Aim: What were the characteristics of European imperialism in Africa?

1. Aim: What were the characteristics of European imperialism in Africa?

2. The British in Egypt • The Suez Canal • Under Muhammad Ali and his grandson Ismail, Egypt is modernizing during the 19th century. • Ismail’s greatest accomplishment was the Suez Canal, finished in 1869. Shortened the trip from Europe to the Indian Ocean by two weeks. • Ismail relies on loans from the British/French to pay for his modernizing projects. When he can’t repay Egyptian debts, the British/French force him to appoint European commissioners to oversee Egyptian finances. • Anti-European riots occur in Alexandria and other places in 1882. Britain puts down the rebellion, decides to occupy Egypt to protect their investments and ensure access to the canal. • Egypt has its own government, but Britain has the real control behind the scenes. British army will remain in Egypt until 1956.

3. Scramble for Africa • Scramble for Africa: • Prior to 1880, European nations controlled only 10 percent of the African continent (French in Algeria, British vs. Dutch Boers in South Africa, the old trading posts) • Between the 1860s-1880s, diamonds and gold were found in Southern Africa. Every European nation now wants to colonize land in Africa and gain as many resources as possible.

4. The Belgian Congo • In 1882, King Leopold II of Belgium signs treaties with local chiefs in the Congo River Valley giving him personal control of the Congo. • Leopold claims that he wants to establish the colony to end the slave trade. • He ends up exploiting the Congolese by forcing them to collect sap from rubber plants to provide rubber to Belgian companies. 10 million Congolese people die as a result. • Leopold’s economic success in the Congo also encourages European nations to take over portions of Africa.

5. The Berlin Conference The Berlin Conference (1884-1885): To avoid war, Jules Ferry of France and Bismarck bring together 14 European nations to lay down rules for the division of Africa: 1. Any European country can claim land in Africa by notifying other nations of their claims and showing they could control the area (“effective occupation”). 2. No African rulers were invited to the conference. 3. Between 1880-1900, the whole continent comes under European control except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

6. The Berlin Conference 4. At the Berlin Conference, the European powers divided Africa with little thought to how African ethnic groups were distributed. For example, the British territory of Nigeria had 250 different ethnic groups, each with their own language, culture and religion. • Why would having 250 ethnic groups in one country make it easier for the British to rule over a territory like Nigeria? • Why will it be difficult for African nations like Nigeria to achieve stability after they become independent from Europe?

7. The Berlin Conference • Many of the African colonies prove not to be that profitable (Africa had few markets, many areas were depopulated by the slave trade). So why does the scramble for Africa continue?

8. British in South Africa • Dutch settlers known as Boers/Afrikaners had controlled parts of South Africa since 1652. • In the late 1800s, gold and diamonds are found in Dutch territory in South Africa. British want to come in and look for gold, but are denied political rights by the Boers.

9. British in South Africa C. Boer War (1899-1902) • War breaks out between the British and the Boers over the gold and diamonds. • Boers are outnumbered, British commit atrocities to defeat them. • Boers surrender in 1902. In 1910, their territory is combined with British territory to form the Union of South Africa under British control.

10. Impact of Imperialism on Africa • Positives • Colonialism reduced warfare between tribes. • Hospitals, schools, railroads, dams and telephone lines were built. As a result, life spans and literacy rates improve in Africa. • Negatives • Africans lose control of their land and their independence. • In colonies like the Congo, many Africans die from famine, new diseases like smallpox. • Suffer a breakdown of their traditional culture • Ethnic groups are split up between different colonies. Often these groups don’t get along.