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.
Britain was committed to imperializing countries that benefitted them. Benjamin Disraeli, the British prime minister during the 1870’s, persuaded Great Britain to imperialize because it was a way to guard vital British markets overseas, resources, and jobs, as well as enhance their well known reputation as being the most powerful country (Butler). Great Britain wanted to spread its culture and religion (Butler). As a result, Christianity was dispersed imperialized countries under the name of Great Britain. Another major reason Great Britain imperialized in Africa was because other European countries that were participating in the “Scramble for Africa” (Berard). This was the time period where certain European countries fought over what countries in Africa to imperialize. Britain wanted more power, and therefore, more land as well. Therefore, they resorted to imperializing lands such as those in Africa.
Egypt appealed to Great Britain for several reasons and was imperialized in 1882. Egypt was rich in ivory, gold, and spices (Berard). Great Britain was in...
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During the imperialism of Africa, many of the same things occurred. The English took control of the African countries in different ways, but they still took control. With the Africans, the English just went to war with the countries or tribes. They would either defeat them or force them to give up partial or all control of the government. Either way, the English gained control and power because of their strength politically and militarily.
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.
Imperialism in the late 19th century became a competition among European countries to take control of as many areas in Africa before the others did. For the most part, France, England, and Germany competed for bragging rights to these countries. They thought at the time that the more colonies a country had the more prestigious and noble that country looked. European countries were in pursuit of demonstrating their power. Not only this, but imperialism helped build a strong economy in the mother country because they could invade their colony and strip them of their natural resources in order to produce goods with. In turn, that country could then sell these good to the colony in order to make money. Rudyard Kipling talks about this fierce competition in “The White Man’...
Imperialism is the act of expanding a country through diplomatic means. The British imperialized South Africa. One reason for doing so is because of South America’s natural resources. Useful resources such as diamonds, gold, tin, copper, and plants could be found in South Africa. The British also had new markets to sell to. Britain has control over South Africa’s natural resources and could use those resources to trade with other countries. In addition, the British believed in European superiority. The Europeans were racist and had racist beliefs in Social Darwinism, the idea that Europeans were more advanced and had the right and duty to bring their progress to other countries.
They continued to dominate Africa throughout the rest of the 1800’s and started moving up from the tip of Africa. The British Empire had already been well known and appreciated there due to their efforts in completely wiping out the slavery and the slave trade in Africa (National). This led the people of West Africa to feel comfortable with the British and would supply them with goods and gold. The British were receiving taxes from the chieftains of the West African tribes. The continued to move northward still and ended up in Egypt because, the recently built Suez Canal was at risk of being destroyed due to Egyptian nationalists. The British got involved in 1882 and they fully...
The two-century period of the history of the modern state of Egypt comprise of a series of remarkable events that have shaped both the country’s past and future. Over the course of these two hundred years, Egypt saw its declaration as a Khedievate by the then Wali of Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha. Following this, it fell into the British occupation, after its protector, the Ottoman Empire sided with the Central Powers. Under the British, Egypt was proclaimed a sultanate. Yet, its life as a sultanate did not last much, due to the anti-British sentiments among its people. Fearing a mass revlot, the British decided to grant Egypt its independence in 1922, thus proclaiming the Kingdom of Egypt, with Sarwat Pasha as its first Prime Minister. Though de jure an independent state, much of Egypt’s domestic and foreign affairs remained under the direct control of the British. This led to the revolution of 1952, which overthrew the King, abolished the monarchy and established the Egyptian Republic, which has survived up until today. The republic period was not one worthy of praise either. With all but the last of its presidents coming from a military background, Egypt received a small share of social justice and human rights. It experienced dramatic switches in its foreign policy orientation, its head being turned from the USSR towards the US in instanteous movements. Just when it seemed that the country had finally begun to walk towards a democtratic society based on the rule of law, the military stroke again, removing the first Egyptian president ever to come to office by popular democratic vote.
By 1885, little to no independent countries existed throughout 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.
