European Colonialism in Africa

African Trade [15c-17c]

Pre-19c European Trade with Africa

European Motives For Colonization European Nationalism Source for Raw Materials Missionary Activity Industrial Revolution European Motives For Colonization Markets for Finished Goods Military & Naval Bases Social Darwinism European Racism Places to Dump Unwanted/ Excess Popul. Humanitarian Reasons Soc. & Eco. Opportunities “White Man’s Burden”

European Explorers in Africa 19c  Europeans Map the Interior of Africa

19c Mysteries & Adventures

1. Where Is Dr. Livingstone? Doctor Livingstone, I Presume? Sir Henry Morton Stanley Dr. David Livingstone

European Explorations in mid-19c: “The Scramble for Africa”

2. What is the Source of the Nile? Sir Richard Burton John Speke

Africa 1890

Africa in 1914

Social Darwinism

The “White Man’s Burden” Rudyard Kipling

The “White Man’s Burden”?

The Belgian Congo: "King Leopold's Ghost"

The Congo Free State or The Belgian Congo

King Leopold II: (r. 1865 – 1909)

Harvesting Rubber

Punishing “Lazy” Workers

5-8 Million Victims! (50% of Popul.) It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead... This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to their credit. -- Belgian Official

Belgium’s Stranglehold on the Congo

Leopold’s Conscience??

Thesis #1Throughout history, colonization has been a main concern of many nations. In the 1880s, there was a great desire by European powers to colonize and control Africa in order to gain resources. This became known as the Scramble for Africa. The hypocritical actions of the European powers led to an extreme contempt for the Europeans among the African people, which triggered violent rebellions that eventually helped lead Africa to liberty later on hroughout history, colonization has been a main concern of many nations.

Thesis #2 “For years after the Berlin Conference, various European powers raced to occupy and colonize land in Africa. It was a time of growth for Europe, but what was it for Africa? Africa’s fate was being decided for it by the European invader. Not all Africans just stood by and watched, however. There was a wide range of actions and reactions to the Scramble for Africa from the Africans themselves, from giving in peacefully to fighting back with all of their might.”

Thesis #3 In the early 20th century European countries met to carve up Africa. They did not care about what it did to Africa, but cared about dominating and getting resources. “Although the European powers felt as though they were doing great good in the African continent during the Scramble for Africa, the actions of the Africans was that of rebellion and reactions showing much determination to rid Africa of the unjust Europeans

Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 Another point of view? 

Berlin Conference of 1884-1885

European Colonization/Decolonization Patterns Berlin Conference of 1884-85

Leopold Defends Himself in Paris, 1903 King Leopold (to Loubert) : How about that!  John Bull claims that I tortured, robbed and murdered more than he did. . . Loubert : No, your Majesty, that's impossible .

The Struggle For South Africa

Dutch Landing in 1652

Shaka Zulu (1785 – 1828)

Boers Clash With the Xhosa Tribes Boer Farmer

The Great Trek, 1836-38 Afrikaners

Diamond Mines Raw Diamonds

The Struggle for South Africa

“The Colossus of Rhodes” Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) “The Colossus of Rhodes”

Uncle Sam: “The Colossus of the Pacific” (A Parody)

Paul Kruger (1825-1904)

Boer-British Tensions Increase 1877 – Britain annexed the Transvaal. 1883 – Boers fought British in the Transvaal and regained its independence. - Paul Kruger becomes President. 1880s – Gold discovered in the Transvaal

The Boer War: 1899 - 1900 The British The Boers

A Future British Prime Minister British Boer War Correspondent, Winston Churchill

The Struggle for South Africa