Many reactions were given to Imperialism and the dividing and establishing of colonies in Africa from 1180-1914. Some justified "The Scramble for Africa" for economic reasons or in other words,for money, others justified it for political reasons, and others were motivated because they believed in "White Man's Burden" or the belief that it was the duty of civilized europeans to civilize the "lesser" peoples of Africa. These reactions lead to Europe owning an astounding 84% of the whole world by 1914. Those who were motivated to take over Africa to open expanding markets and make profit believed as in doc 9 which demonstrates that the greed of the bourgeoisie motivated countries to create colonies in order to expand markets and increase profits.This is not likely biased because this was stated in an official congress meeting which often has reliable information. Others believed Prince Leopold in doc 1 where Leopold illustrates the usefulness of …show more content…
Archbishop Philip Primrose conveys that "natural selection" and "survival of the fittest" principal are relevant to his day. This is likely unbiased because Archbishops tend to be honest people who do not lie. Doc 11 demonstrates through the French General of Equatorial Africa opinions europeans have the right to civilize the uncivilized countries of Africa. This is likely biased due to that speeches, usually but not in some cases, only include things the people want to hear. Prince Leopold shares in a conversation in doc 1 that he wants to show the world that Belgium can find unoccupied territories and civilize unknown peoples. This is unlikely to be biased because he is trying to impress the world with Belgium and therefore would have no reason to lie while trying to show off Belgium. In all, the social factors of "White Man's Burden" demonstrate certain reactions towards
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
It all started when Europeans ventured into an unknown Africa. At first, Europeans knew very little about Africa, traded frequently for African slaves, and they were also prone to diseases from there. The trans-Atlantic slave trade banned slavery, making it so Europeans wanted to seize countries with force. For the first time, they explored. King leopard of Belgium buying the Conga free state is an example of what was starting. The countries noticed that the claiming of Africa may lead to a war. They held a conference to peacefully divvy up Africa. No Africans were invited to this conference. The driving forces behind imperialism in Africa are helping the natives, power/nationalism, and natural resources/money.
The Europeans may have seemed like they only cared about the money but they also cared about helping too. The Europeans had a moral duty that they felt they needed to fulfill. In document F, the White Man’s Burden poem says “ Fill full the mouth of famine and bid the sickness cease.” The Europeans felt it was their moral duty to help those in famine and poverty, they also wanted these colonies and smaller countries to try and be like them. The Europeans did not only help Africa they also helped China and India. Their most important motivation for colonization of Africa was their moral duty to help smaller countries.
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. Expansion was a goal that all nations wanted to achieve. Prince Leopold, the heir of the Belgian Throne, in a conversation, explained that “since history teaches us that colonies are useful… let us strive to get on in our turn… to lead to progress in every sense.” Being a prince, Leopold must have had a pro imperialist point of view, because he wanted to keep Belgium strong and prosperous. Cecil Rhodes, in a speech at the chartering of the British South Africa company, said “Philanthropy is good, but philanthropy at 5 percent is even better.” Cecil Rhodes’s quote clearly illustrates a materialistic point of view, owing to the fact that he was the founder of De Beers Diamond Company. Being a businessman, a desire of profit was natural. However, there are other examples that show a condemnation of imperialism for economical reasons. According to William Clark, in The Genesis of Jingoism, “capitalism is international… and it will prove in the long run to be one of the leading factors in breaking down of nationalism.” Owing to the fact that this excerpt from “The...
