1.Definition of ‘Scramble for Africa’ 1.What European nations imperialized Africa? 2.What the causes were. 3.What the effects were.

From the 900s – 1500s, the slave trading had been going on in Africa long before European countries started visiting Africa’s west coast to buy slaves. From the 1500s – 1800s, African nations participated in the Atlantic Slave Trade. European countries would buy or bargain for slaves, then ship them to North and South America for their colonization efforts.

In the 1870s the Belgians began to trade with Africans in the Congo. King Leopold Fearing they would miss out on various raw materials, the other European nations scrambled to establish their presence on the continent.

In 1884, to avoid conflict amongst themselves, European leaders met at the Berlin Conference to set up rules for colonizing Africa. No Africans were invited. Berlin Conference

The European powers agreed that before they could claim territory they would have to set up an outpost. Whoever was the first to build the outpost gained that area of land. Berlin Conference

CausesEffects 1. Europe’s Industrial Revolution1. Encouraged tribal wars by creating artificial borders 2. Fear of being left behind of other European countries efforts 2. Downgraded traditional African culture  westernization 3. Access to natural resources needed for industry – Palm oil, minerals, lumber and rubber 3. Exploited natural resources: minerals, lumber, rubber, human rights. 4. Gaining foreign outposts and additional land 4. Produced cash crops needed by Europeans, and not food for Africans