Scramble for Colonies in Africa Unit 6 SSWH

Scramble for Colonies in Africa Unit 6, SSWH 15 d

How did industrialization lead to imperialism?

SSWH 15 d Describe imperialism in Africa and Asia by comparing British policies in Africa, French policies in Indochina, and Japanese policies in Asia; include the influence of geography and natural resources.

Nations Compete for Overseas Empires • Imperialism—seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country • Missionaries, explorers, humanitarians reach interior of Africa

Forces Driving Imperialism – European Superiority • Racism—belief that one race is better than others • Social Darwinism—survival of the fittest applied to human society • Gold and diamonds increases interest in colonization

Promoting Imperialism in Africa • Tech. inventions like steam engine, Maxim gun help conquest • Quinine protects Europeans from malaria • Within Africa, Africans are divided by language & culture

Congo Sparks Interest • King Leopold II of Belgium acquire land in Congo • Leopold brutally exploits Africans; millions die • Belgian govt takes colony away from Leopold • Europe begins to claim parts of Africa

Berlin Conference Divides Africa – No Africans Invited To Meeting • 14 nations agree on rules for division (1884– 85) - countries must claim land & prove ability to control it • Raw materials are greatest source of wealth in Africa • Businesses develop cash-crop plantations (no food)

Ethiopia: Resisted Colonization • Menelik II: emperor who modernized country • Stockpiles arsenal of modern weapons • Defeats Italy, remains independent

Clashes In Africa • British defeat Zulus & gain control of Zulu nation in 1887 • Boers, Dutch farmers, take Africans’ land, establish large farms • Boer War (1899) Boers clash with British over land & slaves (found diamonds) – British win

1 Word Summary • Describe in 1 word European Colonization of the African Continent. • Explain why you chose that word.