Imperialism in africa

1. Imperialism in africa European Nations Compete for the African Continent

2. The “Scramble for Africa” • By 1880, Africa was about all that was left that was largely untouched by Europeans • In 1880, Europeans controlled 10% of the continent, almost all of it on the coast • By 1914, they controlled almost everything except Ethiopia and Liberia

3. The Belgian Congo • At the behest of King Leopold II, H.M. Stanley signed questionable treaties with the local tribes • The treaties essentially signed the land over to King Leopold • Initially, the Congo wasn’t a colony; it was considered Leopold’s private property

4. Britain and Egypt • Egypt was virtually independent in 1849 (though part of the Ottoman Empire) • However, they were Muslim and developing, and could not secure European loans • England moved in to help with finances

5. In 1883 • England declared Egypt a Protectorate • Under this, England would rule Egypt to “protect” it for the Egyptians • Really just protected England’s interest in the Suez Canal

6. The Berlin Conference 1884-85 • So many European nations were hurrying to claim territory in Africa that it was feared they would bump into each other, causing war • The Berlin Conference solidified claims already made, and established “rules” for the conquest of Africa

7. Rules of Conquest • No imperial power could claim territory in Africa unless it occupied that territory • So military forces had to be stationed there at all times (and settlers could live there)

8. Perhaps One Positive Note • All European nations at the Berlin Conference (which included any that had territory in Africa) agreed to end slavery and terminate the slave trade

9. The British Empire in Africa • Britain prided itself on being the most enlightened of the European imperialist powers • As discussed, they took over Egypt in 1883

10. In the Sudan • After taking Egypt, Britain pushed south • At the Battle of Omdurman (1898), British General Horatio Herbert Kitchener defeated Sudanese tribesman • Using machine guns, 11,000 Sudanese died compared to 28 Britons

11. The Fashoda Incident (1898) • Britain dreamed of uniting its territories from north to south by railroad (the “Cape to Cairo” Railway) • France wanted to do the same thing east to west • If built, those railways would intersect near the town of Fashoda in the Sudan • This came very close to war between the two European nations, but the French backed down in exchange for British concessions in West Africa

12. The Boer War (1899-1902) • A Briton by the name of Cecil Rhodes had become Prime Minister of Cape Colony • He was also the head of the British South Africa Company, a joint-stock offering searching for gold and diamonds in South Africa

13. Wealth in the Transvaal • Gold and diamonds were discovered in the Transvaal region of South Africa, which was controlled by the Boers, the name given to descendants of white Dutch settlers that had lived in South Africa for centuries • The Dutch, of course, don’t want the British there

14. Britain Adds More Troops • And the Boers are eventually defeated • The gains are consolidated, and in 1910 Britain forms the Union of South Africa

15. Cecil Rhodes • Becomes ones of the richest men alive, and buys so much land he owns (but then turns over) two British colonies • They are Northern and Southern Rhodesia • Northern Rhodesia becomes Zambia in 1963, and Southern Rhodesia becomes Zimbabwe in 1979

16. By 1914 • The idea of the “Cape to Cairo” railway is getting closer • Britain can almost do it except for Tanganyika, which is German-controlled

17. The French Empire in Africa • Algeria • Large colony in northern Africa under French control since the 1830’s • An attack by pirates off the Barbary Coast had provided France with the excuse to invade • French colony until 1960

18. Tunisia • French annexed this, claiming frequent raids from Tunisia into Algeria • Became a French protectorate • Officially given to France at the Berlin Conference (claim dropped by England)

19. Other French Holdings • Somaliland (present-day Somalia) • France’s only territory on the east coast • Wanted the Sudan to link French holdings east to west

20. Still More French Holdings • Madagascar, the island off the African east coast (seized by the French in 1896) • Morocco • This was disputed and had fairly strong rebellions, but France had it controlled by 1914

21. French West Africa • Huge territory in western Africa • British ceded claims on all of this territory in exchange for the Sudan – shows how important the “Cape to Cairo” railway was to the British

22. Germany in Africa • The Berlin Conference guaranteed they would become a major player in Africa • Kaiser Wilhelm II pursued imperialism aggressively • By WWI, Germany had holdings five times larger than Germany itself

23. German Territories • Germany took Togoland and Cameroon in 1884 • In 1885, it formally claimed Tanganyika, which was renamed German East Africa • This was done as German businessmen already largely dominated the region

24. Southwest Africa • Known later as Numidia, German possession here sparked a strong rebellion • The Germans responded brutally, killing close to 50,000, including women and children

25. The Italian Empire in Africa • Like Germany, Italy comes late to the Imperialist picnic • Their first conquest is Eritrea, located in the east on the Red Sea

26. But Then Comes Trouble • The Italian army is humiliated when they are defeated by the native population while trying to conquer Ethiopia in 1896 • Over 6,000 Italians killed, and thousands more taken prisoner • To add to the humiliation, those taken prisoner were castrated

27. A Blow to Social Darwinism • Italy was the only European nation to be defeated by Africans • But like the later Russo-Japanese war, it seemed impossible to most of Europe that white people could lose to blacks • In 1935, Mussolini will seek to avenge the loss when Italy takes Ethiopia in a brutal campaign prior to World War II

28. A Final Italian Colony • Italy will conquer the Turks that control Libya, and make that into an Italian colony in 1912

29. Other European Players • Portugal controlled Angola in southwest Africa, and forced the people there into basically slavery • Belgium officially made the Congo a colony, and not just the personal reserve of the king