Causes and Effects of Imperialism in Africa

1. Causes and Effects of Imperialism in Africa

2. Causes Resources and raw materials: Africa was home to raw materials unavailable in Europe: Population increase: New colonies provided a space for extra residents and extra manufactured products in Europe to be put to use. Military strategy: Colonies in strategic places (i.e. near shoreline) acted as harbors for naval ships Competition between countries: Every country wanted the most land overseas Political strategy/Positive public image: Focus on imperialism sparked nationalism and took focus off tension between communists and industrialists in the media Peace Efforts: Cecil Rhodes believed that to "prevent civil war you must become an imperialist." 

3. Effects Positive Effects: Education Improves: NdansiKumalo, an African warrior in the British Matabele War said “the Government has arranged for education and through that, when our children grow up, they may rise in status” (A&O, 316). Industrialization in Africa Kumalo said, “they brought us European implements—plows; we can buy European clothes, which are an advance” (A&O, 316). Infrastructure in Africa (also a long-term effect):  Sewage systems, railroads, and mail delivery systems were brought to Africa-- revolutionizing sanitation, travel, and communication  European Wealth: New land created more money for European nation

4. Effects Africans Land and Food Scarcity: Europeans take land, cattle, and food Africans acquired. Kumalo said, “All the best land has been taken by the white people. We get hardly any price for our cattle; we find it hard to meet our money obligations. If we have crops to spare, we get very little for them… When we have plenty of grain the prices are very low, but the moment we are short of grain and we have to buy from Europeans at once the price is high” (A&O, 316). Taxes: Europeans were quick to tax Africans on anything they could According to Kumalo, “The government said, ‘You must contribute more; you must pay £1.’ We did so. Then those who took more than one wife were taxed… that is not all. We are also taxed for our dogs… then we were told we were living on private land; the owners wanted rent in addition to the government tax…” (A&O, 316). Africans become inferior—abuse and brutality used towards them: NdansiKumalo, an African, said, “We were treated like slaves… the treatment we received was intolerable. We said, ‘It is no good living under such conditions; death would be better—let us fight’” (A&O, 315). War: British Matabele War: Rhodes gained control of the mineral mines in Matabeleland and with the help of his South Africa Company, exploited the mineral wealth in the area, sparking the rebellion of the Matabeles against the British. (A&O, 314). The British Matabele War ended with Britain easily slaughtering thousands of Africans with the help of the machine guns.

5. Long Term Effects Apartheid in South Africa (1947-1994): After Britain and the legacy Rhodes left relinquished control in South Africa in 1947, the white men in South Africa still did not want to be lead by black leaders. They instead created an oligarchy in which the white population (15%) controlled the nation and there was extreme segregation between the whites and blacks in which blacks were given virtually no rights—called apartheid Boundaries Dividing Africa: When the Europeans arrived, they ignored tribal boundaries and created their own divisions between nations, causing conflict between tribes Gap between the rich and the poor in Africa Europe took any valuable resources, land, and food sources, leaving the Africans destitute with little ways to get money World War I: Extreme competition between European nations lead to conflict and eventually World War I Christianity Spread to Africa: Christianity is currently the largest religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Civil War in Africa: After the Europeans relinquished control, civil war broke out all over Africa; some of these civil wars are still going on today.

6. Cause and Effect Chart