Imperialism/ Colonialism
in Africa
Imperialism
• A stronger nation conquering a
weaker nation in order to
control its resources.
• 1400s: The Portuguese begin
exploring West Africa
– New technology for longer
ocean voyages
• Purpose- looking for:
– Gold
– Direct route to India
– Later: convert to Christianity
• Gain power in Africa
Avoiding
Muslims in
N. Africa
Slavery Increases Interest In Africa
• Practiced in many civilizations:
–
–
–
–
–
China,
Parts of Africa
Egypt,
Rome
Greece
• Europeans take slavery
worldwide
• Justifications:
– Nationalism
• Pride in one’s country usually
demonstrated through military
– Feelings of racial and religious
superiority
Discovery of the Americas
• Europeans needed to
remove/ process
natural resources
from the New World
• How?
– Trade goods (guns,
alcohol) for slaves to
work fields for
tobacco, sugar, etc.
Triangular Trade
• Europe to Africa
– Guns, alcohol
• Africa to Americas
– Slaves
• Americas to Europe
– Sugar, rum, tobacco
Colonialism
• A stronger nation
conquering a weaker
nation, occupies it,
and replaces its
governments with its
own representatives.
European Colonialism in Africa
• 1800s: Europeans
begin to move into the
interior of Africa
• Reasons for
increased
Colonialism:
– Global Power
• Need to keep up with
other nations
– Control Resources
– Convert to Christianity
Partition of Africa (1895)
• European nations
clash in “The
Scramble For Africa”
– Possible war
• Partition of Africa
– 14 European nations
meet to divide Africa
amongst themselves.
• Create most of the
national borders which
still exist
– 2 nations remain
Independent
• Ethiopia: Repelled Italy
• Liberia: Connections to
the US
End of Imperialism in
Africa
Why did it end?
• The people of Africa:
– Resented European
presence in their land
– Resented the
inequities of
colonialism
WWI/ WWII
• The wars:
– Proved that
Europeans can be
beaten
• Increased resistance in
parts of Africa
– Drained European
power and will to
control colonies
1950’s & 1960’s
• Europe leaves many
African nations to
become independent
• By 1970s most
African nations were
free of the European
powers and were
independent nations
Challenges for the new nations
• Who is in charge?
– Tribal/ ethnic rivalries
• What type of
government?
– Authoritarian?
– Democracy?
– Communism?
Legacy of
Colonialism
1. Social and Cultural
Disruption
•
Europeans
encouraged Africans
to change their
culture
Legacy of Colonialism
2. Underdeveloped
Human Potential
 Most Africans
used as labor
 No African
leadership
encouraged
 Little wealth in
African hands
Legacy of
Colonialism
3. Weak Infrastructure &
Exploited Resources
– Europeans built
infrastructure:
• Roads, hospitals,
bridges, etc
– Built to increase profit
(not to benefit the
people)
• Much of the continent
left with little
infrastructure
Legacy of
Colonialism
4.
Destroyed Trade
 Before Colonialism:
- most trade was
within Africa
- External trade was
with the Middle
East
 Colonialism
destroyed those
patterns & contacts
- Therefore, they
were still dependent on
Europe for trade
Legacy of
Conquest
5.
Colonial Boundaries
 1885: Partition of
Africa
- 14 European
nations meet to divide
Africa
- Ethnic groups
divided
- rival ethnic groups
within same nation
- this encouraged
war after independence
Legacy of
Colonialism
6. Colonial
Governments were
a poor role model
 Democracy
discouraged
 Power through
violence
 Corruption