Part 2. Imperialism in Africa

Northern Africa Modernization in Egypt Defensive Modernization: “modernize or be colonized” Mohammad Ali: Turkish general who took control of Egypt from the Turkish sultan (before the Europeans could get to it…) Forced modernizations: Nationalized cotton crops Trained modern army Europeanized cities

Ottoman Empire & the Suez Canal Modernization Project

Modernization in Egypt Ali’s grandson Ismael took over and continued efforts Financed Suez Canal with cotton High Prices due to US Civil War Overstretched his projects Cotton crashed, defaulted on loans French & British banks concerned about defaulted loans, forced Ismael to give up control of finances Urabists led unsuccessful revolt, justification for direct control by British in 1892

Tunisia Like Egypt, Tunisia contracted foreign debts to finance modernization projects When debts could not be paid, the French seized the occasion to establish a protectorate in Tunisia in 1881

Milestones Imperialism in Africa Before 1885, only 10% of continent controlled by Europeans Gold Coast trade, Boers in South Africa Italy present in Erythrea and Somalia (1890-1892) and Libya 1912 French North Africa: France regroups Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco (1912) France annexes Madagascar in 1896 and establishes several colonies in West Africa. Germany settles in Togo and Cameroon 1884 and Tanganyika (modern Tanzania)

1876, Leopold II of Belgium took Belgian Congo as his personal colony 80X size of Belgium Promised to use it for research Notorious for torture, terrorism and genocide Remarkably lucrative, inspired other nations

Berlin Conference: Splitting up the Delicious Cake of Africa King Leopold of Belgium surrounded by European rivals Fighting over the Spoils of Africa

Scramble for Africa: 1880-1885 Competition devolving into war by European nations Berlin Conference 1884-1885 Meeting to divide up Africa w/o war “Delicious cake of Africa” Diffused crisis but rivalries continued 90% of Africa colonized by 1900 (except Ethiopia/Liberia) Video: Crash Course History - Imperialism

Before and After the Berlin conference

European Rivalries continue Franco-British Rivalry 1898 tensions culminated in Fachoda, Sudan French captain Marchand and British Kitchener French capitulated to the British Franco-German Rivalry 1911 France and Germany vied over Morocco France gained domination in exchange for territory in West Africa

The White Man’s Burden Social Darwinism: the natural domination of colonized races Europeans racially superior to the people of Africa, India and Asia Belief that Europeans have moral obligation to civilize the people of colonies as best they can Forced assimilation, Christianity “teach” work ethic through grueling labour

European Missionaries in Africa

The White Man’s Burden Take up the White Man's burden, Send forth the best ye breed   Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness, On fluttered folk and wild--   Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child. Take up the White Man's burden, In patience to abide,   To veil the threat of terror And check the show of pride; By open speech and simple, An hundred times made plain   To seek another's profit, And work another's gain. Take up the White Man's burden, The savage wars of peace--   Fill full the mouth of Famine And bid the sickness cease; And when your goal is nearest The end for others sought,   Watch sloth and heathen Folly Bring all your hopes to nought. Take up the White Man's burden, No tawdry rule of kings,   But toil of serf and sweeper, The tale of common things. The ports ye shall not enter, The roads ye shall not tread,   Go mark them with your living, And mark them with your dead. Take up the White Man's burden And reap his old reward:   The blame of those ye better, The hate of those ye guard-- The cry of hosts ye humour (Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--   "Why brought he us from bondage, Our loved Egyptian night?" Take up the White Man's burden, Ye dare not stoop to less--   Nor call too loud on Freedom To cloke your weariness; By all ye cry or whisper, By all ye leave or do,   The silent, sullen peoples Shall weigh your gods and you. Take up the White Man's burden, Have done with childish days--   The lightly proferred laurel, The easy, ungrudged praise. Comes now, to search your manhood, through all the thankless years   Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom, The judgment of your peers! Rudyard Kipling, 1899 How does Kipling’s poem portray colonized peoples? What is the tone of the poem? Is Kipling praising the civilizing mission? What benefits/ drawbacks of taking up the White Man’s burden are mentioned?

Great Colonial Empires in 1914 2 Great imperial powers The United Kingdom 33 million km² 450 million inhabitants African colonies + India, Birma, Singapor France 10 million km² 48 million inhabitants African colonies + New Caledonia /Indochina

Domination in various forms Direct Rule French Colonial possessions ruled by a French respresentative Colonized people very little involved in colonial administration French population Minority Holds most power

Algeria Settlement Colony French and Algerians unequal rights Indigenous Code Separate penal code for natives Effective segregation (e.g. town planning)

Views on Imperialism back home Majority of Europeans supported Imperialism Seen as way to build strong nations at home Flex muscle of national superiority Some Critics voiced dissatisfaction with process J.A. Hobson - British socialist economist Imperialism result of unregulated capitalism Colonies not beneficial in the long run Diverted resources away from domestic issues

More Criticism of Imperialism Anti-Imperialism Literature Joseph Conrad – “Heart of Darkness” Exposed torture and crimes against Africans Edward Morel – “Black Man’s Burden” International Socialists pinned imperialism as the final stage of capitalism Social critics pointed to hypocrisy of expanding rights and voting at home while denying freedoms abroad

Native Responses to Imperialism Violent Uprisings against colonizers Almost always ended poorly for natives Superior weapons and training for West Traditionalists – rejected Western ways Modernists – adapted to West Most Asians and Africans eventually conformed

Native Responses to Imperialism Maji Maji Rebellion in German East Africa (modern Tanzinia) 1905-1907 Reaction to German colonial policy of forcing indigenous population to grow cotton for export German hold on territory weak so resorted to violent repression to keep control - imposed heavy taxes, used forced labor to build infrastructure

Herero Uprising in Namibia 1907 Racial extermination policy implemented by German colonialists in German southwest Africa (Namibia) Death by starvation and dehydration, after uprising against German colonial rule, German counterattack driving Africans into the desert where most died of dehydration 1st genocide of the 20th century

Assimilated Modernists’ Reaction Indigenous nationalism Modern native elites educated in Europe expect treatment of liberty and equality as taught in Western education Leopold Sedar Senghor from Senegal Develops idea of Negritude – pride in African identity Colonization challenged by communist propaganda Ho Chi Minh from Indochina

First Cracks in the Empire 1920-1930 after WWI Colonized peoples participate in war effort, expect recognition for their sacrifices Nationalist movements gain ground Population becomes pro-independent Politically more structured Most active in India, Indochina, North Africa, Syria and Lebanon

Video: Colonialism in 10 minutes, The Scramble for Africa

Homework Required reading The World Since 1914, by Joe Scott, Part 8, “The End of Empire” (6 pages) (see blog) Prepare case study presentations in groups: DR Congo, Kenya, Algeria & Ghana Optional/additional reading: The Unfinished Nation by Alan Brinkley Chapter 20 The Imperial Republic, pp 534-554 Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe Chapter 24 The End of the European Empires, pp. 509-541