The Scramble for Africa

New Imperialism Old Imperialism Trading outposts Areas keep control, must trade New Imperialism Formal gov’t structures Actively moving Europeans in Mining for resources Claiming new territory FOR their country Planting a flag

New Imperialism: Forces Behind it Social Darwinism/Racism Fittest survive Conquered colony = weaker race Created hierarchy Okay to mistreat inferior races National Pride Each nation used colonies to show off power Nationalism!!

New Imperialism: Forces Behind it Capitalism Profits from cheap labor and materials Needed new source for raw materials outside Europe Raw materials desired: Diamonds Rubber Oil Metal (Tin, Gold, Silver, Copper, etc) Labor (cheap or free) Foods and Spices (coffee, oils, sugar)

New Imperialism: Forces Behind it Religion and Democracy Moral duty to improve the lives of the natives Meant to bring Christianity to the “savage” people Militarism Controlling areas offered strategic advantage Great Britain – Suez Canal in Egypt Soldiers Natives were conscripted to be solders

Problems with New Imperialism Imperialist areas ruled from metropole Hard to respond to problems Unhappy native populations Peasant revolts = common Resistance happened but usually futile Government Structures Protectorate – territory dependent on another government for protection

Solutions to New Imperialism Direct Rule European leaders in charge of colony’s operations All political, military, and economic leaders were European Indirect Rule Use existing leaders to control locals Low cost for governing Gave natives more claim to their own right to rule

Solutions with New Imperialism Cost and Reward Colony = affordable when producing new profits Europeans did not want to build economies Wanted raw goods Kept industry out of colonial areas

Africa (English, French, Germans, Belgians) Southeast Asia (French, US, Dutch, English) Latin America (US, French) China (Germany, France, English, US, Japan) India (Dutch, English) Middle East (English, French)

Africa Before Europe

Missionaries and Quinine Missionaries had been going into Africa long before the Europeans heavily exploited it Goal: Convert native populations to Christianity

Missionaries and Quinine Before 1850s, difficult for Europeans in Africa H 2 O obstacles, unfamiliar terrain, animals, mosquitoes (malaria) Quinine (drug) started to be used before traveling to Africa Europeans survived in greater numbers, conquered more effectively Increased fighting amongst Europeans for land

Demand for Raw Materials Cecil Rhodes English businessman and politician Wanted African economy controlled by Britain Cape to Cairo railroad Diamonds (blood diamonds) Africa – world’s largest diamond producer Blood Diamonds (Kimberley Process) $12.7 Billion (modern production)

Division of Africa Berlin Conference 1884 – 1885: 14 nations met to set rules for division of Africa Agreed any country claiming land had to notify other nations of the claim Then PROVE it could control the area No African rulers invited

Congo and Belgium Privately controlled by King Leopold II Controlled the rubber trade Used the Congolese people as free slave labor Incredibly cruel Paid field workers to whip workers Used torture to increase production Ex: practice of cutting off hands

South Africa South and Central Africa Livingstone and Stanley Henry Stanley – journalist David Livingstone – missionary and explorer

South Africa Originally founded by Dutch British show up wanting resources Time Dutch empire was wavering South African Violence Zulu Resistance Shaka Zulu Dutch Ranchers – Afrikaaners Boer Wars (1899 – 1902) Fought between Boers, British