Imperialism

Africa

Without consulting the people of Africa, the nations of Western Europe took control of Africa between 1870 and 1914.

I.Why? – Reasons for imperializing Africa A. Nationalism: increased power and prestige by winning an overseas empire B. Economics 1. Industry wanted new markets for products and 2. natural resources to use in the making of products **Draw “new markets” and “natural resources” next to “B” ** C. Humanitarian and religious concerns 1. Missionaries wanted to Christianize native peoples 2. Belief in the superiority of the white race. Westerners believed it was the “white man’s burden” to carry the benefits of Western Civilization to other parts of the world

“Why” Continued

D. Social Darwinism 1. “It is natural for stronger nations to conquer weak peoples”

Which reason for imperializing Africa is reflected in the pictures below?

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II. “How” – The way that imperialism takes hold in Africa A. Explorers make the public aware of economic opportunities in Africa. 1. David Livingstone (1860s): minister from Scotland searching for the source of the Nile River. He was thought to be dead after no one heard from him for a long time.

2. Sir George Goldie (1870s): Went to Africa and established the Niger River trade. His Royal Niger River Company was chartered by the British government giving them political and economic control over part of Nigeria.

“How” Continued

3. Henry Stanley: a reporter hired to go find Livingstone. He did find him, and the result was the famous quote, “Doctor Livingstone, I presume?” resulted. He returned to Africa on behalf of King Leopold II of Belgium and signed treaties with chiefs in the Congo River Valley. Belgium then had control of those areas.

“How” Continued

B. New Technologies 1. Cures/preventions were found for malaria and other diseases (quinine was used to protect people from mosquito-born malaria). This meant that Europeans, who normally got sick, could travel inland.

Malaria Distribution: 2003

Red = possible extended distribution by 2050 (suitable climate)

“How” Continued

2. Westerners had military advantage a. Europeans had rifles and maxim guns b. Africans had, at best, muskets

musket

“How” Continued

3. Easier travel because of the steam engine (could go upstream to bases of control)

C. Internal forces 1. Huge variety of languages and cultures meant a lack of unity. It was easy to play the countries leaders off each other. E.g.: “Hey, that tribal leader over there told me your mama had a face like a horse…” “Really?! I hate him! Let’s attack him!”

“Where” – Places Imperialized in Africa

III.“Where” -- Places Imperialized in Africa A. North Africa 1. Egypt a. Muhammad Ali (NOT the boxer) made Egypt into a strong nation 1) more efficient farming 2) irrigation canals built – dry lands could be farmed 3) cash crops – exports 4) he brought in experts to set up shipyards, etc. 5) he invited the French to train his army b. Britain gains control of Egypt, and they justify taking over Egypt because 1) Egypt was in debt to Great Britain – Great Britain said they needed the money 2) Great Britain said they were only protecting the Suez Canal

“Where” Continued

2. Sudan a. The Fashoda incident 1) Great Britain and France both began to conquer the Sudan (Great Britain wanted a continuous strip of territory from Cape Town to Cairo, and the French wanted an overland route from the Red Sea to the Atlantic). They met in the town of Fashoda on the Nile in the northern Sudan and faced off. France finally gave up and accepted part of the Sahara as compensation. 2) After the Fashoda Incident, Europeans realized the very real possibility that overseas rivalries could drag them into war – they needed to TALK out the issues

The British arriving in Sudan

“Where” Continued

3. Algeria a. France attacked Algeria

b. They attacked because Charles X was in trouble at home and they wanted to divert attention away from what was happening in France (Charles was Louis XVI and Louis XVIII’s brother – he was ruling France and wanted to restore the monarchy to the way it had been before the French Revolution).

c. Even though Charles X was kicked off the throne, the French kept Algeria

“Where” Continued

4. Ethiopia – RESISTENCE! (remained independent) a. Menelik II made Ethiopia strong enough to resist Italian invasion. 1) Improved education 2) Played European powers off each other (Italians, French, and British) 3) Let inaccurate maps and false information go to the Italians 4) Bought modern weapons and trained his army well 5) Successfully defeated the Italians

“Where” Continued

5. Morocco a. European nations used Morocco as a pawn in their political maneuverings b. Great Britain and France had an agreement: Britain got Egypt and France got Morocco. The Germans object, and get land in central Africa as compensation. The Spanish and French divided Morocco into protectorates…. Morocco doesn’t get its independence until 1957. ** Off to the side in your notes, write all the European countries that wanted power in Africa **

Destruction of Morocco by Great Britain and France: cartoon drawn

1896

“Where” Continued

B. West Africa and the Slave Trade 1. Some African became slaves to other African people because… a. Prisoners of war became slaves b. Some people sold themselves into slavery for food and shelter during a famine c. Some societies took slaves to increase the population 2. The Transatlantic Slave trade was different a. Some African sold slaves to Europeans – they traded for guns, ammunition, and manufactured goods. This was called the slave-gun cycle 3. After slavery was outlawed, patrol ships took some slaves to Freetown in the colony of Sierra Leone to free them 4. Former slaves from the United States emigrated to Liberia

200-500 Africans at a time were transported on a slave ship.

Approximate total of slaves 1501-1866: 12,521,336