Imperialism in Africa
Due to the methods in which Europeans treated Africans during imperialism,
European Imperialism in Africa resulted in many international indifferences and views. European nations such as Great Britain, France, and Germany fought to expand the idea of imperialism. While the United States of America was neutral and a majority of Africans were against the belief.
Sir Edward Hertslet, a British librarian, believed Great Britain was a great European power who was superior to Africans. Since Great Britain was said to be superior, the nation decided to occupy Africa for their natural resources. British businessman, Cecil Rhodes also participated in European domination by wanting to construct a road from Cape Town, the capital
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of South Africa to Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Similar to Hertslet, Rhodes believes England was a great power which could seize African resources because of their strength. Former prime minister of France, Jules Ferry, attempted to justify France’s actions by faulting other nations.
Ferry stated “the Spanish soldiers and explorers introduced slavery into Central America, they did not fulfill their duty as men of a higher race .... But, in our time, I maintain that European nations acquit themselves with generosity, with grandeur, and with sincerity of this superior civilizing duty” (Document #4). The statement in which European nations were generous towards Africans could disputed because all nations have made a few bad decisions they are not entirely proud of. Although a majority of Europeans were supporting imperialism, there were a few who did not completely agree with their nation's principles such as Gustav Freensan. Gustav was like many other Germans, by being told Africans were inferior but as he aged he felt sympathetic for Africans. When Gustav eventually traveled to Africa, he learned how socially oppressed they were from the European powers. After witnessing their struggles, Freensan began to question his nation’s beliefs and …show more content…
morals. All leaders have the responsibility of those behind them along with their land. Both the Emperor of Ethiopia and the Chief of the Basutos share that responsibility because their people were being affected by Europeans. Out of all the nations in Africa, Ethiopia was the only independent nation who fought for their freedom. The Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, stated “the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph” (Document #2). Selassie identified the European powers as “evil” who is triumphing in taking over the continent. Mark X of Moshweshewe, the Chief of the Basutos, also became frustrated with those who were taking his land. As a result, he wrote a letter to the queen of England asking for their assistance in order to avoid war with Dutch settlers, also known as the Boers. Though his actions were not successful, he still made an intelligent decision to reach out for help. Both leader’s main duty is to protect the people of their community. If the emperor and chief did nothing to help their people, they would have allowed hatred and corruption to dominate without putting up a fight. Olaudah Equiano was a former slave who attempted to expose Europeans for hurting his homeland for their own benefit.
Equiano experienced first hand, the discrimination and hatred towards African slaves from Europeans while he was enslaved. For example, “a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow, I no longer doubted of my fate; and, quite overpowered with horror and anguish” (Document 9). Equiano’s beliefs were the beginning of change in Africa because he also tried to prevent “evil to triumph”. By pushing people from their homes and obtaining natural resources which were property of the African nations. Other nations did not only us the continent for resources, but also as a hunting
ground. The United States of America was one of the only nations who were neutral in regard to imperialism. Some believed America was pro-imperialism because the president at the time, Theodore Roosevelt, traveled to Africa in order to hunt their animals such as elephants. President Roosevelt’s hunting of native animals later upset the natives of the region because they were not making a profit. Roosevelt and many other Americans came to hunt without paying any type of fee to the owners of the land. It is understandable why America did not become involved in foreign affairs when not necessary, by not choosing a side. if it is not imperative or negatively affected, why become entangled? On the other hand, some Americans like Lauren Collins made a great effort to help Africans by improving their living arrangements and financial situations of African families. She had the ability to move them from huts, into brick home and owning nice clothing.
This would lead him to a fantasy about what life would have been life back in Africa based on freedom. Equiano longed for freedom and suffered a traumatic experience (being enslaved) at a young age which may lead him to romanticize a different life. He believed that he would find his paradise in Africa. This can lead to a more favorable and positive view of Africa. He paints Africa as a place free of harm making him an unreliable source. By juxtaposing his freedom in Africa with his captivity in the colonies; he creates a biased image of his respective homeland. His reliability is questioned because he has no previous knowledge about life in Africa and only knows how it is described to him. His romanticized version of Africa gives a dynamic in his writing that negative towards the
Throughout the 19th century, European Imperialism had a major effect on Africa. As countries expanded in terms of wealth, resources, and innovation, more territory and workers were needed. The first solution to solve these problems was to begin colonizing in Africa. The driving force for imperialism in Europe and Africa was mainly economical. This economical approach was established through many ways including cultural and nationalistic ideas.
By 1885, little to no independent countries existed throughtout the whole African continent. This was due to the imperialism done by strong European countries. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, and Spain are to blame. There are many possible contributing factors as to why the European countries decided to completely carve up Africa, split it up, imperialize the whole of the continent. Because of the need for resources Africa could supply, the European desire for power, and the European's reaction to the White Man's burden, they took control of almost every square mile in Africa through imperialization.
The motivations behind U.S. imperialism were far different from the motivations of major European countries. Many European powers felt pressured to keep the balance of power among nations. The need to continue expanding was to make sure one country did not gain to much power over the others. The pressure to keep up with neighboring countries consumed European powers. The scramble for Africa changed Britain’s views on expanding when France started to colonize the country. Soon all major powers in Europe joined in the scramble to gain territory in Africa. The United
In the eighteenth century, innocent victims from native Africa were kidnapped from their homes, the only land they knew, and then taken away on boats to a new world. This new world forced them to become slaves, and crucially took away all their human rights. A survivor of the slave trade from the middle passage is Olaudah Equaino, and he accomplished to publish an autobiography of his life in a book titled, “Equiano’s Travels: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African.” Equiano suffered great oppression when he and his sister were kidnapped from their homeland, Ibo. Once he became accustomed to the European culture, he was taught of the Christian faith. This religion developed him into a believer of the fatalism of Providence, or guidance of human destiny by fate. Christianity has affected Equaino by the way he conducted his life, how he treated others, and found redemption through faith.
