Warm-up Please come in and pick up the map worksheet from the table. "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." — Martin Luter King Jr. Agree?

Colonization in Africa Cy-Woods HS 2011-2012

Colonialism in Africa In the 1880’s, European interest in the African territories heightened. It was obvious everyone was trying to get a “piece of the pie”. mercantilism

Berlin Conference 1884

Berlin Conference 1884 The General Act of the Berlin Conference divided Africa among its European powers. Tribal boundaries of Africa.

Africa 1914

Colonialism in Africa Tribal boundaries of Africa Political boundaries of Africa today

European Powers The British and the French controlled the largest empire.

Belgian Congo King Leopold II of Belgium

By the 1950’s, the Europeans had lost the will and financial resources to hold onto their colonies. They set withdrawal dates and just “left” without much thought given to the infrastructure they left behind. Landlocked countries 12

The borders of the countries of Africa have created several major problems that can be attributed to the Geography of the current borders. Colonialism destroyed many of Africa’s indigenous ruling bodies, and their cultural traditions. Where do most Africans have their first loyalty?

Even if landlocked countries have river access to the ocean, all of Africa’s major rivers have waterfalls and rapids that prohibit large ship traffic.

Conflicts since the 1990s Civil war in Liberia Civil war in Sierra Leone Civil War in Uganda Civil War in Congo (ongoing) Sudan (southern and Darfur) Collapse of the government in Somalia Civil War in Ethiopia Ethnic conflicts in Kenya Ethnic conflicts in Nigeria Rwanda Libya Egypt Tunisia Morocco

If so much conflict is caused by the borders left behind by the Europeans, why can’t the countries work together to “re-draw” those boundaries?

GDP cartogram of Arica

Desertification AIDS Malaria Poverty Internal wars Debt Famine Issues facing Sub-Saharan Africa today: Desertification AIDS Malaria Poverty Internal wars Debt Famine

Many of the issues of Africa today are still laid at the footprint of European colonialism, which ended in the 1960’s. Is there a “statute of limitations” on blame?

Quiz 1) True or False. South Africa is the only developed country in Africa. 2) True or False. Africa has very few resources. 3) Name 3 physical disadvantages contributing to Africa’s economic situation. 4) Where can you find a shatterbelt in Africa? 5) Name one way colonialism negatively impacted Africa today.