1. Imperialists Divide Africa
World Studies
March 9

2. I. Imperialism began in 1875
At that time Europeans controlled 10% of Africa
By 1900, they controlled 90%

3. II. Europeans explored Africa
Europeans had been trading on the coast of Africa for hundreds of years, but didn’t know the interior
Mungo Park (Scottish) traveled up the Niger in 1805
Rene Caille (French) crossed the Sahara in 1828

4. III. Europeans competed for colonies
In 1879, Henry Stanley claimed the Congo for King Leopold II of Belgium
Every one rushed to get their own piece in response
In 1884 European reps met in Berlin to set up ground rules, no Africans were there
Berlin Conference

6. British wanted Cairo to Cape Town (n/s axis)
In 1869 a French company built the Suez canal
Allowed for much quicker route to the Indian Ocean
The British gov’t bought stock in that company b/c access to India was crucial
When fighting broke out in Egypt they had to protect their investment
In 1882 Egypt became a protectorate (partly controlled/protected by another gov’t)
Next Britain wanted to control the Sudan, to better protect Egypt & the canal
Set up a condominium (joint rule) w/ Egypt in 1898

8. France wanted Dakar to French Somaliland (e/w axis)
Going fine until they ran into the British, so they turned south
Frequently used force, locals frequently didn’t know what was going on

9. IV. European conquest took many forms
Advanced weapons made it easy for Europeans to conquer Africans empires
Samori Toure bought weapons and held the French back for 6 years
But most of Africa wasn’t empires, Euros had to conquer little village by little village
British made 500 treaties to get Nigeria
British were invited into Uganda
Caught up in a religious civil war
Christians got Brits to help them win in exchange for control

10. V. Africa became a continent of colonies
By 1900 only Liberia and Ethiopia were independent
Liberia was founded by former US slaves & that tie protected them
Ethiopia was ruled by Menelik II, who cleverly played sides against each other for his peoples’ benefit

12. Colonial rule
Algeria and S Africa had many Euro settlers, but most places weren’t
In Kenya & Rhodesia whites set up farms
For the most part, African leaders stayed in high positions
Labor
At first, Euros forced Africans to work in mines and plantations as slaves
After slavery they forced cash taxes on them, so they had to work for them
Raise crops and produce things Euros wanted to buy

14. Euros set up schools and health services, but mostly just for themselves
Kept education among Africans down
Euros encouraged rivalries to keep Africans from ganging up on them
Brought in workers from Asia to prevent plotting too
Economic development
Originally many thought colonizing Africa would mean expanding markets
Didn’t pan out, many Euro goods were too impractical and/or expensive
Plantations and mining made the colonies at least break even