The Berlin Conference (1884) Meeting of European powers to carve out “spheres of influence” in Africa

The Berlin Conference (1884) Why the desire to have influence in Africa? Africa’s vast mineral resources Europeans were competing with each other

The Berlin Conference (1884) The representatives at the conference literally drew, erased, and re-drew boundaries WITH NO REGARD FOR THE TRIBAL REALITIES IN AFRICA Natural boundaries like rivers and mountains were ignored

The Berlin Conference (1884) Africans from the same tribal (ethnic) groups found themselves separated and under different colonial rulers Hostile tribes often found themselves within the same political boundaries

The Berlin Conference (1884)

King Leopold II of Belgium Brutal ruler over what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo Used forced labor to extract rubber, copper, diamonds, ivory, and gold

King Leopold II of Belgium Congolese that didn’t cooperate or didn’t produce enough wealth had their hands chopped off

The Berlin Conference (1884) Many of Africa’s tribal conflicts today can be traced to the ill effects of the Berlin Conference