How accurate is it to suggest that men-on-the-spot were primarily responsible for the expansion of the African Empire in the years c1875–1914? (30) 40 minutes

To what extent did the Berlin Conference make the takeover of the African continent, in the name of Christianity, Commerce and Civilisation, inevitable? Themes – metropole and periphery, resistance and accommodation, motives Content – background to the conference, causes of the conference, the conference itself, its decisions and aftermath Key reading – Scramble for Africa book pp. 44-60

What are British attitudes like towards West Africa? To what extent did the Berlin Conference make the takeover of the African continent, in the name of Christianity, Commerce and Civilisation, inevitable? Standard aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference Super aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference whilst linking them with your prior knowledge and themes Disraeli had referred to the empire as being ‘millstones around our necks’. In 1865 an all-party select committee recommended that Britain should relinquish all of its possessions on the West Coast of Africa and not pursue any more to the house of commons. This was because Britain kept being defeated by the Ashanti and private businesses seemed to be able to handle trade in the West without needing government support. What are British attitudes like towards West Africa?

What caused this change? By the late 1870s the mood had changed to Britain wanting to take over more of West Africa. In 1884-1885 Britain even attended the Berlin Conference to make agreements about establishing control over Africa. What caused this change? Disraeli had referred to the empire as being ‘millstones around our necks’. In 1865 an all-party select committee recommended that Britain should relinquish all of its possessions on the West Coast of Africa and not pursue any more to the house of commons. This was because Britain kept being defeated by the Ashanti and private businesses seemed to be able to handle trade in the West without needing government support. CHANGE!

What word sums up this cause? Explain this long term factor. West Africa The French expanded their control in Senegal to virtually swallow up the Gambia. French and King Leopold of the Congo getting Congolese chiefs to sign treaties giving them power. British What word sums up this cause? Explain this long term factor.

What does this show is becoming a problem? The Background... What does this show is becoming a problem? The Niger river was an excellent trading route which could carry palm oil, important for Europe’s industrial revolution. Goldie, who was British, signed treaties with Nigerian chiefs and managed to secure trade on the river. He founded a large company to trade. The French also traded on the river. Eventually, in 1884 the British company decided to undercut it’s French rivals by buying palm oil for more and selling to Nigerian chiefs for less, at a considerable cost to them. It worked and the French companies left.

What was the main reason for a conference being called? Britain had some firms trading on the Congo, but not as many as the Niger. Portugal claimed they owned the Congo estuary, and France had a French colony nearby, Gabon. The English and Portuguese agreed to control the river together. The French and Germans were unhappy about this. Germany was recently unified and wanted to prove it was strong. It also wanted to strengthen ties with France after taking some of its land 15 years earlier (Alsace-Lorraine). Eventually, the French and Germans managed to persuade the Portuguese to put the question of the Congo to all interested parties. Bismarck said he would hold the conference. What was the main reason for a conference being called? How did they manage to persuade Portugal to put the question to interested parties? Why did Bismarck call the conference?

Link in prior knowledge and your themes. To what extent did the Berlin Conference make the takeover of the African continent, in the name of Christianity, Commerce and Civilisation, inevitable? Standard aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference Super aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference whilst linking them with your prior knowledge and themes News Report Explain what caused the Berlin Conference – think of long term and short term factors. Link in prior knowledge and your themes.

Homework Read pp. 44-54 and answer these questions in writing and ready to discuss after half term What was the background to the Berlin Conference? Why was the Berlin Conference called? What was decided at the conference?

To what extent did the Berlin Conference make the takeover of the African continent, in the name of the 3Cs, inevitable? Standard aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference Super aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference whilst linking them with your prior knowledge and themes Cause Sum up this cause in a word How did this cause the Berlin Conference Other Notes The French were expanding their influence in Senegal which was near British Sierra Leone. Britain was determined to hold onto the Gambia. The French had even invested in a new railway linking up their Western Colonies. Goldie, a British trader, was moving further up the river Niger, which the French also had some influence over. Eventually the British and French reached an agreement that France should leave the Niger. Leopold started signing treaties in the Congo with local tribes and said that they meant he ruled them (although in reality they were just trade agreements). France was also getting similar treaties signed in the Congo. The British and Portuguese agreed to navigate the Congo river together. Bismark (the chancellor of Germany) wanted to reconcile with France after they took Alsace-Lorraine. Bismark decided to make up by agreeing with Ferry to put pressure on Britain together over the Congo.

Add the causes of the Berlin Conference to your timeline. To what extent did the Berlin Conference make the takeover of the African continent, in the name of the 3Cs, inevitable? Standard aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference Super aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference whilst linking them with your prior knowledge and themes Add the causes of the Berlin Conference to your timeline. Number your causes from most important to least important Which country was most important for the Conference being called? What can you add from your maps to the causes? How do the causes link into Egypt, metropole and periphery, accommodation and conflict and motives?

Bismark agreed to hold the Conference To what extent did the Berlin Conference make the takeover of the African continent, in the name of the 3Cs, inevitable? Standard aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference Super aim – to explain what caused the Berlin Conference whilst linking them with your prior knowledge and themes Bismark agreed to hold the Conference Portugal agreed to put the question of the Congo to the interested parties. The Niger river and the ‘new occupations’ on the coast of Africa were also on the agenda. They also agreed what may happen to future European takeovers. On a post-it note summarise what caused the Berlin Conference.