Imperialism In Africa Essay

840 Words2 Pages

In the early 1500s, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to travel to Africa, and colonize it. After many years more Europeans began to travel to Africa and colonize it also. The European imperialism in Africa had a negative impact in the 1500s to 1967. Many of the effects of imperialism were shown in the different countries and regions throughout Africa. The impacts of imperialism were most severe in South Africa, Congo, and West Africa. In South Africa, there was a lot of conflict between the natives, Boers, and the British. The conflict between the Boers and the British caused wars to occur between the two groups. The natives of Africa were treated with disrespect because the British gave them limited government right. An example of the British controlling the government, in 1809 the created the "Hottentot Law", which required all Africans to carry passes of their name and residence while in public. If they were found without a pass they would be taken by any white for labor purposes. This caused the Africans less freedom because they had to walk around with passes where as they didn't before the British came. The British also took full control the diamond and gold mines so they would receive full profits. They did this by putting rigid policies, like full power over the African labor. The British caused wide spread racial discrimination and economic exploitation throughout the world. Racial discrimination occurred when the British invented apartheid as a way of keeping their control over the economic and social system, initially apartheid aimed to maintain white domination while also extending racial separation. After being colonized by the Belgians, the people living in Congo were treated horribly by the king that was i... ... middle of paper ... ...ey stopped our mouths and ran off with us to the nearest woods." Equiano is explaining what had happened to him and his sister when the slave traders came into their house and kidnapped them. He goes on to explain how he was separated from his sister later on, and forced to continue on without her. (Equiano pg 31) 1 of 6 Africans was taken from the west coast of Africa in the late 1500s, which was from five to six thousand Africans every year. The Europeans transported over 12 million Africans from Africa to America during this time period. In the 1500s to 1967, European Imperialism had a giant negative impact on Africa. They caused many social and economic issues mainly in South Africa, Congo, and West Africa. This rivalry that was created with the Europeans from imperialism caused the Africa to have no way of developing and competing with the rest of the world.

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