Hofmannmhs.weebly.com



The Scramble for Africa:Berlin Conference Background InformationThe Scramble for Africa is the term that refers to the time when many European nations were rushing to colonize the continent of Africa.What Caused the Scramble to Happen?There were several factors that created the impetus for the Scramble for Africa, most of these had to do with events in Europe rather than in Africa.Imperialism is the exercise of power by a country beyond its boundaries. Colonialism is a form of Imperialism; it is the political control by one nation over another people and land. Imperialism took many forms. Politically, European powers wanted power and prestige and wealth. More territory=more power and money. Imperialism also included the spread of one’s culture (see Christianity below) and the gaining of wealth and resources (see Capitalism/Economic below).Spread of Christianity -- The late 18th and 19th centuries brought about the rise of new beliefs among Europeans. Ethnocentrism is a belief that one group of people are superior to other groups of people, due mainly to cultural differences. This belief was prevalent (strong) among the Europeans who believed that the Africans were inferior and “uncivilized” because they were not technologically advanced and still lived in “primitive” ways. Europeans believed it was their duty to “civilize” Africans. And for many Europeans, that also meant that they were to spread Christianity. The Christian missionaries set up schools and churches, teaching them the English language and Christian ways.End of the Slave Trade – By the late 1800s, slavery was frowned upon and largely outlawed in many places in Europe. Britain had had some success in halting the slave trade around the shores of Africa. But inland the story was different -- Muslim traders from north of the Sahara and on the East Coast still traded inland, and many local chiefs were reluctant to give up the use of slaves. Reports of slaving trips and markets were brought back to Europe by various explorers, such as Livingstone, and abolitionists in Britain and Europe were calling for more to be done. Many Europeans believed slavery was wrong and wanted to stop all slave trading. Exploration -- During the nineteenth century (1800s) hardly a year went by without a European expedition into Africa. The boom in exploration was triggered to a great extent by the creation of the African Association by wealthy Englishmen in 1788 that wanted someone to 'find' the fabled city of Timbuktu. As the century moved on, the goal of the European exploration changed, and rather than traveling out of pure curiosity, they started to record details of markets, goods, and resources for the wealthy philanthropists who financed their trips.Henry Morton Stanley -- A naturalized American (born in Wales) who, of all the explorers of Africa, is the one most closely connected to the start of the Scramble for Africa. Stanley crossed much of the continent and is infamously known for his explorations on behalf of King Leopold II of Belgium. Leopold hired Stanley to obtain treaties with local chieftains along the course of the River Congo with an eye to creating his own colony (Belgium was not in a financial position to fund a colony at that time). Stanley's work triggered a rush of European explorers to do the same for various European countries.Capitalism/Economic -- The end of European trading in slaves left a need for commerce (trade) between Europe and Africa. European businesses and governments may have seen the light over slavery, but they still wanted to exploit the continent and create a new 'legitimate” trade (trade NOT involving slavery). Explorers located vast reserves of raw materials; they plotted the course of trade routes, navigated rivers, and identified population centers that could be a market for manufactured goods from Europe. Europeans planned to set up plantations and farm cash crops, and use the local Africans as the workforce for producing rubber, coffee, sugar, palm oil, timber, etc. for sale Europe. Steam Engines and Iron Hulled Boats – New innovations in ship building led to revolutionary ships for use inland mainly on rivers. The new ships had two powerful steam engines that could navigate the non-tidal sections of rivers, allowing access inland, and they were heavily armed. Europeans used this new ship building technology to explore the rivers of Africa.Medical Advances -- Africa, especially the western regions, was known as the “White Man's Grave” because of the danger of two diseases: malaria and yellow fever. During the eighteenth century only one in ten Europeans sent out to the continent survived. Six of the ten would have died in their first year. In 1817 two French scientists, extracted quinine from the bark of the South American cinchona tree. It proved to be the solution to malaria; Europeans could now survive the ravages of the disease in Africa. Unfortunately yellow fever continued to be a problem - and even today there is no specific treatment for the disease.Politics -- After the creation of a unified Germany and Italy during the 1800s, there was no room left in Europe for expansion. Britain, France and Germany were in an intricate political dance, trying to maintain their dominance, and an empire would secure it. France, which had lost two provinces to Germany in 1870 looked to Africa to gain more territory. Britain looked towards Egypt and the control of the Suez Canal as well as pursuing territory in gold rich southern Africa. Germany had come late to the idea of overseas colonies, but was now fully convinced of their worth. Europeans were competing for land and power around the world to build their imperial empires. Military Innovation -- at the beginning of the nineteenth century Europe was only marginally ahead of Africa in terms of available weapons as traders had long supplied them to local chiefs many of whom had stockpiles of guns and gunpowder. But two innovations gave Europe a massive advantage. In the late 1860s percussion caps were being incorporated into cartridges - what previously came as a separate bullet, powder and wadding, was now a single entity, easily transported and relatively weather proof. The second innovation was the breach-loading rifle. Older model muskets, held by most Africans, were front loaders, slow to use (maximum of three rounds per minute) and had to be loaded whilst standing. Breach loading guns, in comparison, had between two to four times the rate of fire, and could be loaded even in a prone position. Europeans, with an eye to colonization and conquest, restricted the sale of the new weaponry to Africa maintaining military superiority.058420In your opinion, what are the three most significant reasons for the SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICAN colonies by Europeans? 