1. Imperialism in Africa & The Slave Trade
Unit Two:
Chapter Three

2. Imperialism in Africa Imperialism
The domination by one country of the political, social, economic, and/or cultural life of another country

4. Imperialism in Africa
The Age of Imperialism is broken into two periods:
Old Imperialism: Time between 1500 and 1800, when European nations looked to gain territory on the coast of Africa.
European power was limited

5. Imperialism in Africa
New Imperialism: Time between 1870 and 1914, focused mainly in Africa.
European nations had become stronger due to the Industrial Revolution

6. Imperialism in Africa The Old Imperialism in Africa Began in the 1400s
The Portuguese explored the coasts of Africa
They were unable to push into the African interior
Mid-1600s
The Dutch arrived in Southwest Africa, and established Cape Town
These Dutch were known as “Boers”
The Boers enslaved many native Africans

7. Most of the European
Controlled lands are
Located on the coastal
Areas of Africa

8. Imperialism in Africa Triangular Trade and Slavery
Causes of the Slave Trade
Europeans viewed African slaves as the most valuable African trade goods in the 1500s
Europeans began buying large numbers of Africans to satisfy the labor shortage on American plantations

9. Slaved being transported from Africa in the 1800s

10. Imperialism in Africa Triangular Trade
The slave trade grew into a valuable business
The “Triangular Trade” involved Europe, Africa, and the Americas
The sea routes formed a triangle

11. The Triangular Trade between Africa, Europe, and the Americas

12. Imperialism in Africa The Slave Trade
Slavery was a complete disregard for Human Rights
Enslaved people lost their freedom
Enslaved people could be bought and sold
Enslaved people endured disease, overcrowding, and terrible mistreatment in the Middle Passage

13. Example of the brutal mistreatment faced
By the millions of Africans during the time
Of the slave trade

14. Imperialism in Africa The Slave Trade The Middle Passage
The voyage from Africa to the Americas
Millions of Africans died on the way from disease, mistreatment, or suicide

15. Above, a blueprint for a slave trip, and the
Placement slaves throughout the ship.
Right, a picture depicting African conditions
On the slave ships

16. Imperialism in Africa Effects of the Slave Trade
When the slave trade ended in the 1800s, almost 11 million Africans were enslaved
Some African societies and small states completely disappeared forever

17. Imperialism in Africa Causes of New Imperialism
Nationalism: Promotes the idea of national superiority
Imperialists felt they had the right to take control of countries they viewed as weaker

18. European nations carving up the world -- Imperialism

19. Imperialism in Africa Causes of New Imperialism Social Darwinism
Applied Charles Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest to competition between nations
It was natural for stronger nations to dominate weaker ones

20. Imperialism in Africa Causes of New Imperialism Military Power
A nation with many colonies had power and security
Colonies were important as bases for resupply of ships

21. Imperialism in Africa Causes of New Imperialism Economic Motives
Imperialists needed raw materials to supply their factories
Imperialists needed foreign markets to sell their products

22. Imperialism in Africa Causes of New Imperialism White Man’s Burden
Poem by Rudyard Kipling
Expressed the idea that white imperialists had a moral duty to educate people in nations they considered to be weaker
Missionaries spread western ideas, customs, and religions to people in Africa

24. Imperialism in Africa The Scramble for Africa
Very little was known about the interior of Africa before 1870
Europeans referred to Africa as the “Dark Continent”

25. Imperialism in Africa The Scramble for Africa
1870s, King Leopold of Belgium sent missionaries to the center of Africa, the Congo
The presence of Belgium in the Congo set off a scramble among other European nations to establish a presence in Africa

26. King Leopold of Belgium, began
The Scramble for Africa

27. The Belgian Congo – The first area in the interior of Africa controlled by Europeans

29. Imperialism in Africa The Scramble for Africa
The Berlin Conference 1884
Goal: For Europeans to meet to avoid conflict and set up rules for colonizing Africa
Actions Taken: Divided Africa with little regard for the people who lived there
Effects: Most of the continent of Africa comes under control of Europeans

30. European nations meeting at the Berlin Conference, no African leaders were
invited

31. Imperialism in Africa Battles in Africa Boer War
Background: Cecil Rhodes became Prime Minister of the Cape Colony (South Africa)
Under Rhodes leadership, Britain began to extend its control of southern Africa

32. Cecil Rhodes expands
Britain's control over the
African continent

33. Imperialism in Africa Battles in Africa
Late 1800s: Britain annexed (Took over) the areas under control of the Boers
The Boers resisted British control, and the Boer War began

34. Imperialism in Africa Battles in Africa The Boer War Time: 1899-1902
Between: British and Dutch
Outcome: Britain wins
Establish the Union of South Africa in 1910

35. Pictures of Boer military men during
The Boer War

36. Imperialism in Africa Effects of Imperialism
Large numbers of Africans came under foreign rule
Economies became dependent on industrialized powers
Western culture spread to new regions
Traditional societies were destroyed