Empire Building in Africa

West Africa Interest in resources and trade Europe sets up colonies Earliest area to be colonized Europe sets up colonies Largest amount controlled by France Britain gained control of the Gold Coast and Nigeria Germany had few colonies comparatively

North Africa Egypt independent of Ottoman Empire Modernized army and schools in Egypt New factories and railways (borrowed money from Britain) Used money to build Suez Canal Extremely valuable for Indian trade Muhammad Ali

North Africa Britain wants control of Suez Canal Revolt in 1883 allowed Britain to intervene Took control of the canal Makes Egypt protectorate (1914)

North Africa France hopes to compete with Britain Occupies Algeria Protectorate over Morocco Near war between two countries after Fashoda Incident Did not end in conflict; both countries more worried about Germany…

Quick Word about Germany… Just became a country in 1871 under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck Three separate wars gave Germany large amounts of land (including French territory) Very militaristic, but Bismarck tried to reduce tensions

East Africa Germany late to begin colonizing (not important to Bismarck) Competition begins with Britain Wanted to avoid conflicts (see S. Africa)

East Africa Berlin Conference (1886) sparked massive push to colonize Increased rivalries between European countries Italy among the only countries to not receive colonies (defeated by Ethiopia in 1895)

South Africa Dutch settlers (Boers) arrive in S. Africa in mid-1600s Taken by Britain after Napoleonic wars 1830s- Boers moved north of British rule in the Great Trek; forced to fight against the Zulu tribe

Eventually subdued with the help of the British

South Africa Mining companies founded by Cecil Rhodes Attempts to incite revolution in Boer settlement Bloody Boer War (1899-1902)= British victory Union of South Africa continued