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Scramble for Africa. Chapter 11 Section 1. Main Idea. Ignoring claims of African ethnic groups, kingdoms, and city-states, Europeans established colonies . African nations continue to feel the effects of the colonial presence more than 100 years later. Introduction.
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Scramble for Africa Chapter 11 Section 1
Main Idea • Ignoring claims of African ethnic groups, kingdoms, and city-states, Europeans established colonies. • African nations continue to feel the effects of the colonial presence more than 100 years later.
Introduction • Industrialization stirred ambitions in many European nations. • Europeans wanted more resources to fuel their industrial production. • They competed for new markets for their goods. • Many looked to Africa.
Imperialism • Colonial powers seized vast areas of Africa during the 19th and early 20th century. • This seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country is called imperialism. • Stronger countries dominated the political, economic and social life of the weaker countries.
Africa Before European Domination • Mid 1800s, African peoples were divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups. • Most continued to follow traditional beliefs. • Some converted to Islam or Christianity. • Spoke more than 1,000 different languages. • Ranged from large empires to independent villages.
Europeans in Africa • Europeans had contact with Africans as early as 1450. • Europeans controlled 10% of Africa’s land. • Mainly on the coast. • Europeans had a difficult time going into the interior. • Rivers were hard to navigate. • Disease • Steam powered ships made it possible to explore the interior.
Forces Driving Imperialism • 1. Economic Factors – Industrial Revolution provided Europeans the need for larger markets • 2. Political Factors – Territory = power • 3. Social Factors – Empires were viewed as a measure of national pride
Belief in European Superiority • Race for colonies also grew out of a strong sense of national pride. • Empire = measure of national greatness. • As competition intensified, each country was determined to plant its flag on as much of the world as possible.
European “Superiority” • Europeans believed that they were better than other peoples. • The belief that one race is superior to others is called racism. • This was a reflection of Social Darwinism. • Charles Darwin’s idea of survival of the fittest was applied to society. • Those who were the fittest enjoyed wealth and were superior to others.
Push for Expansion • Missionaries also pushed for expansion. • They worked to convert peoples of Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands to Christianity. • Missionaries believed that European rule was the best way to end evil practices, such as the slave trade. • They also wanted to “civilize” or “westernize” the peoples of the foreign land.
Factors Promoting Imperialism in Africa • Several factors contributed to the European’s conquest of Africa. • The main factor – Technological superiority • Maxim gun – world’s first automatic machine gun • Africans – outdated weapons • Steam Engines • Africans lacked a sense of nationalism. • Easy to play rival groups against each other.
Questions • Why did the Europeans colonize Africa? • What is the seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country called? • Explain the factors driving imperialism? • How did Social Darwinism play a role in imperialism? • What factors contributed to the Europeans conquest of Africa?
The Division of Africa • Scramble for Africa began around 1880. • The discoveries of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) in South Africa increased European interest in colonizing the continent. • No European power wanted to be left out.
Berlin Conference Divides Africa • The competition was so fierce that European countries feared war among themselves. • To prevent potential conflict, 14 European nations met at the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885 to lay down the rules for the division of Africa. • They agreed that any country could claim land as long as they notified other nations and showed they could control the area.
Dividing a Continent • Europeans divided the continent without considering the native groups. • African rulers were not invited to attend the conference. • By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent.
Shaping Colonies • Africans did not buy European products. • Europeans turned colonies into plantations and mineral mines.
Three Groups Clash over South Africa • South Africa’s history consists of fighting over its land and resources by Africans, Dutch and British. • Ethnic groups had been competing over the lands of Africa for 100 years.
Zulus Fight the British • Zulu chief, Shaka, organized a highly disciplined army but still lost control of southern Africa to the British.
Boers and British Settle the Cape • Boers = Dutch farmers • Settled the Cape of Good Hope. • British and Boers disagreed on policies regarding land and slaves. • Great Trek – forcing of thousands of Boers from the southern tip. • Boers were unable to keep out invaders and blamed the British.
Boer War • First modern “total” war. • Total war = war against armies and civilians • British burned Boer farms, imprisoned women and children in concentration camps. • 1902 – British established the Union of South Africa.
Questions • What increased the interest in Africa in the 1800s? • What was the purpose of the Berlin Conference? • What is a total war?