Everyone contributes something to the common stock; and, as we are unacquainted with idleness, we have no beggars” (39). The concept of slavery was accepted as a part of the culture and even in the fields of Isseke, Africa slaves were put to work. “Sometimes indeed, we sold slaves to them, but they were only prisoners of war, or such among us as had been convicted of kidnapping or adultery, and some other crimes, which we esteemed heinous.” (38) Equiano’s fortune landed him in the hands of a wealthy widow who purchased him from the traders who had kidnapped him. He lived the life as a companion to the widow and her son.
Africans felt the impact of European exploration through the slave trade, the rise of new nations, and the rise of European power in Africa. Europeans entered into the slave trade taking thousands of native Africans from their homelands. Due to profits gained from slave trade, many new African states were settled including the Asante Kingdom and Oyo Empire. Europeans like the British, French, and Dutch
Olaudah Equiano in his Interesting Narrative is taken from his African home and thrown into a Western world completely foreign to him. Equiano is a slave for a total of ten years and endeavors to take on certain traits and customs of Western thinking. He takes great pains to improve himself, learn religion, and adopt Western mercantilism. However, Equiano holds on to a great deal of his African heritage. Throughout the narrative, the author keeps his African innocence and purity of intent; two qualities he finds sorely lacking in the Europeans. This compromise leaves him in a volatile middle ground between his adapted West and his native Africa. Olaudah Equiano takes on Western ideals while keeping several of his African values; this makes him a man associated with two cultures but a member of neither.
As a primary source, Olaudah Equiano’s Interesting Narrative provides partial insights on 18th century New World slavery. Equiano recounts the horrors of being kidnapped and traveling through the middle passage. In Montserrat, Equiano hears about the plantations and how slaves were physically and mentally abused. Slaves were taken advantage of and lived in fear since the law was not on their side. Even free slaves worried that their freedom would be taken from them and they would be forced back into slavery. As a source, there are some limitations since Equiano was an atypical slave who purchased his freedom and was a sailor. However, his experiences and the experiences of others are still valuable when examining slavery.
Another reason that European imperialism in Africa was justified, is the fact that Europeans did not take over Africa solely for their self interests. As plainly stated in excepts from Lord Carnarvon's records. "...it is certainly not a desire of selfish interests..." Clearly, those who argue that Europeans just wanted to benefit themselves through the imperialism of Africa, are incorrect.
Slavery was a practice throughout the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, and through slavery, African-American slaves helped build the economic foundation of which America stands upon today, but this development only occurred with the sacrifice of the blood, sweat, and tears from the slaves that had been pushed into exhaustion by the slave masters. A narrative noting a lifetime of this history was the book The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African written by Olaudah Equiano. Equiano was a prominent African involved in the British movement for the abolition of the slave trade. He was captured and enslaved as a child in his home town of Essaka in what is now known as south eastern Nigeria, later he was shipped to the West Indies, he then moved to England, and eventually purchased his freedom (Equiano). Olaudah Equiano, with many other millions of slaves, faced many hardships and was treated with inconceivable injustices by white slave masters and because of the severity of these cruel and barbarous occurrences, history will never forget these events.
In the Interesting Narrative of The Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African written by Himself, Equiano recounts his experiences both as an enslaved and freed person. After examining and critically thinking about the way in which Equiano writes his book, it is safe to say that Equiano wrote it to promote anti-slavery because the book was able to influence others to take action to promote the anti-slave trade. Additionally, there has been a controversy about his birthplace. An article published by Jennifer Howard titled “Unraveling the Narrative” talks about Mr. Carretta who “revealed” that Equiano was in fact born in South Carolina. This controversy brings to question whether or not one should believe Equiano’s book. In my opinion
Olaudah Equiano was not an American born slave. He was born and raised well into his childhood in Africa with his family. His slave narrative, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustav Vassa, the African, published in New York in 1791 however, had a lasting impact on America as it described the inhumane treatment of Africans being sold into slavery (Baym 1: 687). Equiano’s initial concept of freedom stemmed from his childhood of which he speaks very fondly, describing his homeland as a “nation of dancers, musicians and poets,” a...
In, conclusion the experiences of Equiano’s servitude in Africa differed from his experience in England. The African slave trade primarily was based upon providing jobs to families or punishment to real criminals. Many times the cruel example of being kidnapped from your village and forced into this way of life was also prevalent. This narrative contains the terrifying events of a young a child being held captive. The sources we have of the truth from this period of time are limited and hard to obtain. Servitude still exists to today in many parts of Africa and will remain a common part of their
Imperialism is the domination by one country of political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region and occurred during the 1800’s in Africa. Imperialism in Africa was caused by four factors in Europe: economy, politics/military, humanitarian/religion, and Social Darwinism (Ellis). The Industrial Revolution in Europe caused the need for oversea expansion because the manufacturers needed things like: rubber, petroleum, and palm oil all of which Africa had. Europe moving into Africa was also caused by nationalism, when France went into Africa so did Britain (Ellis). The difference between France and Britain was the way of rule they used. There are four different methods of imperialism: direct, indirect, protectorate, and sphere of influence. The most popular were direct and indirect. The French used direct, they sent officials and soldiers from France to administer their colonies and their purpose was to inflict French culture on their colonies and make them into French provinces (Ellis). The British, however, used indirect, they used chiefs to oversee their colonies and encouraged the children in the colonies to get education in Britain. The British “Westernized” their colonies and only used military force when threatened (Ellis).