The Scramble for Africa Eastern Cultures Andrea Kolich

Warm-Up

Key Words u Colonialism-is forced control of one nation by another nation. A state imposes political, economic, cultural systems on another territory Imperialism- is empire building by taking over other countries’ government’s trade, and culture. u Difference: colonialism can be thought to be a practice and imperialism as the idea driving the practice. u u Nationalism--a strong of identification with and pride in one's nation-resulted in competition between European nations. This competition often resulted in wars between nations. u Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade-route between African and the Americas-also called the Middle Passage u Rule of occupation: idea that colonizing country must have roads, soldiers and a government before a country can be considered their colony

African Trade [15 c-17 c]

European Explorers in Africa 19 c Europeans Map the Interior of Africa

Flip-Flop u In 1870, about 10% of Africa had been colonized, u By 1895 approximately 90% had come under European colonial control. u Why?

Before & After European colonization

DBQ: Document A: African Map

What conclusion can you make from looking at the political cartoon?

THE “DARK” CONTINENT u Dark Continent” – racist terminology referred to both the peoples of Africa and their alleged ignorance u In reality, Africa has always had diverse groups of people with their own unique cultures and histories u Civilizations u Languages u Religions

Industrial Revolution Markets for Finished Goods Source for Raw Materials European Nationalism Missionary Activity European Motives For Colonization Military & Naval Bases Social Darwinism Places to Dump Unwanted/ Excess Popul. European Racism “White Man’s Burden” Humanitarian Reasons Soc. & Eco. Opportunities

Driving Force: Economic Interest Raw Materials • Before early 1800 s, several European nations profited from slave trade in Africa • After some nations passed laws abolishing slave trade, Europeans looked to Africa as source for raw materials • Materials like coal, metals needed to manufacture goods during Industrial Revolution • Needs fueled Europeans’ desire for land with natural resources— available in Africa Entrepreneurial Colonization • To gather, export natural resources, European entrepreneurs developed own mines, plantations, trade routes • Entrepreneurs sometimes called on home countries to protect economic interests from European competitors • In this way, drive for colonization came from ambitious individuals, not just European governments

Driving Force: Economic Interest Raw Materials Europeans developed cash-crop plantations • Peanuts • Palm oil • Cocoa • Rubber These plantations displaced food crops Africans needed to feed their families.

DBQ: Document D: African Colonies & Their Exports

DBQ: Document E: Imports and Exports

Driving Force-Nationalism Political Competition • Imperialism in Africa reflected struggles for power in Europe, such as longterm rivalry between France, Britain • France expanded control over West, Central Africa; Britain began to expand colonial empire to block French • Colonies were viewed as “bargaining chips” at international conferences Nationalism a Factor • Rise of Germany, Italy as powers contributed to the new imperialism • Both nations jumped into race for colonization to assert status • Nationalism also contributed to rise of new imperialism • European leaders believed controlling colonies would gain them more respect from other leaders

DBQ: Document B: National Pride

Driving Force-Cultural Motives In addition to practical matters of economics and politics, the new imperialism was motivated by cultural attitudes. Cultural Motives Rule Justified • European imperialists felt superior to non-European peoples • As result, some Europeans believed rule in Africa justified • Some began to argue humanity divided into distinct peoples, races • Teaching Africans good government • Claimed biological differences existed between races • Some imperialists believed actions noble, their duty to educate those considered inferior • Racist view—people of European descent superior to people of African, Asian descent • Referred to their influence in Africa as “the white man’s burden, ” after poem by Rudyard Kipling

Driving Force-Cultural Motives Darwin • Defenders of imperialism often applied Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to struggle between nations, races • Darwin argued species more fit for environment will survive, reproduce Social Darwinism • Social Darwinism notion stated certain nations, races more fit than others • Social Darwinists believed “fit” nations came to rule over “less fit” nations, often showed discrimination against citizens of ruled nations Cecil Rhodes • Social Darwinism advocate Cecil Rhodes, “I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better…” • Believed British-built railway would bring benefits of civilization to all Africans

DBQ: Document F: White Man’s Burden

DBQ: Document F: Chief Khumalo

Driving Force-Geo-Political Factors Cultural Motives • European imperialists felt superior to non-European peoples • Some began to argue humanity divided into distinct peoples, races • Claimed biological differences existed between races • Racist view—people of European descent superior to people of African, Asian descent Example • Britain established control in Egypt in order to preserve control of the Suez Canal, which was vital to maintaining a quick trade route to India

