Imperialists divide Africa Chapter 11 section 1

Why do we care? Main Idea: Why it matters now: Ignoring the claims of African ethnic groups, kingdoms, and city-states, the Europeans established colonial claims. Why it matters now: African nations continue to feel the effects of the colonial presences of 100 years ago. In what ways?

Africa Before Imperialism Hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups. More than 1,000 different languages. Ranged politically from large empires to independent villages. Largest empire peaked at 10 million people.

Africa Before Imperialism Europeans established contact with Africans as early as the 1450s. Yet, by 1880, Europeans controlled only 10% of Africa, mainly on the coast. Why? Powerful African armies Europeans could not navigate dangerous rivers into the interior. Needed steam-powered riverboats Large trade networks were already established. Gold, ivory, beeswax Why did the Europeans control such a small portion of Africa in the 1800s?

What is Imperialism? Imperialism: the takeover of a country or territory by a stronger nation with the intent of dominating the political, economic, and social life of the people of that nation. Old Imperialism: 1. Trade routes with the Far East 2.Explore the New World 3. Settlements, trading posts 4. Worked closely with local rulers New Imperialism: Economic needs Empire building = national greatness

Motives Driving New Imperialism Economic: The industrial revolution caused European nations to search for new markets and raw materials to improve their economies.

Motives Driving Imperialism Political: National pride An empire = national greatness Countries competed to plant flags on as much of the world as possible.

Motives Driving New Imperialism Social: Racism – many Europeans believed that they were better than other peoples. Social Darwinism – survival of the fittest. “Fittest” were wealthy and technologically advanced countries.

Forces Enabling Imperialism The Maxim gun (1889), world’s first automatic machine gun. Railroads, cables, and steamships improved travel and communication. The drug quinine was discovered as a cure for Malaria, caused by mosquitoes. Internal factors: No common language or culture. Ethnic strife over land, water, and trade rights. Low level of technology.

Causes of New Imperialism Humanitarian/ Religious Economic Military/ Political Humanitarian/ Religious Technological Need for markets Need for military bases White man’s burden New medicine Raw materials National security Spread of Christianity New weapons Source of investments Source of pride – nationalism Social Darwinism (superiority of Western society) Transportation

Berlin Conference 1884-1885 To avoid fighting each other, 14 European nations met to lay down rules for the division of Africa. Land divided arbitrarily. No African rulers attended. By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent.

The Boer War Diamonds and gold were discovered in southern Africa between 1860s-1880s. The Boers (Dutch farmers) struggled to maintain political control of southern Africa against British settlers. The first modern “total” war. Started in 1899, and ended in 1902 with British victory.

Exit Ticket Briefly describe the economic, political, and social motives that drove imperialism.