0In your opinion, what are the three most significant reasons for the SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICAN colonies by Europeans? The Mad Rush Into Africa in the Early 1880sWithin just 20 years the political face of Africa had changed - with only Liberia (a colony run by ex- African-American slaves) and Ethiopia remaining free of European control. The start of the 1880s saw a rapid increase in European nations claiming territory in Africa:A colony could be set up which gave the European nation a monopoly there.In 1880 the region to the north of the river Congo became a French protectorate following a treaty between the King of the Bateke, Makoko, and the explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza.In 1881 Tunisia became a French protectorate and the Transvaal regained its independence.In 1882 Britain occupied Egypt (France pulled out of joint occupation), Italy begins colonization of Eritrea.In 1884 British and French Somaliland created.In 1884 German South West Africa, Cameroon, German East Africa, and Togo created, Río de Oro claimed by Spain.This meant that the Europeans needed to establish rules for dealing with one another if they were to avoid constant bloodshed and competition for African resources.? The Berlin Conference: Europeans Set the Rules for Dividing Up the ContinentThe Berlin Conference of 1884-85 laid down ground rules for the further partitioning of Africa. Navigation on the Niger and Congo rivers was to be free to all, and to declare a control over a region the European colonizer must show effective occupancy and develop a 'sphere of influence'. The floodgates of European colonization had opened. Europeans wanted to avoid bloodshed over Africa. They realized that there was enough of Africa to go around. However, some European countries exerted more influence and power over others and this would likely affect the evens of the Berlin Conference. The Scramble for Africa (1880-1900) was a period of rapid colonization of the African continent by European powers. 0262890Why did Europeans need to establish rules for the further colonization of Africa?What was the Berlin Conference?Why did Europeans need to establish rules for the further colonization of Africa?What was the Berlin Conference?The Scramble for Africa:Berlin Conference PROPOSAL GUIDE Foreign invasions were prevented for a long time due to Africa's geography, but because of its size, surface features, climate, resources, and strategic importance, it became a prime candidate for conquest by ambitious Europeans.? Although Africa is physically remote from the power centers of Europe, North America, and Asia, it is surrounded by water and can therefore be reached easily from the other continents.? This meant that the Europeans needed to establish rules for dealing with one another if they were to avoid constant bloodshed and competition for African resources.? The Berlin Conference was a meeting of 14 nations to establish those ground rules, discuss territorial disputes in Africa, negotiate questions and end confusion over the control of Africa. At the request of Portugal, German chancellor Otto von Bismark called together the major western powers of the world. The meeting was held in Berlin, Germany, from November 1884 to February 1885 and included representatives from the United States and such European nations as Britain, France, and Germany. The stated purpose of the meeting was to guarantee free trade and navigation on the Congo and on the lower reaches of the Niger. At the time of the conference, 80% of Africa remained under traditional and local control by Africans. Your task today is to recreate this conference and divide Africa according to the interests of your assigned country.Your group will draft a proposal that explains the rules that you feel European countries should follow when colonizing Africa and which parts of Africa you reasonably believe your country should be able to colonize.DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WITH YOUR COUNTRY. JOT DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS.What factors should you consider in acquiring territories?What factors can you ignore in your decisions?What areas of Africa should you compete MOST for? Why?What areas of Africa did should compete LEAST for? Why?Which resources should you compete for MOST? Why?PREPARE YOUR WRITTEN PROPOSAL:The proposal should include:No more than two rules that you feel European countries should follow when colonizing the land. Consider the following: How will Europeans conduct themselves with other European countries in Africa?How will Europeans conduct themselves with the Africans they encounter?A map showing the regions that you feel your country should maintain and controlAn explanation why your group would like to colonize this regionAn explanation why the other representatives should allow your country to colonize this region. Things to consider when drafting your proposal: Be sure to create rules that your country is willing and able to followLocation, Location, Location- be sure you use the maps and information provided to find the best location for your coloniesWhat land do you want? How will you sell this to the others?Make a list of priorities for your country and consider making plan B incase you don’t get all you wantConsider Natural ResourcesConsider the needs of your countryConsider the regions that you already controlAccess to open water—rivers, lakes and oceans Consider the control and usage of the Suez CanalThe information on your country’s information card!114300208915The Berlin Conference AgendaRound One—Proposals—30 minutesEach country drafts their proposal for the land they would like and rules to proposeRound Two—Rules—15 minutesEach country reads the two rules they would like to present to the delegates at the conferenceOther countries can give feedback (pro/cons) to the rulesDecide on no more than 8 rulesRound Three—Carve it up—24 minutes (3 minutes per country)Each country outlines on the map the land that they wantPresent arguments for wanting that landRound Four—Negotiations—20-25 minutes Ambassadors from each country can visit other ambassadors to try to negotiate disputed areasIf a decision cannot be made over a disputed area, at the END of the round, each side will have one minute to present their argument to the ambassadors at the conference and there will be a vote. Teachers will be final deciders, if necessary. Round Five—Re-Carve and Finalize—10 minutesGo back to the map to create a FINAL POLITICAL MAP of how Africa will be divided up by the European powers0The Berlin Conference AgendaRound One—Proposals—30 minutesEach country drafts their proposal for the land they would like and rules to proposeRound Two—Rules—15 minutesEach country reads the two rules they would like to present to the delegates at the conferenceOther countries can give feedback (pro/cons) to the rulesDecide on no more than 8 rulesRound Three—Carve it up—24 minutes (3 minutes per country)Each country outlines on the map the land that they wantPresent arguments for wanting that landRound Four—Negotiations—20-25 minutes Ambassadors from each country can visit other ambassadors to try to negotiate disputed areasIf a decision cannot be made over a disputed area, at the END of the round, each side will have one minute to present their argument to the ambassadors at the conference and there will be a vote. Teachers will be final deciders, if necessary. Round Five—Re-Carve and Finalize—10 minutesGo back to the map to create a FINAL POLITICAL MAP of how Africa will be divided up by the European powers ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download