Scramble for Colonies in Africa

Unit 6, SSWH 15 d

How did industrialization lead to imperialism?

SSWH 15 dDescribe imperialism in Africa and

Asia by comparing British policies in Africa, French policies in Indochina, and Japanese policies in Asia; include the influence of geography and natural resources.

Nations Compete for Overseas Empires

• Imperialism—seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country

• Missionaries, explorers, humanitarians reach interior of Africa

Forces Driving Imperialism – European Superiority

• Racism—belief that one race is better than others

• Social Darwinism—survival of the fittest applied to human society

• Gold and diamonds increases interest in colonization

Promoting Imperialism in Africa

• Tech. inventions like steam engine, Maxim gun help conquest

• Quinine protects Europeans from malaria

• Within Africa, Africans are divided by language & culture

Congo Sparks Interest• King Leopold II of Belgium acquire

land in Congo• Leopold brutally exploits Africans;

millions die• Belgian govt takes colony away from

Leopold• Europe begins to claim parts of Africa

Berlin Conference Divides Africa – No Africans Invited To Meeting

• 14 nations agree on rules for division (1884–85) - countries must claim land & prove ability to control it• Raw materials are greatest source of

wealth in Africa• Businesses develop cash-crop

plantations (no food)

Ethiopia: Resisted Colonization•Menelik II: emperor who modernized country•Stockpiles arsenal of modern weapons•Defeats Italy, remains independent

Clashes In Africa• British defeat Zulus & gain control of

Zulu nation in 1887• Boers, Dutch farmers, take Africans’

land, establish large farms• Boer War (1899) Boers clash with

British over land & slaves (found diamonds) – British win

1 Word Summary

• Describe in 1 word European Colonization of the African Continent.

• Explain why you chose that word.