or much of written history about Europe and its expansion process literature has seemed to always capture the beginning as hostile. There is no argument that Europe has had a plethora of malicious takeovers but the dynamics of colonialism have transitioned to a less aggressive imperialistic influence and have little need to colonialize any longer but to integrate. Starting with the colonization of countries in Africa it is a well-known fact that resistance most often lead to wars. What past literature have failed to analyze and bring forth in knowledge are those lands that not merely welcomed colonization but also had a less defiant attitude towards the movement. Powers such as Ethiopia and Liberia were able to maintain their systems and did not colonize under Europe. Some of the main reasons Europe had major success in gaining political power in most of Africa was due to misinterpreted form of treaties, aggressive militaristic strategy, and greed
Nationalistic ideas made European countries want to take action in the colonization of Africa. In Document B, the English John Ruskin says, “…seizing every piece of fruitful waste ground she can set her foot on, and there teaching these her colonists … that their first aim is to be to advance the power of England by land and by sea.” This quote shows how the Europeans were proud of their countries and wanted to spread their territories in order to be the best. It can be seen in Document A how the Europeans had already colonized a lot of Africa by the 20th century, with seven countries holding territories by 1914. The idea of nationalism helped push European countries into colonizing Africa, which led to more land for resources and ultimately helped Europe economically.
The Scramble for Africa occurred because as the slave trade ended, capitalists saw Africa as a continent that they could now exploit through legitimate trade. European capitalists have found new ways to make money off the continent. With greater exploration of the continent, even more valuable resources were found. The encouragement of legitimate trade in Africa brought Europeans flocking to colonize Africa. Africa lost their independence, and along with it, their control over their natural resources.
In three decades after the Berlin Conference on Africa (1884-1885), European powers occupied and colonized areas in Africa, a process later termed the Scramble for Africa. One of the ways the Africans responded to the European occupation of Africa, was through their reactions in a resistant state of mind. Another way was by their actions in an aggressive and sometimes peaceful manner.
In the 19th century Europeans took over Africa in an act known as African Imperialism. Europeans had hardy known much about Africa in the early 19th century, but as time went on they started to notice the abundant resources and plentiful land. With the knowledge of such things there were 3 main motives that drove Europeans to imperialism. The primary motive was the economic gain and money they make, the second motive was political competition, the final main motive was morality or the white man's burden.
Political competition drove Europeans to take over Africa. According to document A, seven European countries held African colonies by the year 1914. Because many European nations rulers were related, they were in constant competition
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.
Prince Leopold demonstrates that a large motive was to help out the other nations more so to provide them with steam and electricity. They also wanted to help out Africa, as maybe Africa could do them good as well. In facts, new technologies such as the telegraph, trains, and new medications were, instituted into Africa. This allowed Africa to progress in terms of social conditions. Louis Bernard a french colonial official demonstrates how the humility was lost in the other side of France as they were cruel to colonies, however as an officer he fails to acknowledge that only the actual citizens of the colonies can justify if the help was good in terms of new cultural
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.
The political leaders Prince Leopold and Joseph Chamberlain have positive feelings about imperialism and believe in extending a country's power through military force or diplomacy. Document 1, written by Prince Leopold, claims that Belgium can grow outside of Europe in order to gain more colonies, eventually leader to power. In a social aspect, he wants his country to be seen as imperial and stressed the economic importance of capitalism. However, Prince Leopold is a heir to the throne of Belgium, so his main objective may only be to increase his future countries
In order to properly understand the effects of colonization, one must look at its history. Most of Africa was relatively isolated from Europe throughout early world history, but this changed during the 17th to the 20th centuries. Colonization efforts reached their peak between the 1870s and 1900 in the “Scramble for Africa” which left the continent resembling a jigsaw puzzle Various European powers managed to colonize Africa including Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain. This intense imperialist aggression had three major causes. The primary reason was simply for economic gain. Africa is refuge to vast, unexplored natural resources. European powers saw their opportunity and took it. Another motive was to spread the Christian religion to the non-Christian natives. The last major incentive was to demonstrate power between competing European nations. African societies did try to resist the colonial takeover either through guerilla warfare or direct military engagement. Their efforts were in vain, however, as by the turn of the century, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained not colonized. European powers colonized Africa according to the guidelines established by the Berlin Act (1885). Many of the colonized nations were ruled indirectly through appointed governor...