Imperialism in Africa

• Explain imperialism.

  Imperialism is when one country exerts its influence over another country.
• When did European's start imperializing?

  European nations pursued an aggressive expansion policy in the 19th century. (1870-1914).
• How was imperialism possible?

  Imperialism was made possible and necessary by the Industrial Revolution
• Explain Colony (form of Imperialism)


  A type of imperialism where a country sets up a colony in another country.
• Explain Protectorate (Form of Imperialism)

  when a country protects an eager state while allowing it some degree of control and autonomy.
• Explain Sphere of Influence (Form of Imperilaism)

  where a powerful country holds significant influence over the political, economic, or cultural affairs of other nations.
• Explain Economic Imperialism (Form of Imperialism)

  economic dominance and control exerted by a powerful nation over the resources and markets of other countries.
• Who is David Livingstone?

  A missionary, went to Africa from Scotland, promoted Christianity, he went missing for 7 years.
• Who is Henry Stanley?


  Sent to find Livingstone and found him

  -said "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
• Who is King Leopoldo II?

  He is the king of Belgium, he commissioned Stanley to help him obtain land in Congo.
• What did Leopold claimed he would do in Congo? What did he actually do?

  Leopold claimed he would use Congo to abolish the slave trade and promote Christianity.

  But he instead, licensed companies and exploited Africans by forcing them to collect rap from rubber plants.

  -10 million died due to Leopold's rule.
• What were the countries that imperialized Africa?

  France, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
• Define the "Scramble for Africa"


  The movement of European nations into the interior of Africa is called the "Scramble of Africa".
• What did the term "Scramble for Africa" symbolize?


  It symbolizes the competition between the European nations as they "scrambled" to capture colonies in Africa. (There was such a scramble, that European nations almost went to war!)
• What is the Berlin Conference?

  The Berlin Conference was called the settle disputes the European nations had over territory in Africa. It also resulted in the dividing up of Africa into many different colonies. African societies were not invited to this conference and no say in the creation of these colonies.
• Which 2 countries remained independent after the Berlin Conference?

  Ethiopia and Libera
• What natural resources did Europeans begin to drain from Africa?

  Europeans began to drain African natural resources including palm oil, ivory, rubber, gold, diamonds, metals, and cotton.
• Who benefited from the harvesting and mining of both natural resources and luxury goods in Africa?

  These resources were harvest and mined for the exclusive benefit of the European overlords.
• What was the most exclusive natural resource hunted by Europeans in Africa?

  The most exclusive natural resource hunted by Europeans was diamonds or "Blood Diamonds" in Sierra Leone.
• Who founded the De Beers Diamond to exploit African resources, an what was the result of it?

  Cecil Rhodes founded the De Beers Diamond to export these resources. Rhodes made millions of dollars from the indigenous Africans and was responsible for untold devastation and violence.
• Forced Labor


  Many colonial powers exploited African labor for economic gain. Forced labor systems such as the French corvee system and the Portuguese forced labor policies.
• Land Dispossession


  Europeans dispossess Africans of their lands, often through deceitful treaties, coercion, or outright seizure.
• Cultural Suppression


  Local languages, gradients, and customs were often suppressed, and education systems were designed to promote European values.
• Violence Against Resistance Movements

  Colonized populations resisted colonial rule through various movements and uprisings. In response, colonial powers often employed brutal tactics to suppress dissent, including mass killings and torture.
• Arbitrary (Random) Borders and Ethnic Tensions

  European colonial powers drew arbitrary borders without regard to the ethnicity and cultural composition of African societies. This led to the creation of artificial nations, fostering tensions and conflicts among different ethnic groups.
• List the Motives of Imperialism

  Economic, Exploratory, Political, Ideological, Religious.
• Ghana is Africa’s largest gold producer
• The British built an official railway system in Ghana that they controlled, which helped them to decide the prices of goods
• Individuals in Ghana participated in small scale economic resistance
• The British attempted to control how people moved around in Ghana with trains, etc.
• During colonial times in Ghana, churches were segregated
• Ethiopia is celebrated as the only African nation not formally colonized by a European power during the Scramble for Africa due to its ties to Christianity
• In 1896, Ethiopian forces, led by Emperor Menelik II, defeated Italian forces at the Battle of Adwa due to his modernization efforts
• The victory at the Battle of Adwa solidified Ethiopia’s status as an independent nation
• Liberia was founded by free African-American slaves in the early 19th century
• Despite facing challenges, including pressures from European powers, Liberia maintained its independence
• Liberia was recognized as an independent republic in 1847