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Impact of European imperialism in Africa
Effects of European imperialism on Africa
Impact of European colonialism on Africa
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What was the driving force behind European imperialism in Africa? Between 1500 and 1800, European nations had traded slaves, gold, and ivory along the west coast of Africa. In the 1800’s this had changed as European Explorers pushed their way into the interiors of western and central Africa. European presence in Africa was mostly about buying and selling slaves from local chiefs. Slave ships would arrive, trade their pots, cloth and guns for West African slaves, then set sail for the Americas.
European countries were known to have held seven African colonies, which were Germany, Portugal, Italy, Great Britain, France, Spain, and Belgium. Britain and France were the two countries, exactly, that were the biggest winners in the race to seize African colonies. Many of these countries have there own dreaming plans for success, one of them being Britain. Britain had a dream of building a railroad from the Mediterranean Sea to South Africa but worried that German East Africa would intrude from this taking place. Later on, the German East Africa did so intrude from Britain's doing. By 1085, the only two african countries that had remained independent was ethopia and liberia. John Ruskin was a well regarded english
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intellectual, author, and speaker whose interests ranged from art critic to social reformer. Ruskin gives a speech to a standing room only crowd, as he talks about England's prosperities. During his speech, Ruskin says “...for all the world a source of light, a center of peace?...”. He then explains a way to gain this “source of light” and “center of peace”, stating that England must found colonies as fast and as far as is able. Ruskin believes the colonists first aim should be to advance the power of England by land and by sea. Friedrich Fabri, being called “the father of the German colonial movement, says that he believes that Germany’s strengthens, during “peak of the states in Europe”, were trade and sea power. He also believes Germany needs to “strive after” maintaining it’s new position and to do so it must complete it’s task with the Anglo Saxons. During the 19th century, technology was used the most. A technological advancement that cured a tropical disease was the method of getting quinine from cinchona tree bark. Another technological advancement that had a major benefit were the Maxim guns, which took effect towards the European army. These inventions made a very big impact throughout Europe, an invention that I believe enhanced not only society but the citizens within, was the method of getting quinine from the cinchona tree bark. This invention made society bigger and safer for citizens, now having the cure meant a decrease in deaths. European industries benefited from African resources such as jewelry, transport, soap, metal, weapons, and food processing. The country I believed for held the most valued colonies was Great Britain. Great Britain had many tradeable resources such as diamonds, gold, and much more. Great Britain made 2.5 million in 1854 in exports to South Saharan and 21 million in 1900.
Exports in Great Britain and Africa had both increased between 1854 to 1900. Africa was a valuable country to the Europeans, as Africa was a source for marketing products. A writer named Rudyard Kipling had written a poem called “The White Man’s Burden” explaining British Imperialism. The title “White Man’s Burden” means it is the Europeans duty to help civilization. Kipling talks to the British citizens saying “send forth the best ye breed” meaning send off to foreign lands your best young people. Kipling then says “Your new-caught, sullen peoples,/Half-devil and half-child”, when saying this he tries to encourage the british to help others live a healthy
lifestyle. There was much national competition between Europe for the African colonies, both being economical and having industrial powers. They had technological factors that Europe took from Africa along with resources. Africa’s trade and product marketing is what made European Imperial important than any other politics or technology. The poem “The White Man’s Burden” helped society stay civilized and showed motive to help others.
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.
One of the main reasons Europeans colonized Africa was for their useful resources. There are countless assets in the African landscape that were wanted by other nations. The European countries had access to some of the worlds most needed resources such as cotton, oils, coal, gold, and diamonds because they controlled Africa. This is shown on a chart of African colonies and their exports. ("Selected African Colonies and Their Exports" 269). This shows how the European countries carefully selected the land they did, to get certain resources they needed or wanted to use to benefit from. Another chart from a book by Trevor Lloyd, (Lloyd, The British Empire), displays the large jump of exports to Africa from 1854 to 1900. What that means is once Great Britain established complete control of South Saharan Africa, they began to export the resources they found that they could use. These charts are proof of how the European's wanted resources, and that is one of the main reasons for the imperialization of Africa. Not only did the European nations want the continent's resources, but they had an equal hunger for power.
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.
As the 20th century approached, more and more countries grew desperate for land, resulting in an imperialistic activity known as the Scramble for Africa. The European imperialists were motivated by three main factors; economic, political, and social. These factors made countries compete for power and eventually led to the scramble for African territory. Although economic expansion at times was a positive outcome of European imperialism in Africa, these positive effects are outweighed by negative outcomes such as loss of culture and independence.
