Assignment 3 The Scramble for Africa

Define/Identify  Cecil Rhodes-  British businessman who was an advocate of Social Darwinism- wanted to build a railroad from South Africa to Egypt in order to bring the Africans “under Anglo-Saxon influence”  Cecil Rhodes-  British businessman who was an advocate of Social Darwinism- wanted to build a railroad from South Africa to Egypt in order to bring the Africans “under Anglo-Saxon influence”

Social Darwinism  Stated that certain nations or groups of people are more fit than others  These nations, Social Darwinists said, will rule and should rule over nations that are less fit  Believers were often racially, ethnically prejudiced and practiced discrimination  Most extreme applications found in Nazi Germany  Stated that certain nations or groups of people are more fit than others  These nations, Social Darwinists said, will rule and should rule over nations that are less fit  Believers were often racially, ethnically prejudiced and practiced discrimination  Most extreme applications found in Nazi Germany

Suez Canal  Canal linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, drastically shortening the trip from Europe to the Indian Ocean  British sets up occupation of Egypt in 1882 in order to preserve their access to the canal

Berlin Conference  Meeting 1n to divide African territory among nations of Europe  When territory was claimed, nations simply had to prove that they could “control” the territory  Division of land is done without paying any attention to the desires of the people of Africa or their traditional ethnic boundaries  Meeting 1n to divide African territory among nations of Europe  When territory was claimed, nations simply had to prove that they could “control” the territory  Division of land is done without paying any attention to the desires of the people of Africa or their traditional ethnic boundaries

The Boer War  Conflict between British Empire and Dutch settlers (Boers) over control of South Africa  Caused by British desire to gain access to gold that had been discovered in the area  Outnumbered Boers use guerilla tactics to fight off British- war ends up having tremendous cost- 20,000+ Boers die in concentration camps, British empire shows weakness  Conflict between British Empire and Dutch settlers (Boers) over control of South Africa  Caused by British desire to gain access to gold that had been discovered in the area  Outnumbered Boers use guerilla tactics to fight off British- war ends up having tremendous cost- 20,000+ Boers die in concentration camps, British empire shows weakness

What factors led to the new imperialism?  Economic Interests; raw materials, the building of mines, plantation and trade routes  Political Competition- grab for land in Africa became a kind of competition where each country is afraid to fall behind others  Cultural motives- Social Darwinism, religion, etc  Economic Interests; raw materials, the building of mines, plantation and trade routes  Political Competition- grab for land in Africa became a kind of competition where each country is afraid to fall behind others  Cultural motives- Social Darwinism, religion, etc

How did European powers claim African territory?  Several advances made this possible including:  Medical advances (discovery of quinine to protect against malaria)  Military advances (the machine gun)  Travel and communication advances (telegraphs, railroads, steamships, canals)  Several advances made this possible including:  Medical advances (discovery of quinine to protect against malaria)  Military advances (the machine gun)  Travel and communication advances (telegraphs, railroads, steamships, canals)

Examples of African resistance  Zulu resistance against British invasions  Ethiopian success in war against Italy  West African resistance against French invasions  East African resistance against German invasions  Zulu resistance against British invasions  Ethiopian success in war against Italy  West African resistance against French invasions  East African resistance against German invasions