European Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa

CHY4U

Focus Questions

• What were the economic, social and cultural costs of European imperialism?

• How was imperialism rationalized?

• What forces drove imperialism?

• How was imperialism viewed during the 19th century? How is it viewed today?

Imperialism vs. Colonialism

• Imperialism: creating an empire, expanding into the neighbouring regions and expanding its dominance far.– exercising power over the conquered regions either

through sovereignty or indirect mechanisms of control

• Colonialism: a term where a country conquers and rules over other regions– great movement of people to the new territory and

living as permanent settlers

Imperialism

• “Imperialism” generally refers to the quest for rights and possessions in other people’s lands.

• In the 19th C, it meant control by the West of areas in Africa and other parts of the world with no intention of establishing any major Western settlement.

Driving Forces of Imperialism

• Diplomacy

• Business

• Spirt of Religion

• For Western nations, imperial success gave a nation prestige and power

“New” Imperialism

• In the early 19th C, imperial powers had preferred the techniques of informal empire.– Commerical and political relations established with

indigenous elite– Formal military conquests were thought to be

unnecessary

• After 1870 European powers began to rely more on colonization than on informal economic ties

Leading Up to Africa

• European imperialism did not occur at an even pace throughout the 19th C.

• From 1776 until 1870, informed political opinion expressed opposition to formal acquisition of colonies, preferring informal trade relationships instead.

Strategic Coastal Enclaves

• Prior to 1815, Europeans established commercial relations through strategic coastal enclaves– Indigenous merchants traded local

products for European goods– Africa’s interior was still an undiscovered

mystery

European Influence Expands

• After 1870, and even more dramatically after 1885, there was a remarkable increase in the European acquisition of colonial territories in the South Pacific, Asia, and Africa.

• In 1870, approximately 10% of Africa had been colonized.

• By 1895, approximately 90% was under European colonial control.

Historical Perspective

• Today, any imperialist activity is viewed with misgivings, suggesting an infringement of human rights and economic exploitation

• In the 19th C, imperialism was not generally associated with evils– Involved the extension of sovereignty, the opening

of markets, and the work of Christian missionaries

“The Case for Imperialism (1884)”

• Read the text provided, and highlight any controversial or significant ideas

• Answer the reflective questions that follow

• Be prepared to share your thinking with your classmates

The Partition of Africa

• The most significant aspect of imperialism in this period was the division of almost the entire African continent among the European powers

• Parts of Africa had already been claimed, but Europeans soon realized that there was an abundance of resources (and wealth) in interior Africa

“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

• Dr. David Livingstone (1813-1973), a medical missionary, was “lost” in central Africa

• In 1871, the New York Herald sent Henry Stanley (1841-1904) to find Livingstone who was found to be living in the Belgian Congo

• Stanley’s report on the ‘rescue mission’ included information on the economic possibilities of the region that he explored

• European powers, sensing opportunity, soon began to exploit the areas of central and southwest Africa

Otto von Bismarck

• Bismarck was not eager to enter into any imperial activity, nor wishing to antagonize Germany’s friends in the rush for Africa

• Public pressure grows, and Bismarck is forced to acquire some rights for territories

• Bismarck did not feel that the benefits of imperialism outweighed its dangers– For him, Europe came first

Imperial Tension

• Tensions grew to the point where it was thought useful to call an international conference to deal with the partition and development of Africa

• Conference was held in Berlin in 1885

• It was agreed that a country occupying a coastline had the right to the interior

• Occupation was to be “effective”, not simply on paper– Each state was required to notify the others of areas it

claimed

The Scramble is On• By 1914, all of Africa, with the exception of Ethiopia and

Liberia, was part of the imperial spheres of European powers– Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, or

Spain– Existing borders of African tribes and nations were

ignored

• The Berlin Conference helped sort out claims, but did not defuse all tensions; there were a number of clashes and near clashes

• Most European incursions were successful, but not all…

African Resistance… the Good

In the famous battle of Adowa in 1896, the Ethiopians confronted the Italians with 100,000 troops. They inflicted a decisive defeat on Italy and Ethiopia was able to maintain its independence for much of the colonial period.

African Resistance… the Ugly

Africans often resented European imperial pretensions. At the Battle of Omdurman in 1989, the British used the new machine gun to cut down the Sudanese. One witness said: “It was not a batle but an execution.”

Nationalist Pride & Imperialism

• A defeat and humiliation abroad affected governments at home

• The Italian defeat at Adowa (Ethiopia) caused internal unhappiness

• Portugal and England clash over southern Africa– Britain issues an ‘ultimatum’ threatening force,

Portuguese government backs down– Portuguese government falls and the monarchy

damaged

African Culture: Devastated

• European states viewed Africa as ‘open for business and exploitation’, and ripe for missionary activity

• Little regard for African society and its many cultural expressions

• Strong elements of ‘racial superiority’– The West viewed themselves as models for all of

civilization

The Cultural Legacy of Imperialism

• Not only did economic relations and systems change as a result of imperialism, so did the fundamental cultures of peoples subjected to European rule

• Language - a fundamental element of culture - underwent sweeping changes– General rule: indigenous language became relegated to

second-class status• North Africa - common language today is French• Indigenous languages survive, but may not be used for politics,

economics or administration.

The Cultural Legacy of Imperialism

• Europeans also exported their religion (Christianity) to the colonies– Often with a sense of ‘mission’

• This altered the lives of the peoples who adopted it, as the local religions tended to be very organic– Woven into and growing out of the daily lives and

experiences of the people

• Christianity was often used as a justification for massacres, racial discrimination, cruelty, and regressive social policies

Focus Questions… revisited

• What were the economic, social and cultural costs of European imperialism?

• How was imperialism rationalized?

• What forces drove imperialism?

• How was imperialism viewed during the 19th century? How is it viewed today?