Imperialism - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Imperialism in AfricaSlide2

http://www.shs.d211.org/socialstudies/faculty/hxm/World%20History.htm

Between ~1880-1914, European countries gained control of almost all of Africa! Slide3

Africa Before Imperialism

Thousands of different ethnic groups, tribes, nations, cultures and languages.

Complex trade networks, different types of societies.

African groups often in conflict with one another.Slide4

Some major African kingdoms before imperialism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:African-civilizations-map-pre-colonial. svg

By Jeff Israel Slide5

Major language groups (there are about 2000 different specific languages!)

http://www.south-africa-tours-and-travel.com/bantu.htmlSlide6

Early contact with Europe

Missionaries

Slave trade, coastal trade

Explorers

But by 1850s, most of Africa still unknown to Europeans –”dark continent” Slide7

Industrial

Revolution

Source for

Raw

Materials

Markets for

Finished

Goods

European

Nationalism

Missionary

Activity

Military

& Naval

Bases

European

Motives

For Colonization

Places to

re-locate

Unwanted/

Excess Population

Social & Economic

Opportunities

Humanitarian

Reasons

European

Racism

“White

Man’s

Burden”

Social

Darwinism

Susan M Pojer at

http://www.pptpalooza.net/Slide8

Why was Africa imperialized then? (major reasons)

Some Europeans wanted to spread Christianity. They believed they were culturally and racially superior.

By Josiah Wedgwood ,1787 Slide9

“White Man’s Burden”

Some Europeans believed that it was their duty to take over “uncivilized” people to help them modernize and become more advanced. They saw imperialism as a humanitarian mission.

“Take up the White Man's burden--

Send forth the best ye breed--

Go bind your sons to exile

To serve your captives' need;

To wait in heavy harness,

On fluttered folk and wild--

Your new-caught, sullen peoples,

Half-devil and half-child. “

- Rudyard Kipling, 1899Slide10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Man's_Burden

The white man's burden -

The Journal

, Detroit, 1898.

Satire of “White Man’s Burden” First printed in Life, March 16, 1899. Slide11

Europeans wanted access to Africa’s natural resources: ex. ivory, rubber, gold, diamonds, palm oil, fruit, minerals, etc.

http://www.museum.agropolis.fr/english/pages/expos/aliments/matieres_grasses/images/palmierahuile.htmSlide12

Europeans wanted new markets for their goods. Africans bought tools, weapons, clothes that had been inexpensively produced in England during the Industrial Revolution.

http://www.vintagetextile.com/images/Textiles/6322.jpgSlide13

How did Europeans get control?

Cooperated with local leaders.

Took advantage of African conflicts.

Traded with Africans.

Used more advanced weapons and technology.

Ex. Maxim machine gun

303 Maxim gun at Firepower - The Royal Artillery Museum.

Taken by Max Smith Slide14

The Conference of Berlin - 1884

European leaders met in Berlin, Germany to divide up Africa.

They did not invite any African people!

http://sun.menloschool.org/~sportman/mwh/chapter2021/2007/gblock/bcoyne/Slide15

Europeans agreed that to claim an area in Africa, they had to set up a government there.

They called for an end to the slave trade in and within Africa.

They gave King Leopold II of Belgium control of the Congo.Slide16

How did European imperialism affect Africa?

Each European country administered territories differently, but there were common trends.Slide17

Imposed taxes

Europeans made African natives pay taxes in cash.

This forced more natives to plant cash crops, which Europeans encouraged, for export to Europe.

Cash crops helped some people gain money, but also led to food shortages.

http://www.blass.com.au/definitions/british%20west%20africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peanut_9417.jpgSlide18

Changed traditional government

Direct rule (French): Europeans set up a government and ran it.

Indirect rule (British): Europeans selected native leaders who agreed to work with them and rule through them.

…either way, traditional elites often lost power, and political organization became hierarchical with Europeans at very top.Slide19

Last British Governor General of Nigeria with Tafawa Balewa, first independent Prime Minister

http://maxsiollun.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/how-the-british-rigged-nigeria/Slide20

Created new boundaries

Political boundaries were created by Europeans to divide areas under their control.

Often many diverse and formerly independent groups were forced together under one government.Slide21

Example: Nigeria has about 250 ethnic groups

http://migrationstoriesofnigerianigbo.wordpress.com/category/mtdna/Slide22

Consequences of European-imposed Boundaries

Pro: The government forced groups to stop fighting each other and encouraged trade.

Con: Groups were deprived of sovereignty, and the stage was set for future struggles for power between ethnic groups within the country.Slide23

ViolenceAlthough European control could potentially eliminate wars between tribes under their control, they often relied on violence to keep control or force labor.

Europeans claimed the most desirable land and resources for themselves.Slide24

Infamous Belgian Congo abuses

Circa 1904 Alice Harris, Anti-Slavery International

By Linley Sambourne, in

Punch

in 1906Slide25

ModernizationEuropeans introduced advanced technologies, especially for transportation and communication (railroads, telegraph, etc.).

They also brought more modern medicine and built hospitals.Slide26

From “An Answer to Mark Twain” by the Congo Reform Association, 1909Slide27

Formal Education

Before imperialism, most Africans were educated through systems that used oral traditions and practicing trades and skills.

Europeans, especially missionaries, built Western style schools, though only some Africans attended. Those who were educated in European schools often worked for the colonial government and had greater opportunity for promotion. Some of these Africans adopted European ideals of liberal democracy, and began to demand more rights in those terms.Slide28

From “An Answer to Mark Twain” by the Congo Reform Association, 1909Slide29

Labor

Some areas used forced labor for plantations or construction.

Some areas relied on large amounts of cheap mobile labor, especially from Africans who had lost their land or homes.

Some Africans grew wealthy as part of a new commercial elite, or saw working in the colonial troops or police as an opportunity.Slide30

French colonial troops

Ulrich, 1940, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-L05109,_Kriegsgefangene_franz%C3%B6sische_Kolonialsoldaten.jpgSlide31

Resistance

Many Africans participated in resistance movements.

Some violent – Examples: Mau Mau in Kenya, Zulus in South Africa, Berbers in Algeria.

Some peaceful – Example: political organization and protests in Nigeria, pride in traditional cultures and rejection of European influence.Slide32

http://www.psywar.org/maumau.php

http://www.blackpast.org/?q=gah/mau-mau-1952-1960Slide33

Big Question:

Regarding British imperialism in Africa, a British official, Lord Curzon said:

“The British Empire has brought peace, justice, prosperity and freedom to Africa.”

To what extent is this belief accurate?