Scramble For Africa Research Paper

During the late 1800’s, Europe was looking for a way to improve themselves as a whole. With growing population and a steady decline in available work, something new had to be done. Countries looked towards Africa to serve as new colonies for the Europeans in order to better their own countries. During the European acquisition of African colonies in the period 1880 to 1914 Europe’s attitude towards Africa was that Africa was the inferior race in comparison to the Europeans. With the help of a strong feeling of nationalism, Europeans were motivated to acquire new lands in order to improve their motherland’s

The ‘scramble for Africa’ was a phenomenon in the world between the years 1880-1914. The ‘dark continent’ was relatively untouched by Europeans up until this point, with few ports of control on the coasts in the west, which were remnants of the slave trade, and in the south, Britain held the Cape, taken from the Dutch during the French Revolutionary Wars. So, during a period of 30 years, it came to pass that almost the whole of Africa was taken by Europeans. (Except Liberia a colony for freed American slaves, and Abyssinia managed to hold out against Italian aggression). It will be my objective in this essay to analyse the economic factors which resulted in the almost complete colonisation and takeover of Africa, and also to determine to

The European colonization of Africa, also known as the Scramble for Africa, Partition of Africa, or Conquest of Africa, occurred between the 1870s and 1900s, and was the invasion, occupation, colonization, and annexation of African territory by European powers during a period of New Imperialism. European control of the continent increased from 10 percent (1870) to 90 percent (1914), with only three territories, Saguia el-Hamra, which was later integrated into Spanish Sahara, Ethiopia and Liberia remaining independent of Europe’s control. There were many reasons for the European colonization of Africa, including economic and political motives, with the Berlin Conference serving as a catalyst. Africans resisted the European invasions of their lands, with the two main methods of opposition were guerilla warfare and direct military engagement. European influence on Africa still remains today, though these influences are generally negative and hurt Africa’s overall development.

Africa has had a long and tumultuous road of colonization and decolonization the rush to colonize Africa started in the 17th century with the discovery of the vast amounts of gold, diamonds, and rubber with colonization hitting a fever pitch during World War I. However, the repercussions of colonization have left deep wounds that still remain unhealed in the 21st century. Early on, European nations such as Britain, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium scrambled for territories. Countries wanted land so they could harvest the resources, increase trade, and gain power. The European colonization of Africa brought racism, civil unrest, and insatiable greed; all of which have had lasting impacts on Africa.

Source one is a cartoon. It shows the continent of Africa being pulled apart by many people. These people are representing the different countries who were trying to take control of Africa. The title of this cartoon is stated on the picture, The Mad Scramble For Africa, which is what the cartoon is showing. This clearly depicts the takeover of Africa by the different countries. The countries are fighting for control of the land and the resources there, which all began with King Leopold II of Belgium. This event was part of the second wave of globalization, and it brought European ways to the “new” lands. This assimilated the cultures that were already living there and forced the people top work as slaves for the

Africa were mainly, hunters, so they used agriculture to their full advantage. However, Africa’s resources were left untouched by the natives, so this gave easy access to the imperialists. Germany was in desperate need of fuel, before imperialism started, which was available in Africa. Gold and diamonds were (and still) the two most valuable resources, which were abundant in Africa, “The discovery of diamonds and rich gold deposits brought… European settlers” to Africa” (5). So, when imperialists came to German E. Africa, they took all of their available land. For all of the citizens in German E. Africa who needed the money had to work as slaves. In fact, most of them were forced to work for the German imperialists. There was a discrimination pattern of labor recruitment. While immigrants were skilled and paid relatively high. African migrants were unskilled and low paid, “Earning about 1/9 of the wage of white men” (6). Specifically, German E. Africans were forced to plant peanuts, cocoa and other cash crops. Imperialism destroyed German E. Africa’s economy and depleted their resources. After Imperialism, exportation of raw materials caused shortage in resources. So, German E. Africa was then a more dependant on an industrialized economy. By the end of Imperialism, the natives were put to work as cheap labour. Which affected their health since, most of them were restless, exploited, weren’t taken at their free will and the Germans took

