European Imperialism

Essential Question: What have been the lasting effects of imperialism on Africa today?

European Exploration European groups interested in Africa –Missionaries Wanted to convert Africans to Christianity –Merchants Dreamed of fortunes to be made in the trading of African ivory, gold, and tropical trees

European Exploration-cont. European groups interested in Africa Industrial leaders –Wanted Africa’s natural resources –Needed raw materials for goods made –Needed new markets for their finished products Political leaders –Saw oversees empires as a way to increase their popularity

Independent Africa Parts of Africa remained independent after European colonization –Liberia Home to freed slaves from America who went back to Africa –Ethiopia Predominantly Christian country

Important People in European Imperialism King Leopold –One of first Europeans to make a grab for Africa Claimed Congo for himself Rubber trees natural resource of Congo –Needed rubber for “boom” in bike and motor car industries

Important People in European Imperialism-cont. David Livingstone –Missionary who wanted to help end slave trade –Searched for source of Nile Henry Stanley –Explorer who claimed Congo for King Leopold of Belgium –Searched for source of Nile

Economic Changes in Africa Economic changes caused by imperialism –Farm economy changes to cash crop economy Change from growing crops to feed families to growing crops to export and to make profit

Economic Changes in Africa-cont. Impact of economic changes on Africans –Hard for farmers feed families –Farmers’ land taxed Forced to mine for natural resources help pay taxes –Weakened family because men spent months away from home to work in mine Lasting effects of imperialism in Africa Ethnic violence, racism

Berlin Conference Purpose –Europeans meet to divide Africa and claim resources of continent for themselves Factors considered/ignored –No Africans invited to conference Ethnic groups were separated, enemies were brought together Created new boundaries and borders on continent

Berlin Conference-cont. Problems created –Ethnic groups/ethnic violence Ethnic groups who hated each other for years brought together Competing groups brought together

Berlin Conference-cont. Problems created –Civil War Conflicts between groups within a country Assassinations –Genocide When one group of people tries to eliminate another based on race, ethnicity, or political differences

Vocabulary Colonialism/imperialism –Control of one country by another through economic, political, or military means Cash crops –Crops grown for sale or export

EQ Answer Lasting effects of European imperialism –Ethnic violence Kenya Rwanda –Cite of Civil War, assassinations, and genocide –Hutu and Tutsis People –Weak governments Ethnic violence Lack of experience in self-government Corruption