Strategic Acquisitions. Suez Canal

Suez Canal • 1869, Suez Canal influenced Britain’s interest in Egypt • Canal linked Mediterranean with Red Sea, shortened trip from Europe to Indian Ocean; no need to sail around southern tip of Africa • 1882, Egyptian government appeared unstable; British occupied Egypt to protect British interests in Suez Canal; later established partial control as protectorate to ensure British access to canal

Suez Canal

Driving Force-Technology Medical treatment of malaria with the drug: quinine Easier travel with the steam ship and railroads. Made travel on water or land faster and allowed for close contract with colonies. Guns-Europeans fought with machine guns/Africans had spears and bows.

DBQ: Document C: Technology

Internal Reasons for Imperialism u. African nations lacked unity u. No common language u. Lack of common culture u. Wars between different groups u. Lack of technology

Berlin Conference 1884 -1885 u 80% African under local control u 14 European countries participated u Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway (unified from 1814 -1905), Turkey, and the United States of America. u No African representatives Of these fourteen nations, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal were the major players

“We have been engaged in drawing lines upon maps where no white man’s foot has ever trod. We have been giving away mountains and rivers and lakes to each other, only hindered by the small impediment that we never knew exactly where the mountains and rivers were. ” -British Official

The Berlin Conference u. The agreement between the European powers specified: u. European powers could acquire colonies in the following methods. u Through occupation. u Notifying other European states of the occupation and claim. u Showing that the European power could control the area.

The Berlin Conference u. Results of the Conference u. In 1850 most of Africa had been free. u. By 1914 only Liberia and Ethiopia were free of European control.

u. England, France, and Germany take the most territory. u. France takes most of the Sahel.

Europeans: Carving up a Continent Who is missing from this picture? ? ?

Different Types of Rule

Company Rule u European nations gave private companies large territories to administrate in Africa. u. Companies were formed by businessmen who were interested in exploiting the natural resources of these territories u. These companies could set up their own systems of taxation and labor recruitment. u. European powers provided charters for these companies because the companies took responsibility for all of the expenses related to establishing and administering the colonies. u Was a good deal for the European countries. They had the political benefit of having additional colonies in Africa, but not the expense!

The Congo "I do not want to risk. . . losing a fine chance to secure for ourselves a slice of this magnificent African cake. ”--Leopold II Belgian Congo

Company Rule-Congo Free State u. The Congo Free State was the personal domain of King Leopold II of Belgium u. His rule is known as the most brutal of all colonial rulers u. He gave Belgian businesses free access to the Congo, who administered the colony and exploited the mineral and human resources u. Native chiefs were offered trinkets or cloth if they would place an X on a document in foreign tongue.

Chiefs of Ngombi & Mafela, in return for "one piece of cloth per month to each of the undersigned chiefs, besides present of cloth in hand, " they promised to "freely of their own accord, for themselves and theirs and successors for ever. . . give up to the said Association the sovereignty and all sovereign and governing rights to all their territories. . . and to assist by labour or otherwise, any works, improvements or expeditions which the said Association shall cause at any time to be carried out in any part of these territories. . All roads and waterways running through this country, the right of collecting tolls on the same, and all game, fishing, mining and forest rights, are to be the absolute property of the said Association. ” --Treaty handing over land to Leopold II

Leopold II u. Exploitation of resources u. Ivory, Rubber, Minerals u. One of the greatest international scandals of the early 20 th century u. Forced/slave labor u. Starvation u. Disease u. Torture/mutilation u. Directly and indirectly eliminated 20% of the population u 10 to 13 million people Kevin P. Dincher A 1906 Punch cartoon depicting Leopold II as a rubber vine entangling a Congolese man 41

"The station chief selects the victims. . Trembling, haggard, they lie face down on the ground. . . two of their companions, sometimes four, seize them by the feet and hands, and remove their cotton drawers. . Each time that the torturer lifts up the chicotte, a reddish stripe appears on the skin of the pitiful victims, who, however firmly held, gasp in frightful contortions. . At the first blows the unhappy victims let out horrible cries which soon become faint groans. . In a refinement of evil, some officers, and I've witnessed this, demand that when the sufferer gets up, panting, he must graciously give the military salute. ” -- Stanislas Lefranc, Belgian prosecutor The chicotte, a particularly vicious type of whip made from rhinoceros hide.