In the 19th century Europe underwent imperialism, Europe wanted to take control of different continents one of which was Africa to gain power, civilize the African people and grow the economy of Europe. With intentions to help, the Europeans moved to Africa in order to get the resources that were grown there forcing the Africans native to those regions to move to North and South America (Document 9). By 1885 the amount of people living in Africa had increased due to the amount of Europeans (Spielvogel and McTighe 234). The Europeans took resources and goods from Africa to sell and increase their capital. These reasons changed the way of life for the Africans making them adapt to the changes without being able to fight back. While imperialism

During 19th century Europe the Industrial Revolution was rapidly spreading through many prominent European nations, such as France, Germany and Spain. The Industrial Revolution was the name given to the period of time, around the 1800s, when many of Europe’s economies switched from agricultural economies to industrial ones. This Revolution spurred on a new age of European Imperialism, European nations set about conquering, claiming and colonising chunks of Africa. The new economic motives, technological advancements and desire for power created by the Industrial Revolution were the greatest motives behind European Imperialism in Africa.

European Imperialism and Colonization of Africa created many social and economic changes including superiority over different people, technological advances, and new territories for European countries.

When the Europeans scrambled to colonize Africa, the reactions of the natives was progressively more apprehensive. At first the natives found that they could be peaceful with this strange new white man. Soon after, though, they found that these new men mistreated and cheated them greatly, and had superior military technology. Given these new conditions of the relationship the Africans decided it was in their best interest to take up arms against the Europeans and try to rid themselves of the harmful White Man.

In the 1800s, Germany and Britain were two of the seven powers in the “Scramble for Africa” and they made significant economic changes that benefited Africa. During the 1880’s Germany's colonies were German Togoland which was part of Ghana and Germany’s West region. Germany only possessed for four territories which were called “protectorates developing strategy consisted of extending its control in Africa by forming Colonial administrators that brought about scientific cultivation in export crops of coffee, cotton, and other commodities. They also built roads and bridges to along mountains for better travel routes. According to Jacobs, ‘’Germans first became active as traders in the Pacific in the mid-nineteenth century. The Hamburg firm of J.C. Godeffroy & Sohn established a trading base in Samoa in 1857 and ten years later it laid out its first copra plantation.

In the early 1880’s, the powers of Europe started to take control of regions in Africa and set up colonies there. In the beginning, colonization caused the Africans little harm, but before long, the Europeans started to take complete control of wherever they went. The Europeans used their advanced knowledge and technology to easily maneuver through the vast African landscape and used advanced weapons to take control of the African people and their land. The countries that claimed the most land and had the most significant effect on Africa were France, England, Belgium, and Germany. There were many reasons for the European countries to be competing against each other to gain colonies in Africa. One of the main reasons was that the

In a family of six you can be assured that when dessert comes out after a homemade meal that you better be fast so you can get your own share of mamma pecan pie. Even if it is cut into equal pieces there are motivations for wanting more than your fair share. Motivations such as, you missed out on seconds during the main course, you just love her cooking, or you don’t want your siblings to get more than you. These motivations create havoc until mom instructs everyone that, “there will be no fighting over my pie”. It is so interesting that in terms of the fight for a piece of pie, similarities can be drawn to the scramble for Africa. Though there was no one that stood in the place of a mother to tell the European powers that they needed to

Between 1870 and 1914, European countries ceased about ninety percent of Africa. Native Africans faced political, military, and imperialism pressure from various European countries. After the end of the profitable slave trade in Africa, due to abolishing of slavery, Europeans explored for new guaranteed markets, and heavily profitable investments. In addition, European countries were under industrialization, the demand for raw materials heavily increased. Europeans as well faced power struggles with one another and competition for political influence in Africa. European power struggle ultimately lead to the “Scramble for Africa.” Europeans undertook the process of imperialism in Africa in the late 19th century by exercising political, economic, and military power on their African colonies. Some African leaders and societies welcomed Europeans in hopes to protect and develop their native land. Some African leaders and societies responded to European occupation by gathering resistance groups in attempt to fight off foreign imperialists.

What do the 800m world champion, 5,000m world champion, 20km world champion, and marathon world champion all have in common? They’re all African. As you go down the board for the fastest distance runners in Olympic history, the recurring theme is that Africans are sweeping the gold. But why? Africa hosts a continent of people who have been historically colonized and in many regions, lack the basic necessities of substantial food and clean water. So, how can a group of people that face such extreme hardships excel in an activity that is so physically and mentally demanding?