What is a “social problem” What is a “social problem”? What are some social problems we have here in the United States?
What are some social problems you know of in Africa?
Malaria
AIDS
Child Soldiers
Poor Sanitation
Why does Africa struggle with these social issues? Why is Africa so poor?
Roots of Africa’s struggles Slavery Europeans set up ports in Africa to find a water route to India and Middle East These ports became centers for slave trade Between 1400-1870, some scholars estimate up to 30 million black Africans were enslaved Europeans wanted slaves for plantations in the Americas African merchants traded slaves for guns
Roots of Africa’s struggles Colonialism By 1870, slave trade ended (think Civil War) At this time, Africa was made up of hundreds of different ethnic groups that spoke hundreds of different languages Africa became valuable to European leaders when they realized it had natural resources Europeans wanted the raw materials to fuel the Industrial Revolution in Europe
Roots of Africa’s struggles Berlin Conference Europeans did not want to fight over Africa 14 European nations held the Berlin Conference in 1884-85 to divide up Africa No African rulers were invited
Roots of Africa’s struggles Berlin Conference Europeans decided that any European country could claim African territory by showing that they could control the area Split up ethnic and language groups Berlin Conference is one of the root causes of political violence and ethnic conflicts in Africa
Ethnic Groups of Africa
Roots of Africa’s struggles African Resources One of the richest continents for minerals Gold, diamonds, copper and platinum Europeans developed African resources for export to Europe to manufacture goods there African nations have been slow to develop industry
South Africa’s Violent Past Apartheid Legal Separation of the races From 1948 to 1994: Blacks were denied citizenship and placed in Homelands government segregated education, medical care, and other public services, and provided black people with services greatly inferior to those of whites.
Homelands
Homelands
This man led the resistance movement against apartheid.
WHO IS HE? Nelson Mandela
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Nelson Mandela