Imperialism in Africa

By: Hee Jae Choi, Billy Park, Soho Char, Brian Kwon

WH 9A1/16/09

Africa: The New Target

Europe’s Situation• With the Industrial Revolution kicking off in Europe,

European’s 1st motive: obtain necessary resources needed to keep Ind.Rev. going.

• In a competition with each other, European nations’ 2nd motive: TO EXPAND

- By taking over these necessary resources, Europe planned to further expand economically.

- By colonizing foreign territories, European nations struggled to develop political power.

- Wanted to push expansion through means of westernization & further gain control.

The Perfect Solution: AFRICA1. Africa was vast & rich in resources.• RESOURCES: gold, diamonds, tin• CASH CROPS: cocoa, palm oil, peanuts, rubber

2. Africa was vulnerable = easy to take over.• It was divided into hundreds of ethnical &

linguistic groups – lacked sense of unison. 3. Africa was inferior & poorly developed.Racism: European nations wished to “civilize” Africa

through westernization & spreading Christianity.

The Competition

So, in 1880 the fight to get a hold of African territories began amongst European nations.

1884-85 Berlin Conference

• 14 European nations got together & laid down rules for division of Africa.

• Rep. of Africa was NOT present.= ignoring Africa’s pov.

• Agreed to divide by notifying other nations of their claims & showing they could control area.

Europe vs. Africa

Europe’s View on This Topic

• European nations are the best in this world; therefore, it is their duty to spread their ways in uncivilized foreign areas like Africa.

• Africa = perfect target for obtaining resources that they need for Industrial Revolution

• Has all the needed weapons to conquer Africa.

• Reinforcement:

Africa’s Point of View

• Europe disregarding African native groups • Unjust to devour Africa amongst

themselves w/o any notification.• Unfair to take away Africa from the natives

= a land of their ancestors• Not right to force down unwanted help

Consequence: Pros• European rule reduced local warfares

• Improved sanitation & brought facilities such as hospitals & schools

• Economic expansion: African products valued in Europe.

• Technology: Brought in dams, railroads, telephone, and telephone lines.

Consequences - Cons• Africans lost their land & independence.• Died from European diseases (i.e. smallpox)• Traditional culture crumbled

- traditional authority figures replaced- Men forced to leave villages- Westernization created identity issues.

• Boundaries set from Berlin Conference created problems for African colonies

Bibliography• Beck, Roger B., Linda Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia Ibo Shabaka.

Modern World History Online Edition: Patterns of Interaction. United States of America: Mcdougal Littell, 2003.

• "Imperialism." Fresno Unified School District. 15 Jan. 2009 <http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/schools/s090/lloyd/imperialism.htm>.

• "Social Studies Resources." Social Studies Resources. 15 Jan. 2009 <web000.greece.k12.ny.us/SocialStudiesResources/Social_Studies_Resources/GHG_Documents/>.

• "Breaking Africa into Pieces." Menlo's Sun Server. 15 Jan. 2009 <http://sun.menloschool.org/~sportman/modernworld/chapter8/2003/bblock/sbarrales/index.html>.

• "Africa Action: Map of Africa." Africa Action: Activism for Africa Since 1953. 15 Jan. 2009 <http://www.africaaction.org/resources/map.php>.