Scramble for Africa

1. Scramble for Africa SS7H1a: Explain how the European partitioning across Africa contributed to conflict, civil war, and artificial political boundaries

2. Africa Faces Imperialism • From the 1870s to 1900 Africa faced imperialist hostility, political pressure, military invasion and then conquest and colonization by Europe. • By the early 1900s all of Africa, except Ethiopia and Liberia were colonized by European countries. • Europe wanted African land for raw materials, and markets for their manufactured goods.

3. The One Who Has Territory, Has Power • Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain were competing for power in Europe. • The main way to gain political power is to have territories around the world.

4. Berlin Conference of 1884 • The desire to have lands in Africa was so strong that there was a fear of war. • German chancellor Otto von Bismark called the Berlin Conference of 1884 to set some ground rule in Africa.

5. Berlin Act • Slave trade was forbidden by land or sea. • Countries had to notify others when adding additional territories. • Congo Basin was free to trade on • Congo and Niger River would remain neutral and free for trade. • Countries could not have a colony in name only. • Free State of Congo would remain open to all European investments

6. Borders were drawn up to benefit the European powers and without participation of African leaders. • This division was disastrous as the new boundary lines divided ethnic groups and in most cases forced rival ethnic groups to live together

7. …BUT BY 1885, OVER 90% OF AFRICA WOULD BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF EUROPEAN EMPIRES, PARTICULARLY THE BRITISH AND THE FRENCH IN 1878, MUCH OF AFRICA WAS NOT COLONIZED BY EUROPE

10. The Negatives of Colonialism • Rival ethnic groups forced to live together causing conflicts and wars. • Lost many resources without equal return. • Lost their freedom to govern themselves. • Africans were forced to work on plantations and in mines for very little money. Children as young as 10 are recruited for civil wars in Africa

11. Positives of Colonialism • Improved roads and railroads • Improved medical centers • Improved schools • Improved economies –jobs and technology • Democracies allow freedom for many people (except in countries where corruption leads to dictatorships) Hospitals in South Africa are heavily burdened by HIV- infected children—a leading health issue in Africa.

12. Conflicts in Africa because of artificial political boundaries created by Europeans during the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 • Conflict between native Africans and Europeans during colonization • Conflict between ethnic groups • Conflict over who should have political power AFTER Africans gained independence from Europe