Imperialism: Africa

Question 1

scramble for Africa

Answer 1

• before the Europeans, North Africa was controlled by Muslims from the Middle East since 600 AD
• King Charles X of France wanted Morocco, Tunis, and Algeria
• He fought the Muslims for 10 years before conquering
• Great Britain also had na interest in North Africa - especially Egypt and Sudan
• This is where the Suez Canal was which connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea
• This allowed a new way to trade with Asia instead of sailing around Africa
• West Africa was desired by Europeans because it was a link to slave trade with Americas
• Sub Saharan Africa (sub - under the Sahara Desert) was also carved up

Question 2

Italy

Answer 2

• Italy wanted Libya - it was the only country left since Italy entered imperialism so late
• In East Africa, Ethiopia was ruled by King Menelik - a very smart ruler
• Ethiopia used modern weapons given to term by Europeans to fight back against Italians
• Ethiopia remained the second country in Africa with Liberia to remain free

Question 3

France

Answer 3

• Overthrew the Portuguese monopoly and gained French West Africa
• Liberia remained alone - never taken over by another nation - colony made up of freed American slaves

Question 4

Belgium

Answer 4

• Central Africa was desired by King Leopold of Belgium
• Leopold wanted it for the ivory, furs, rubber trees, and slaves
• this caused a lot of deforestation, animal extinction and deaths of native Africans
• the Belgian government took over the Congo making it the Belgium Congo

Question 5

Germany

Answer 5

• Germans were also using imperialism in East Africa

- Germans burned land to starve the Africans into submission

Question 6

Dutch

Answer 6

• South Africa was initially controlled by the Dutch (Denmark) since the 1600s
• White Dutch settlers in Africa were called Afrikaners
• the Dutch left South Africa established two new colonies - Transvaal and Orange
• the Dutch discovered diamonds there - and this made the British envious and they invaded
• this was called the Boer Wars and lasted for three years

Question 7

British

Answer 7

• British discovered South Africa was useful because of its location at the base of Africa
• Great Britain wanted the Gold Coast and Nigeria
• British called the Dutch Boers - which is Dutch for “farmer”
• British tried to end slavery in South Africa against the Dutch’s will
• Scramble for Africa
• British won the Boer Wars - ended slavery in South Africa - but the area remained segregated until 1993

Question 8

A.reasons–why did Europe want Africa?

Answer 8

1. markets for manufactured goods
2. raw materials
   - a. colonizers wanted mother country to be self-sufficient
3. nationalism
   - a. love of one’s country – pride
   - b. “sun never sets on the British flag”
4. religion
   - a. spread Christianity to the unfortunate
5. “white man’s burden”
   - a. duty of the whites to civilize the world
   - b. a poem by Rudyard Kipling mentioned this as a duty
6. who is the best without going to war?
   - a. this was one way to keep score

Question 9

note

Answer 9

• Berlin conference: where European powers meet to set up rules on claiming African lands (no African representation)
• 97% of Africa falls under European control with the exception of Ethiopia (defended off the Italians) and Liberia (had U.S. protection from being a former slave colony of the U.S.)
• the Congo was a personal colony of King Leopold where all sorts of atrocities were committed while the king became rich (rubber tree plantations)
• domination by Europe and depletion of resources, still see this today (Congo-lithium replaces rubber trees)
• Dutch took Indonesia
• France got Indo-China
• Siam keeps its kingdom because they appealed to western powers to come help them westernize
• Manifest Destiny (LA Purchase, Haitian Revolution)
• War with Mexico
• buys Alaska
• Hawaii
• Spanish American War
• Monroe Doctrine (stay out of our hemisphere)

Question 10

major Russian events

Answer 10

• Crimean war 1850s
• end of serfdom 1861
• trans-Siberian RR 1890s
• Russo-Japanese war 1905

Question 11

which countries took control of modern-day Vietnam and Laos?

Answer 11

• the Dutch

Question 12

who was NOT allowed to take place in the Berlin conference

Answer 12

• Africa

Question 13

why did europeans colonize Africa?

Answer 13

• to obtain valuable resources

Question 14

which countries took control of Indonesia

Answer 14

• the Dutch

Question 15

what is one long-term effect of the European depletion of resources as they first divided Africa?

Answer 15

• these resources are still depleted