The “Hand” Tax § Hands cut off as proof of killing or punishment: received payment for hands and “proved” that supervisors were not “wasting” bullets on game hunting

Leopold’s Men Then Proceeded To Rape The Land Of Its Riches, Especially Ivory And Rubber, Ruthlessly Using Forced Labor To Get The Job Done. "It Was Most Interesting, Lying In The Bush, Watching The Natives Quietly At Their Day's Work. Some Women. . . Were Making Banana Flour By Pounding Up Dried Bananas. Men We Could See Building Huts And Engaged In Other Work, Boys & Girls Running About, Singing. . I Opened The Game By Shooting One Chap Through The Chest. He Fell Like A Stone. . Immediately A Volley Was Poured Into The Village. ” "Six Shots & Four Deaths Were Sufficient To Quiet The Mocking. ”--Henry Stanley

Punishing “Lazy” Workers

Two victims (l. ) who lost their hands, one because his wrists were tied too tightly, the other because company militia cut it off to claim him as killed and get a reward. Below, a father looks at the severed hand foot of his daughter

5 -8 Million Victims! (50% of Popul. ) It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery. . . The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead. . . This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to their credit. -- Belgian Official

Primary Source: Roger Casement, Report from the Congo Basin in 1903 u. Here Nkwabali took up the tale from Moyo, the Bangongo chief: u “We said to the white men, We are not enough people now to do what you want us. Our country has not many people in it and we are dying fast. We are killed by the work you make us do, but the stoppage of our plantations, and the breaking up of our homes. ”

Different Types of Rule

Direct Rule u This was used commonly by France. u Would have a governor-general in charge of the colony. u Was to assimilate African subjects into French culture. u Colonies were headed by European personnel who u Were tax collectors u In charge of labor and military recruitment u Maintenance of law and order. u Did not preserve native traditions. u “Divide and rule”-intentionally weakened indigenous networks and institutions

Colonization under Direct Rule Divide & Rule Administrative boundaries intentionally drawn to cut across existing African political and ethnic boundaries Why? In order to divide and weaken potentially powerful indigenous (native) groups.

Difficulties Under Direct Rule u. Constant shortage of European personnel u. Ex. In French West Africa some thirty-six hundred Europeans tried to rule over an African population of more than nine million. u. The combination of long distances and slow transport limited effective communication between regional authorities and officials in remote areas. u. An inability to speak local languages and a limited understanding of local customs among European officials further undermined their effective administration.

Different Types of Rule

Indirect Rule u Local rulers allowed to keep their authority and status in the new colonial setting u Made access to region’s natural resources easier u Was cheaper because few officials had to be trained u Affected the local culture less u But some local elites resisted foreign conquest u Was used by Great Britain

Difficulties Under Indirect Rule u It gave power to certain "big men" who had never had it before in precolonial history. u Europeans confused by the complexity of tribal laws and boundaries and imposed their own idea of what they thought was tribal boundaries and tribal laws. u This was done with little regard to the differences between tribes and these tribes were split up into what Europeans thought was acceptable boundaries. u These colonial boundaries divided ethnic groups or grouped traditional enemies. u Some groups were even given limited access to water in their newly drawn up lines of tribal territories.

Results of Indirect Rule u. As a result of colonial rule with little regard to African’s tribal boundaries and practices many African nations today are fighting tribal wars u. Ex. (Rwandan genocide) and still having disputes over land for reasons such as ethnic dominance and control over natural resources.

Different Types of Rule

Settler Rule u Settler rule-type of colonialism in southern Africa in which European settlers imposed direct rule on their colonies. u Settler colonies different because of the number of immigrants from Europe settled in these colonies. u Security and prosperity for the settlers depended on u economic exploitation u political oppression of the African population that vastly outnumbered the settlers. u Consequently, Settler rule was characterized by its harsh policies toward the indigenous African population.

Connection to last year’s learning u. What are some of the restrictions placed on blacks living in South Africa? u. Laws? u. Segregation?

Impact- Negative u Decimation of native population u Forced migration of slave populations u Diffusion of language, religion u Wealth to home countries u Africans lost their land u Lost of independence u Large amounts of the African population died of European diseases. u Smallpox u Loss of traditional culture u Division of African nations by European boundaries u Forced labor

Impact-Positive u. Brought hospitals and schools to Africa. u. Increased life spans and literacy rates. u. Gained railroads, dams, and telephone lines u. Africa products were valued on the international market.

u. Questions?