There’s many speculations on the reasoning for the Imperialism of Africa by many European countries, which started in 1870, when roughly 10% of Africa was under European control, it quickly got out of hand as countries all over Europe began seizing land in Africa. The scramble for African colonies ended up in the Berlin Conference in 1884 and 1885, where European countries met together to formally divide up Africa. Because of how little time Europe wasted taking over Africa, the biggest question that arises is why? What were the driving forces behind European Imperialism in Africa? Although it’s debated by many that the biggest reasons had to do with the technology that Africa had to offer, as well as the economical resources it allowed Europe, …show more content…
A French woman can be seen coming down as the Africans around her were amazed. In France, as well as many other European countries, women were seen as the caretaker, it can also be seen like that as she has no weapon, only a cornucopia which is overflowing with riches. The image can be used to ensure that many Europeans didn’t come to harm Africans, but bring civilization to those in need, like a mother, to guide and teach them of their religious and beneficial ways. On the more selfish side, one of the reasoning's for Europeans scrambling to claim African territory so quickly was because of the political pressure and benefits that came from receiving the land. As seen in document A, there presents a map of Africa towards 1914. Because it is such a large piece of land, and so many lived there, it was more than ideal for European countries with enemies that were taking over colonies, to get at larger pieces before their foes could. A statesman of Germany once told a German official, “All this colonial business is a sham, but we need it for the elections.” Saying that even though there were some who believed that there weren’t many benefits of taking over African colonies, it was necessary to look good for the upcoming elections, and to stay ahead of their
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.
Prior to the arrival of European traders, the continent of Africa had developed sophisticated society as it demonstrated its ability to maintain advanced civilizations, withhold three major empires, and gain wealth through trade. Although European traders did advance organized society in Africa, it would be false to say that prior to their arrival Africa was underdeveloped.
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.
Prior to the 19th century, the Europeans traded mainly for African slaves. It turns out they were not immune towards certain diseases and therefore had an increasing risk of becoming sick. For years to come this continued, but not much land was conquered. Eventually, conference between only the Europeans was held to divide up the land appropriately, and the scramble for Africa began. The driving forces behind European imperialism in Africa were expanding empires, helping natives, and natural resources.
One reason, is the fact that the raw materials the Europeans took from Africa were unused. As stated in Lord Frederick Lugard's, The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa, "Who can deny the right of the hungry people of Europe to utilize the wasted bounties of nature..." Lugard shows that Europe had the right to take raw materials from Africa because they were unused. This means those who argue that European imperialism in Africa was not justified because the Europeans simply took raw materials, are obviously mistaken.
Europe, in the late 1800’s, was starting a land grab on the African continent. Around 1878, most of Africa was unexplored, but by 1914, most of Africa, with the lucky exception of Liberia and Ethiopia, was carved up between European powers. There were countless motivations that spurred the European powers to carve Africa, like economic, political, and socio–cultural, and there were countless attitudes towards this expansion into Africa, some of approval and some of condemnation. Europe in this period was a world of competing countries. Britain had a global empire to lead, France had competition with Britain for wealth and so did other nations like Germany and Russia.
Power is something all European countries wanted in the late 1800’s. One of the ways countries showed power was through the amount of land they had. This thirst for land was called imperialism, as strong European countries would take over smaller, weaker countries in order to gain more land, and gain more power. The Berlin Conference held in Germany in 1884-1885, divided Africa so imperialistic European countries could gain control of different regions of this immense continent with no African representative present. The imperialism of Africa entailed the dominance over all aspects of a country, in an economic, political, and social way (Beck, 687-8).
Imperialism became popular in the 18th century as Europeans began wandering into Africa, discovering many raw materials that could most certainly be beneficial to their country’s industries and economy. So, the scramble for Africa began. Countries desired their land to improve their economics by increasing supply of raw materials and also by geopolitics and more strategic location and transportation. Countries also wanted colonies to improve their reputation as a world power. This increased nationalism in many countries. Wealth and nationalism, two of the main causes of imperialism, were based off of greed and ambition for the strongest, largest empire.
Q3. The idea of imperialism was spreading throughout the world, specifically in the European nations in a instantaneous way. It was beginning to thrive throughout the different nations as they began looking for more land. The European nations were extremely intrigued by the idea of imperialism when their attention had been turned to the continent of Africa. During this time, European nations were looking to expand their land. Additionally, they were on a mission to find new raw resources within the African nation to help boost their industrial productions. At first, European nations would begin by controlling only small portions of land mainly located on the coast of Africa. Unfortunately for Europe, expansion would prove to be rather hard as three major aspects in Africa stood in their way.
What motives did Europe have to colonize Africa? Trans-Atlantic free trade in Africa was the biggest deportation in history and a determining factor in the world economy of the 18th century. Rule of occupation in the 18th century was the idea that a colonizing country must actually have roads, soldiers, and a working government in a country before it is considered an official one. Free trade throughout Africa was dealing with countries without restrictions; international trade left to its natural course without tariffs, or quotas. Economics, Cultural Attitudes, and Geopolitical Competition motivated Europe to colonize Africa.
There was a lot of driving forces when it came to imperialism in Africa there was a lot of driving forces when it comes to imperialism in Africa such as national pride and money.All of these driving forces had the biggest impact on imperialism in Africa for example technological advancement caused the europeans to find a vaccine for Malaria and that allowed them to venture further into Africa.
The driving force behind European imperialism in Africa steamed from manly three different sources. Such as imports and exports, technology and imperialism and national pride. By 1800s Africa was under full assault as European nations competed with one another for complete control of the continent. This essay will fully explain what the three primary driving forces behind European imperialism in Africa were.
An overwhelming majority of African nations has reclaimed their independence from their European mother countries. This did not stop the Europeans from leaving a permanent mark on the continent however. European colonialism has shaped modern-day Africa, a considerable amount for the worse, but also some for the better. Including these positive and negative effects, colonialism has also touched much of Africa’s history and culture especially in recent years.
The explanations for Europe’s colonization of Africa, then, are as diverse and manifold as the conjectures of history will allow. It is likely that each supposition contains some elements of reality and holds some explanatory power. However, it is probably the combination of several suppositions that is best suited to capture the motivating factors. It becomes us to bear in mind that the conquest of Africa was not carried out by a monolithic entity with a single set of objectives. Consequently, the question “Why did Europe colonize Africa?” demands a thorough exploration of all factors, domestic and foreign, influencing a particular state’s conquest in a particular part of the African continent.
The craftiness of colonialism on Africa changed its history forever but there were good and bad effects because they built schools and improved medical care but they also had segregated benefits and resource drainage.