Although imperialism isn’t displayed much today, in the late 1870s and early 1900s there was a lot of competition between countries. Europe, a country that dominated the imperial age, took over Africa for there land and it was easy for them because Africa was a less developed country and Europe was a advanced dominating country at the time. The romans used military force to conquer locations and people
Great Britain’s influence in Egypt started in the 19th century and gradually increased until “the British occupation of Egypt in 1882”. 2 Great Britain, with the assistance of France would assert economic and political control of Egypt when and where they saw fit. This meant anytime an incident would occur that jeopardized Great Britain’s authority over Egypt, Great Britain would assert its power. Great Britain would do this by intervening directly in the government or by using its overwhelmingly powerful military machine. Due to government mismanagement by Ismail Pasha’s rule of Egypt, “Great Britain and France in 1876 practically assumed joint control of the finances of the distressed country”. 3
Egypt, while under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, conquered Sudan in the early parts of the 19th Century. Egypt's new government in Sudan, known as the Turkiyah, was established in 1821. Initial conditions under Egyptian rule were disastrous; soldiers levied extortionate taxes on the natives, desecrated priceless historical structures, and expanded the slave trade. Slavery became more institutionalized in the nineteenth century while European powers like Britain curtailed slavery in the rest of sub-Saharan Africa (11). Britain’s successful attempt to quell the Sudanese slave trade adversely affected many in the northern region of Sudan who profited off the south’s slave trade. This economic blow to the predominantly Islamic territory of the country led to rising dissatisfaction with the European-aligned Egyptian government. Under the command of Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed Mahdi, Sudan fell into the control of Mahdist forces in 1885. Sudan was reconquered by the Egyptians in 1899 with the aid of the British (10). Britain, which had a staked interest in Sudan, signed an Anglo-Egyptian condominium in that same year which restored Egyptian rule over Sudan jointly with Great Britain. This agreement did little to specify the legal status of this new joint authority but it did stipulate that the “supreme military and civil command in Sudan shall be vested in one officer” appointed by the Royal Crown (10). It was clear that once Egypt signed this condominium with Britain everything this was about to
Over the past few decades, as China’s economy has grown during its transition into a burgeoning world power, a desire for natural resources, primarily oil, to support this economic boom has led to increasing Chinese involvement and investment in African markets. Since 2009, China has been the African continent’s largest trade partner, having surpassed the United States. Chinese presence in Africa takes the form of a multi-faceted approach, with the Chinese offering developmental loans, investing in agriculture and industry, and funding the construction of public infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports, and hospitals (Council on Foreign Relations).
Britain chose to be imperialistic for three main reasons: greed for wealth, ethnocentrism, and Social Darwinism. The British empire-builders were keen to establish European dominance to as many nations as possible because of their raw materials and material wealth. One such example is the rich Kimberley mines of South Africa. The British were also attracted to the Indian subcontinent for that very reason. Eager to own India’s rich spice resources, as well as the source of labor that Indian slaves could provide, the British decided to overthrow the Mughal Empire and establish Bri...
Imperialism is one country’s control over various lands. Many European countries colonized in Africa for economic, social and political reasons, known as the “Scramble for Africa”. Countries conquered land in hopes to industrialize and better their economy, also sending missionaries in order to spread religion. Countries even obtained land for political gloating, as nations competed for the colonies, praising motherlands who had several territories. Colonies were areas ruled by a foreign power and by 1914 almost all of Africa was colonized by Europeans, with Britain and France being the biggest colonizers. Prior, Africa had been known as the “dark continent” since Europeans knew little of its culture or background. Europeans sought control over
The New Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa 1880-1914. Jeff Taylor, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
There is no doubt that European colonialism has left a grave impact on Africa. Many of Africa’s current and recent issues can trace their roots back to the poor decisions made during the European colonial era. Some good has resulted however, like modern medicine, education, and infrastructure. Africa’s history and culture have also been transformed. It will take many years for the scars left by colonization to fade, but some things may never truly disappear. The fate of the continent may be unclear, but its past provides us with information on why the present is the way it is.