Europeans Imperialized Africa Dbq Research Paper

One of the different ways Africans reacted was their way of resistance against the Europeans. Various political leaders would rather have themselves

A political map of Africa shows that a total of seven different European countries claimed African territory and selfishly divvied up the land for themselves (Document 9). They took advantage of their weapons and technology that the Africans didn’t possess in order to conquer all of the land shown in document 9. Europeans would often create treaties to be signed by African rulers once they were basically in control of their territories. One specific treaty administered and written by the Royal Niger Company mentioned how they would “agree to pay the native owners of land a reasonable amount” for their territory (Document 1). But, the currency in Africa and Europe were different, so it is unlikely that the African chiefs knew how much their land was worth when Europeans paid them in foreign currency. In addition, it’s doubtful that the African chiefs signing these types of treaties spoke or were literate in English; therefore, important points could have been lost in translation and the leaders wouldn’t know exactly what they were agreeing to. Since the Europeans were the ones coming up with the terms of the treaties, it would have been in their best interest to benefit as much as they could, making these treaties biased towards the Europeans. This lead to African societies being subject to unanticipated unfair treatment that disrupted their daily

“African Perspectives on Colonialism” is a book written by A. Adu Boahen. This book classifies the African responses to European colonialism in the 19th century. Boahen begins with the status of Africa in the last quarter of the 19th century and follows through the first years of African independence. This book deals with a twenty year time period between 1880 and 1900. Boahen talks about when Africa was seized and occupied by the Imperial Powers of Europe. Eurocentric points of view dominated the study of this era but Boahen gives us the African perspective. There are always two sides of the story and Boehen tells us the side less talked about informing us of what he knows.

For centuries, European nations had been trading slaves, gold, ivory, and more with the west coast of Africa. Throughout the early 1800s, Europeans barely knew anything about the rest of the country of Africa. This quickly changed as Europe grew a sudden interest in exploring the rest of the country and taking advantage of their many valuable resources. Many wonder what motivated Europeans to Imperialize Africa, or extend their country’s power throughout Africa. The driving forces behind European Imperialism in Africa were the strive for ultimate power in Africa between competing countries, the need for money and technological advancements in European civilizations, and the constant attempt for Europeans to spread their cultures throughout

European Imperialism was a period of colonial expansion by European powers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The continents of Africa and Asia were two of the most imperialized areas in the world, and that greatly affected the people living there. The European Imperialism methods had a tremendous effect on the indigenous people of those areas through culture and conflicts.

In the 19th and 20th centuries Europe was thriving and wealthy while most of their colonies in Africa were suffering under their rule. The Europeans all wanted a piece of Africa’s land with its plentiful resources and free labor. Around this time, Europe was going through the industrial revolution and because business was booming the European countries need more resources than they already had. The Africans had the land the Europeans wanted to use to continue having booming businesses, they also had African slaves and workers that they can use so they don’t have to pay for labor. In the 19th century leader of the Europeans countries want to discuss how they will divide Africa without the leaders of Africa knowing. The Europeans then started to invade Africa and take control over the citizens. As the Europeans got more powerful, the Africans become more miserable. Unable to match the guns Europe had, African countries began getting claimed, one by one with the exception of two. The Europeans ruled in a cruel way that left many Africans dead or suffering. Many countries tried and successfully broke away from Europeans after many years under colonization. The Europeans had a negative impact on the lives of many Africans in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially with racism and assimilation. People were taught to be a human they had to be like a European which led to many racist views on African people and culture and is why some nations like France used assimilation to make

During the nineteenth century, Europe was scrambling to colonize Africa. Before the year 1880, Europe controlled only ten percent of Africa. However, due to the Industrial Revolution and its inventions, Europe obtained the means to go into Africa and take what they wanted. Some countries wanted the raw materials from Africa while others thought that by taking control of the land, it would show how they were superior to other nations and would gain respect. Some Europeans thought that because they were superior it was their duty to help the Africans. European powers scrambled to colonize Africa because they wanted respect, to strengthen the economy, and to civilize the Africans.

