Imperialism in Africa Part II

Imperialism Part II – Where? I.West and Central Africa A. The Congo 1. Stanley convinced King Leopold of Belgium to begin settlements along the Congo River. 2. What resources were European companies allowed to exploit in the Congo? ivory, rubber, copper, minerals 3. Three ways the people of the Congo free State were exploited: * Forced to work long hours * If they failed to produce enough, hands and ears were cut off * Wives imprisoned

The Congo and Belgium

The Congo Continued 4. The population decreased by half in the Congo Free State between 1885 and There was one group of people who spoke up against the exploitation and forced the gov’t. to investigate: missionaries 6. The name of the country changed from the Congo Free State to Belgium Congo

B. African Resistance 1. Europeans got African rulers to give them power by persuasion, force, bribery 2. After agreements were signed, the Europeans largely ignored them. If African rulers resisted, troops were sent in to crush them 3. Samouri Toure of what is today Senegal resisted for 7 years 4. King Benhanzin of Dahomey (Ghana) also resisted Samouri Toure

II.Southern Africa A. The Zulu 1. The Zulu Empire was northeast of the Orange River 2. The ruler of the Zulus was King Shaka, and he had a strong military. Europeans were surprised to see 80,000 Zulus forming into regiments. Why were they surprised? They could not imagine that “savages” could be so disciplined. 3. King Shaka improved Zulu fighting methods by replacing long spears with short, stabbing swords

Southern Africa – King Shaka “Strike an enemy once and for all. Let him cease to exist as a tribe or he will live to fly in your throat again.”

B. The Boer War 1. The Boers were descendents of the Dutch 2. In 1806, the British controlled an area called Cape Colony. 3. The Boers and the British didn’t get along. The Boers felt the British threatened their way of life: English was the official language; they abolished slavery (the Boers thought slavery was ordained by God) 4. In response to British rule, the Boers headed north in a vast migration. This migration was called the Great Trek

Boer fighting men and diplomats

5. When the Boers tried to take Zulu lands, neither side won. The British got involved. 6. In the late 1800s, the British became interested in two Boer republics. Why? Gold and diamonds had been discovered there 7. The British decided they needed to control all of South Africa. Why? There was a sea route to India 8. The Boers and the British fight, and the British win 9. Eventually, the Boers regained control of South Africa through a majority vote. However, a British suggestion was overruled by the Boers. What was this decision? British wanted to give Africans the right to vote.

British artillery being moved into position during the Boer Wars