Imperialism

24.1 24.2Objective: to analyze the forces of Imperialism and how they impacted global events

Primary Source – Based off of the reading and your prior knowledge:

1. What is this image attempting to tell us?

2. Is this image pro imperialism? Why or why not?

3. Looking ahead, what does this image explain about the possible future of imperialism in Africa?

Motives

• Imperialism=political, social, economic, or cultural domination of one country over another

• Nationalism. Who could have the most land? “Rivalry”

• Racism=one race is superior to another• Social Darwinism to social issues– Only the strongest survive

• Religious reasons• Economic Reason

Economic

• I.R. needs – natural resources, rubber and petroleum etc…

• New markets• Bankers – investments abroad• Growing population

Political/Military

• World-wide naval bases for logistical reasons

• Halt expansion of other countries (development of rivalries)

• Development of “prestige”

Religious/Humanitarian• Duty to “Christianize” • Spread “blessings” of Western civilization – medicine,

law, religion • Increased movement of missionaries to colonial sites

Social Darwinism

• Survival of the fittest• Argued Europeans were superior to all others• European imperialism “improved” human

species across the globe• White Man’s Burden

White Man’s Burden

• Inherently racist school of thought that correlates to Darwin. – People can’t take care of themselves, so we must

educate them on Western ideals, concepts, religions, etc.

– Made conquered feel less than human, whites feel they were doing something worthwhile, not just exploiting a country.

– “France must keep its role as the soldier of civilization” –French statesman

Forces working againstAfricans

• Internal– Variety of cultures working against them– Technology disadvantage

• External– Maxim gun/Tech.

Control

• Protectorate: area w/ own internal gov’t. but under control of outside power. (U.K.)

• Sphere of Influence: outside power claims exclusive invest./ trading privileges.

• Economic Imperialism: area controlled by business than by gov’t.

24.2 Partition of Africa

Pre-Euro. Africa

• Thousands of languages/tribes/cultures • Europeans were relegated to coastlines • Why weren’t Europeans able to conquer

Africa before?– Un-navigable rivers– Trade networks by Africans– Malaria– Powerful African armies

Exploration

• Early explorers move into Africa’s Interior, followed by Missionaries.

• Most colonial powers or groups viewed natives as children - Paternalism

Famous Explorers • Dr. Livingstone – travelled Africa, wanted to open up

African interior to Christianity and trade – find source of Nile

• Followed by Henry Staley – was hired by newspapers to find Livingstone and write about exploration

• Both explorers made exploring inland popular – encouraged further expansion

Belgium starts the race

• King Leopold II and Belgium• Leopold’s false motives– Forced labor, taxes, human

rights problems• “I was so moved, Your Excellency,

by the people's stories that I took the liberty of promising them that in future you will only kill them for crimes they commit “ John Harris Missionary in Baringa

Berlin Conference • Met to prevent

war amongst themselves

• 1884-1885. Who was involved?

• Didn’t take into account ethnic grouping. Problems?

Boer War

• Zulu’s and Shaka develop a large nation-state.

• Dutch settlers (Boers) move into South Africa. Huge farm systems.

• British move in Boer War (1899-1902) Union of South Africa 1910.

African Resistance

• Natives either allied with/fought against Europeans.

• Maji-Maji Rebellion – against Germans in 1905• Only one successful resistance. Where? Why?• Ethiopia – Menelik II, modernized Ethiopia –

fought off Italians in 1896