the mad scramble for africa
DESCRIPTION
This ppt is targeted to 5th grade study of colonization in Africa. It covers the Treaty of Berlin, the search for gold and diamonds, the various ways of governing the colonies and the effects of colonization.TRANSCRIPT
The Scramble for Africa
Guiding Questions
• Why did mother countries lose most of
their colonies?
• Why do the mother countries want to
colonize Africa?
• Who organized the colonization process?
• What were the rules?
• How did they govern the colonies?
Mother Countries Lose Colonies
• In the early 1800’s, Europe’s mother
countries had lost most of their colonies.
– England had lost the American colonies in
the American Revolution
– Spain had lost most of their holdings in
North, Central, and South America due to
uprisings and revolts.
– The Portuguese had lost most of their
colonies to the Dutch
– The Dutch managed to hold on to their
colonies, but with great difficulty
Reasons for the Scramble
• Late 1800’s, Europe decides
to colonize Africa
• Europe wants to colonize
Africa to ensure trade
• England wants to control the
Suez Canal to ensure a
shorter route to India
• Gold and diamonds found all
over Africa!!
• Palm oil and lots of timber for export
• Greediness! They want to get land
just so the others won’t get it first!
• Nationalism is on the rise in Europe.
Citizens feel a sense of pride about
their countries worldwide assets.
Treaty of Berlin
• European and American leaders met in Berlin to
discuss the colonization of Africa
• King Leopold of Belgium wanted to exploit the
Congo River Valley.
• However, the other participants wanted to
regulate the new colonies to be made and make
sure they had access to important trade routes.
Treaty Rules
• Colonized areas must be occupied, not just
claimed
• Mother countries must defend their claims
and set up a colonial government
• They agreed not to import any more
firearms into Africa (giving them a military
advantage)
• Agreed to ban Inter-African slave trade
Effects of Treaty of Berlin
• Over 90% of Africa was now under
European Control
• The new borders ignored the traditional
boundaries. It separated peoples who had
gotten along, as well as joining groups
together who were traditional enemies.
• Even language groups were separated
from each other
Types of Colonial Rule
1. Company Charter: The mother country
gives permission for the company to go in
and exploit the natural resources of the area.
2. Direct Rule: The mother country divides up
the local areas and rules over them
individually (so they can’t join together for
revolt)
3. Indirect Rule: the mother country
allowed local chiefs to rule, but really
they were just “puppets” of the
mother country
4. Settler’s Rule: Mother country
sends colonists over and they take
charge of governing the colony
(Example: South Africa)
Follow up questions
• Why did mother countries lose most of
their colonies?
• Why do the mother countries want to
colonize Africa?
• Who organized the colonization process?
• What were the rules?
• How did they govern the colonies?