1. The Scramble for Africa
European Colonialism
The Scramble for Africa

2. European Colonialism
Although the slave trade was banned across Europe in the early 1800’s, Europeans did not loose their interest in Africa
It was during this time( between the mid 1700’s & early 1900’s) that the “Industrial Revolution” began
The Industrial Revolution was a period of change during which goods began to be mass produced by power-driven machines
During this time, many inventions were created (steam engine, steam ship, train, telegraph, electricity, telephone, automobiles…etc) that changed peoples lives forever
Fueled by coal, the invention of the steam engine helped start the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain and around the world

3. Examples of Raw Materials Found in Africa
European Colonialism
Due to the Industrial Revolution, economies had changed in Europe and The United States
There was a great need for raw materials to be used in the factories
Africa could supply both raw materials (such as minerals) as well as new markets for manufactured goods (places to sell the stuff)
The scramble for control of Africa began
Examples of Raw Materials Found in Africa
Copper
Cotton
Rubber
Palm Oil
Cocoa
Diamonds
Gold
Tea
Tin

4. Explorers and Missionaries
Europeans knew little about the interior of Africa, but many were curious
By 1835, European explorers had mapped most of Northwestern Africa
By the end of the 1800’s, explorers had charted the Nile to it’s source and been exposed to most of Africa’s interior
Scientists and explorers were interested in African wildlife and natural resources
European missionaries also traveled to Africa

5. Explorers and Missionaries
A missionary is a person who goes to another country to do religious and social work
Missionaries wanted to convert Africans to Christianity and bring education and healthcare to Africa Although missionaries did many positive things for the African people, they also taught European ways of thinking, which often conflicted with and destroyed African traditions

6. Competition for Africa
In the 19th century, European nations began to compete for control of Africa by using Imperialism and Colonialism
Imperialism is the practice of one country controlling the government and economy of another country or territory
By this time, Africa was one of the last places on earth untouched by European Imperialism
A part of imperialism is colonialism
Colonialism is the system by which a country maintains colonies outside it’s borders
Each European country wanted to expand their territory by having the biggest/richest colonies and control of trade

7. Scramble for Africa

8. Competition for Africa
To avoid wars over territory, European nations began to meet and discuss how to divide Africa in 1884
No Africans were consulted
Over the next 20 years, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Ottoman Empire all established colonies in Africa
By 1912, only 2 of Africa’s nations remained independent

9. European Colonies in Africa, 1912
What 2 countries remained independent in 1912?
What country controlled most of the Sahara?
What country controlled South Africa?

10. Impact of Colonial Rule
When Europeans divided Africa, most colonizers cared mainly about gold, diamonds and other resources
Europeans knew little about Africa’s political and social systems
Europeans looked down on Africa’s rich cultures and tried to make Africans more like Europeans
Europeans also worsened conflicts among ethnic groups (many of these conflicts exist to this day)

11. Colonialism: Political Cartoon
In the following slide you will see a 1892 drawing of a British imperialist that illustrates the United Kingdoms claim on Africa
In the late 1800’s, many European nations wanted to control a piece of the continent
By the early 1900’s, all but two African nations were colonized by European powers

12. Colonialism: Political Cartoon “Who owns a country?”
Who owned Africa: the Africans or the Europeans?
What do you think Africans thought about this?
Why do you think the artist drew the British man with his feet planted on Egypt and South Africa?
What do you think is the significance of the string in his hands?
What are the benefits and disadvantages of being a colony?

13. Colonialism: Political Cartoon “Who owns a country?” Explained
"The Rhodes Colossus." This British cartoon illustrates the dream of imperialist Cecil Rhodes ( ) to build a railroad from Cape Colony in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt, and thus assure British rule over a large part of Africa. Rhodes formed the De Beers Consolidated Mines Company in 1888 and amassed a huge fortune from his effective monopoly of world diamond production.

14. Raw Materials Political Cartoon
Who do you think the snake entangling the man represents?
A hard-hitting 1906 Punch cartoon depicting King Leopold II of Belgium as a rubber vine entangling a Congolese man.

15. Colonialism in Africa: Causes & Effects
Industrial Revolution
Access to Raw Materials
Create New Markets for Goods (places to sell stuff)
Expand Territory
Effects
Africa Split up Between European Countries
Africans Robbed of Their Way Life
Elements of European Culture still found in Africa (Religion, Language…etc)
Worsened conflicts amongst ethnic groups
Many African countries did not gain independence until after WWI
Many Civil Wars in Africa Since (Initially, a lot of corrupt/weak governments…etc)

16. Dates of African Independence
When did countries like Egypt, South Africa & Ethiopia gain their independence?
How many countries did not gain their independence until the 1980’s?