The Scramble for Africa - MODERN WORLD...

Driving Questions1. Do nations have the right to force their

beliefs on other nations? Why or why not?

How do we determine if these beliefs should

be taught to others?

2. Are democracy & imperialism compatible?

Explain.

3. How and why is history taught?

4. Can history ever be objective? Why or why

not?

2.5

Imperialism in

AfricaUntil the story of the hunt is told by

the lion, the tale of hunt will

always glorify the hunter.

African Proverb

What do you already know

about Africa? What things

come to mind?

Why did Europeans

want Africa?Natural resources!

(Diamonds, gold, metals)

What was

the

“scramble

for Africa”?

A period of

rapid

colonization

by European

countries in

Africa (about

1880-1914)

How did Europeans take over

Africa?Better technology

(Weapons, transportation)

Before the

“Scramble”…

o practiced pluralism

(A system where 2 or

more states/groups

coexist)

o Founded on the

principles of

communalism (A

system that combines

communal ownership

with allegiance to an

ethnic group)

o Self-governing tribes

where all members

played a role

o Hunter-Gatherer

society made up of

tribes, kingdoms,

ethnic groups

After the “Scramble”…

Pair-Share1) How might transportation and

technology allow Europeans to

effectively take over Africa?

2) List 3 words to describe how Africa

looked after the “scramble.

3) What problems for both Africans and

Europeans might arise from the

increase of split borders?

What was the result?

Competition got so fierce, that

European countries feared

war. To prevent conflict, they

held the Berlin Conference.

What was the Berlin

Conference 1884-1885?When 14 European nations got together

and set up rules for dividing up Africa.

They agreed that any European

country could claim land in Africa by

notifying other nations.

No African rulers were present for this

meeting.

How did Africans react?African tribes fought back, but Europeans had

superior weapons which lead to defeat.

In 1878, 10% of Africa was

imperialized by Europe.

In 1914, 96% of Africa was

imperialized.

2 countries remain independent,

Ethiopia and Liberia.

Pair-Share

1) Why was the Berlin

Conference held?

2) What is the overall

significance of the Berlin

Conference? (What does

it say/represent about the

time?)

How did Ethiopia maintain

independence?King Menelik II bought

large amounts of weapons from France

and Russia, which helped fight off Italy,

who wanted to colonize Ethiopia. After their

victory, Menelikcontinued to build their

military in case of another attack.

What about Liberia?The country was reserved by the U.S. as

a place for freed slaves to go to.

Pair-Share1) While the idea Liberia might

sound like a noble (good),

what are some problems that

might arise with sending freed-

slaves to this country?

What were the positive

effects of imperialism?Reduced local warfare among

tribes

Improved sanitation, hospitals, and

schools

Improved communication and

transportation

What were negative

effects of imperialism?Africans lost control of their lands and

independence

Loss of culture

Suffered from European diseases

Artificial boundaries split families and

tribes

Pair-Share

1) As far as the effects of

imperialism, do the good

outweigh the bad?

Explain.

2) Predict some current issues

in Africa today that are a

result of imperialism.

What caused Africa to be

corrupted?“Each day the traders are

kidnapping our people,—children

of this country, sons of our nobles

and vassals, even people of our

own family . . . This corruption and

depravity are so widespread that

our land is entirely depopulated . . .

.We need in this kingdom only

priests and schoolteachers, and no

merchandise, unless it is wine and

flour for Mass . . . It is our wish that

this kingdom not be a place for the

trade or transport of slaves.”

-King Afonso of the Kongo (1526)

What was the Zulu Nation?

A powerful,

South African

tribe.

In 1879,

England

invaded their

land and

defeated

them in 1887.

What was the Boer War?

Britain began claiming

land in South Africa

that was inhabited by

Dutch farmers, called

Boers. This led to a

war and by 1910,

England won and

Boer land was placed

under the new Union

of South Africa.

Why does it matter today?

African nations continue to

feel the effects of the

colonial presence more

than 100 years later.