Before the Europeans, Africa was divided into tribal clans. When Europe started exploring Africa they bought African slaves along with them to the American colonies. They discovered large deposits of natural resources and Europeans started separating Africa. France took most of the West Africa, Belgium claimed Congo, and other nations claimed different parts of Africa. According to African: Resources these nations used African colonies to gain diamonds, gold, rubber, and plantation. These were some of the raw materials the imperialist needed to supply it to their

Throughout history, Africa has been a vulnerable player in the eyes of the rest of the world. From the slave trade to various civil right injustices that have taken place over in every century, we have studied in this class, we have been able to see the lasting impact on the continent as a ramification of certain events occurring. Using sources from the text, I will attempt to prove how the western world, exercised their power to capitalize on the African continent, in addition to the exploitation of the African people and land.

Imperialism in Africa began in the late 19th century. It began when King Leopold II began the Scramble for Africa. All of the major colonial powers went after Africa. Their goal was to gain the most wealth and to have the most territory. Having more territory and claiming valuable parts of the continent was a symbol of power. Imperialism in Africa had negative and positive consequences on both the Europeans and Africans, these can be shown through human rights issues, new industry and advancements, and wealth and influence.

The indigenous people of Africa suffered many setbacks, when the Europeans arrived. When the Europeans arrived in Africa they made the indigenous people feel inferior, lack self-confidence, and be stripped of their responsibility. As shown by Document 2, when it says, “...convince us that our civilization was nothing less than savagery, thus giving us complexes which led to our being branded as irresponsible and lacking in self-confidence.” Some people may agree, that this seems like something out of a genocide. Originally the indigenous people of Africa were supposed to be cheap labor. However, this soon changed when the Europeans enslaved the African people. This is portrayed in Document 6, when it says, “...Beneath the noonday sun, My brother was strong…” By doing this they stole all of the human rights from the Africans, who had done nothing wrong. This is shown in Document 3, when it says, “Whereas fundamental human rights...are denied to Africans.” During this extremely horrific time in African history men were worked to death, and women were raped. This is found in Document 6, when it says,”The White Man killed my father,My father was proud, The White Man seduced my mother, My mother was beautiful.” This shows the negative effects are much worse for the Africans, than for the Europeans. But, there are some positives in this dark hour. When the Europeans arrived in Africa, they provided the

Prior to European domination, Africa contained hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups with unique customs and beliefs. Due to industrialization at home, Europeans searched for new ways to sell goods which led to imperialism in Africa in the 19th century. King Leopold II of Belgium took control of explored African lands with treaties and exploited the people in the Congo, beginning the imperialism of the African continent. As a result, Africans control of their land and their independence. Their traditional culture broke down, groups divided, and valuable goods were taken out without payment to Africa.

Their cultures were neglected and disregarded, their economies were driven into the ground, but worst of all they were exploited and suffered physical anguish at the hands of the western powers. However, some maintain that even though all of these things were very real and deplorable to say the least, European occupation was a necessary evil . O.P. Austin, in a piece titled “Does Colonization Pay” featured in The Forum in 1900, he highlights some of the supposed benefits to Africa from imperialism. He claims that in exchange for their labor and raw materials, they get infrastructure such as roads and bridges. They also gain the privilege of an education system. These claims are probably credible as it is from the period in question and is consistent with what European powers (Specifically Great Britain and France) did in other parts of the world (Spielvogel and McTighe 229). However, these benefits just do not outweigh the widespread suffering that occurred in Africa at the hands of western powers. If these improvements were beneficial to the continent, they would be at the very least in a stable state today. However, the scars of imperialism endure even to this day as the continent still struggles with fighting due to ethnic and class-related differences spurred on by Europeans (Spielvogel and McTighe 235). All things taken into account, European imperialism was a negative to Africa. Their cultures were disrespected and disregarded. Their economies were turned into machines for European profit. Worst of all, their people were exploited and abused. The imperial ambitions of European powers had an extremely adverse effect on the continent and the people of

By the late 19th and early 20th century, Europe was expanding its borders. In an attempt to grow its economy and culture, Europe’s superpowers began to search for new soil. Africa was an easy target; it wasn’t politically secure and it wasn’t modernized. In addition, it had reliable soil which would enable Europe to produce cash crops. European nations began to pour into Africa, called the Scramble for Africa. Soon, Europe took control of Africa, taking raw materials and destroyed African culture. Imperialism is the one to blame for exploitation of people and materials, the destruction of traditional culture, and unnaturally dividing up the land which causes a bunch of problems down the road. There is no doubt that imperialism

At the time of slavery, Africa was depopulated as the young and most productive youth were sold in slavery and sent to west, therefore they were actually stealing Africa of every right they had, derailing them economically and politically as well as