This Social Darwinism also led to the concept of “White Man’s Burden,” which held the “superior” races responsible for civilizing the “inferior” ones. Martial Henri Merlin also states that “We are entitled to go out to these peoples and occupy their territories; but when we exercise this right, we, at the same moment, are charged with a duty towards these peoples, and this duty we must never for one instant forget.” This view might have occurred due to an exposure to the “White Man’s Burden” concept which had spread throughout Europe. There was also exploitation, which is illustrated by a letter from George Washington Williams, a Baptist minister, lawyer, historian and legislature, sent to King Leopold II of Belgium. According to his account, “There were instances in which Mr. Henry M. Stanley sent one white man.to make treaties with the native chiefs.
Throughout the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, almost every country in Africa was imperialized by other countries in Europe. To imperialize is to conquer another country, whether it be in the means of politics, economics and/or culture, and control that land. The aftermath for the imperialized country was either beneficial or harmful. The amount of African countries that a European country imperialized varied. Great Britain imperialized fifteen countries in Africa, including Egypt in 1882, Sierra Leone in 1808, and the Union of South Africa in 1910. Although Great Britain’s reasons to imperialize were selfish, Britain helped each country progress afterwards.
When the Age of Imperialism began in 1875, it effected Africa in many ways. Nowhere was the competition for colonies more intense than in Africa. Europeans went after North and South Africa splitting up the continent. Egypt and Sudan were taken over by Britain to obtain the Suez Canal. Imperialism helped to develop Africa’s economy and turned it into a continent of colonies.
Conquest and colonization has always played a role in the history of European powers. Throughout the centuries many different European empires have attempted to make their mark on multiple different continents. Some have found success, while others have failed. One case in particular, in which European nations could not quite find stability, was in North America. Factors such as the American Revolution, U.S. westward expansion, and the Monroe Doctrine pushed European nations out of North America. Afterwards, the late 19th century marked the beginning of New Imperialism. As New Imperialism began, Africa became important to European nations in their “Scramble for Africa”.
Introduction: The epoch of imperialism cannot be defined simply as a proliferation of inflated egos tied to the hardened opinions of nationalists, but also a multi-faceted global rivalry with roots of philosophies tainted with racism and social Darwinism. The technique of each imperialist was specific to the motivations and desires of each combative, predominantly Western power and subsequently impacted the success of each imperialist and its colonies. Driven by industrialization, Europeans are aware of the urgent need for raw materials and new markets to maintain a constant rate of expansion and wealth. Imperialism became a competition; in general, the European countries led with fervor while the non-Western regions deemed likely to be stepped on.
Politics is the science that guides or influencing governmental policies. Politics plays important role in the daily life of everyone’s decision making all over history. The political leaders of Europe viewed the world as a stomping ground they took powers into their hand to take control over unconquered land. They believed that once they take over less advanced places they will be able to get richer by exploiting the uneducated and weaker people. According to an to an article from Africana Age called “The Colonization of Africa” by Ehiedu E. G. Iweriebor, “By 1900 much of Africa had been colonized by seven European powers—Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. After the conquest of African decentralized and centralized
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).
... Power, it is generally agreed that “if any nation had upset the world’s balance of power, it was Great Britain.” . Compared to countries such as Germany, Britain was not pursing in Africa purely for appearance and saving face. According to Kennedy, “nothing frightened Britain imperialists’ more than economic decline” because of the disastrous impact upon British power. It was argued that colonisation in Africa was used for “imperial defence” It would “fight for the preservation of the European balance of power.” This appears to support Taylor’s claim that the balance of European power was delicately composed, therefore the colonisation in Africa did not occur for economic interests. It was to preserve the balance power.
Throughout history, imperialism has led countries to extend their rule over weaker countries and then colonized those countries to expand their own power. Imperialism allows the ruling countries to use the weaker countries for their resources. Colonizing other countries would then lead to growth and a better reputation for the dominating country. There are many examples of imperialism throughout European history. When many European countries “scrambled” for Africa, it seemed as though Africa had no say in anything. During the 19th century, Europe found a way to use Africa for their own growth and power. Using Africa for their resources, the Europeans colonized Africa without a second thought. European imperialism in Africa had a negative impact because of social disarray, cultural loss, and death it caused.
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.