanitarian

Economic Factors• Industrialization created a need

for more natural resources• Where were most natural

resources found?

Underdeveloped Countries

Africa Asia

Military Factors• Advances in technology• Stronger armies & navies• Need for military bases• Africans & Asians could not

compete

Nationalistic Factors

• Nationalism = a devotion to one’s nation

• Feelings of superiority• White man = “civilized”• Africans & Asians = “uncivilized”• “The White Man’s Burden”

(Rudyard Kipling)

CAUSES OF IMPERIALISMECONOMIC INTERESTS POLITICAL & MILITARY

INTERESTSManufacturers wanted access to natural resources.Manufacturers hoped for new markets for factory goods. Colonies offered a valuable outlet for Europe’s growing population.

Merchant ships and naval vessels needed bases around the world.Western leaders were motivated by nationalism.

HUMANITARIAN GOALS

Many westerners felt concern for their “little brothers” overseas.Missionaries, doctors, and colonial officials believed they had a duty to spread western civilization.

SOCIAL DARWINISM

Many westerners viewed European races as superior to all others. They saw imperial conquest as nature’s way of improving the human species.

FORMS OF IMPERIAL RULE

COLONIES PROTECTORATESSPHERES

OF INFLUENCE

The French practiced direct rule, sending officials to administer their colonies.

The British practiced on indirect rule, using local rulers to govern their colonies.

In a protectorate, local rulers were left in place but were expected to follow the advice of European advisers.

A protectorate cost less to run than a colony and usually did not require a large military presence.

A sphere of influence is an area in which an outside power claimed exclusive investment or trading privileges.

The United States claimed Latin America as its sphere of influence.

White Man’s Burden

By Rudyard Kipling

White Man’s Burden

• Why did Kipling consider imperialism to be beneficial?

• He thought the “captive” peoples would benefit from the imperialists’ efforts to end famine and disease.

AFRICA IN THE EARLY 1800’S

NORTH AFRICA WEST AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA EAST AFRICA

Since long before 1800, the region had close ties to the Muslim world. In the early 1800s, much of the region remained under the rule of the declining Ottoman

Empire.

On the grasslands, Islamic leaders preached jihad, a holy struggle, to revive and purify Islam.

In the forest regions, the Asante controlled smaller states. These smaller tributary states were ready to turn to Europeans to help them

defeat their Asante rulers.

Zulu aggression caused mass migrations and wars and created chaos across much of the region.

Islam had long influenced the coast, where a profitable slave trade was carried on.

How the scramble began

1870s• Belgian King

Leopold II- established trade with native Africans in the Congo

• This single act began an Imperialistic frenzy to Africa

The Berlin Conference

• Where: Berlin (surprise), Germany

• When: 1884-1885• Who: The US and 14

European nations• Missing: Africans

(weren’t invited!)• Purpose: to avoid

potential conflict in Africa

Created the following guidelines:

• Any sovereign power that wanted to claim any territory should inform the other powers

• Any such annexation should be validated by effective occupation

• Treaties with African rulers were to be considered a valid title to sovereignty

IMPERIALISM IN AFRICA TO 1914

AFRICAN RESISTENCE• Algerians battled the French for years.

• The Zulus in southern Africa and the Asante in West Africa battled the British.

• East Africans fought wars against the Germans.

• In Ethiopia, King Menelik II modernized his country. When Italy invaded, Ethiopia was prepared. Ethiopia was the only nation, aside from Liberia, to preserve its independence.

CLOSURE

• Name three forms of imperial control.

• What is the difference between direct and indirect rule?

Response

• Direct and indirect rule.• Protectorates• Sphere of Influence

• French – direct rule - sent officers from France to run their colonies.

• British – indirect – chose local officers.