Who Is Really For Africa?

After an elite revolution involving the advance of new technology and economy, global changes occurred. Capitalism, socialism, and nationalism were very popular before the fall of Africa, and before imperialism. With these ideas in mind, motivations like: the military, politics, demographic features, economics, and social classes had influence for the future of Africa and countries like Europe, Germany, and Russia were more powerful than Africa. Imperialism shaped when borders were opened, and authority was limited. A nation that is thriving on foreign trade and control outside its borders is more likely to imperialize. Europe’s acquisition towards African colonies in 1880 to 1914 included actions like the spread of religion , Africa’s lost

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

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.

European imperialism started as a source for raw materials and a way to gain advantages over their rival countries (Spielvogel and McTighe 226). Yet, the African countries being imperialized were impacted by this settlement in many positive ways (Spielvogel and McTighe 231). Europeans brought ideas of Westernization and influenced the societies that were not yet industrialized and ones that lacked the modern elements many European countries had acquired (Spielvogel and McTighe 235). Through the spread of western ideals and democracy, the people of Africa were inspired to pursue their own self-rule and continuation of the modernization that the European imperialists left behind on the continent. When European nations first imperialized the African

The actions of the developed nations were justified in regards to imperialism in Africa. Europe desired to gain not only more land, but more power. The Europeans nations and the United States took control over Asia, Africa, and South America. Taking over Africa had its negative effects but overall it was the most feasible and justifiable arrangement.

The primary cause for imperialism in Africa was the Industrial Revolution. Because countries such as Britain needed more materials to make their products, and they needed more markets to sell products in. They took smaller countries to meet these needs. Europeans had needed raw material to manufacture goods but in order to manufacture goods they needed raw materials (Document C).Western factories had a high demand for more raw materials which has decreased the amount of power the other nations have had.The industrial revolution allowed countries to manufacture goods in return for raw material. (Document C).The industrial revolution was the time when European colonists would invent new materials and goods but in order to do that they first needed raw materials, so the

By 1914, almost all of Africa had been carved up by European powers and became a prized colony because of cash crops and mines. After World War II, African nations began to assert their independence. Although

Africa has undergone a long history of being invaded, taken advantage of and colonized. European powers are primarily at fault for this, however they have experienced their own turmoil in this time period: war. This led Europe to create mercenary armies of African soldiers to fight for their countries, particularly in the World Wars. The rampant injustice of this system and many African lives lost was a spark for the African nation states under colonial rule. It led to the wildfire that was African independence movements, protests, and riots. It also led to the Year of Africa, where most countries were recognized as their own entities and no longer colonies. While there are many factors involved in this portion of history, the importance of

In that time period, power hungry European nations seized helpless, third world countries and did little to help the struggling nations. The export of slaves from these weaker African countries created an opening for the stronger Europeans countries to gain more land for their empires and ultimately become more powerful. The leaders of West Africa were being bribed and taken advantage of by the Europeans and their people became destructive and unable to care for themselves leaving the weaker countries unorganized and defenseless. Because of the slavery of America, Africa had to face these problems and fight for independence against several domineering, European

Africa nowadays is viewed as a pretty poor continent, but if it were not for a single event, it wouldn’t be in the shape it is today. This event is best known as the scramble for Africa. The European powers had begun taking land after King Léopold the second claimed that initial piece of land. European powers gathered in 1884 to discuss which part of Africa were theirs to avoid fighting, however this was done between European countries, and the thought of even inviting a spokesperson from Africa was beyond them. The people of Africa were enslaved and forced to work the land for natural resources such as rubber and diamond. After the European powers claimed all that they could, two independent countries remained. These two countries were Liberia and Ethiopia. The “Eurocentric” perspective that the European powers had at the time allowed for them to commit these horrible acts and see nothing wrong with what they had

After the Europeans had secured land in Africa, all the seven European countries imposed harsh authoritarian rule over the people of Africa. These rules ensured that the people of the land did not further resist as they did in the past and to maintain total control over resources. Not only did Europeans enforce this harsh rule upon African citizens but they also imposed provincial taxes upon them which extorted more resources from these nations also on top of what natural resources they previously extorted.

During the 1870’s Europeans started colonizing countries in Africa.Europrans did this because they needed all of Africa's valuable resources.Africa was a big target because they were not very modernized in technology so it was easier for the Europeans to sieze control. The Europeans controlled Africa in two ways direct and indirect rule. Direct rule is when the country in charge rules strictly over the country and they try to civilize the people they are ruling. Indirect ruling is when the country in charge is ruling from far away and they usually rule through a native leader. Imperialism negatively affected the lives of the Africans in the 19th and 20th century because the education the Europeans provided for the Africans was of poor quality,

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

Africa during imperialism became crippled by the economically advances western societies. Imperialism had no focus on government productivity, excluding political growth as the society grew, but rather on economic growth of said society. Europe was only interested in Africa for one reason. Wealth. After Europe was infected with imperialism, greed took over causing them to gain control over the Africans by brute force and infesting the country with this new perk.

Currently, school shootings are a big problem in the United States. During a shooting, one person has a massive amount of power over a large number of people. Imperialism and slavery was a huge problem in the world’s history because people were talking over. Imperialism occurred because one society had a large number of power over many others. Evidently, if one person has more power than anyone else they can take over. The present and future connect and the future of society can be changed today. Imperialism occurs when a strong, powerful country invades and takes over a weak, less developed country. The main motivations behind European imperialism in Africa were political competition, cultural superiority, and economics.