
before this
meeting 80% of
Africa was under
local &
traditional
control…
…after this
meeting 90% of
Africa was under
European
control.

The purpose was for European countries to
have spheres of influence over areas




To gain their raw materials for industry
As a status symbol
Clashes between Germany and France over
Morocco, between Britain and France over
Sudan
Tension from this colonial system led to WWI,
which is why Wilson’s 14 Points included a
part about adjusting colonies to take care of the
people inside them



Another name for imperialism/colonialism?
Victorious nations would “administer” (rule?)
old colonies
See LoN document—answer:



1. According to Source A, why was the mandate
system established?
2. In what ways could it be argued that Article 22 still
allowed the victorious powers to increase their
influence and power?
3. What other name does Source A give to the
victorious powers?



Category A: most developed; Turkish colonies
(Syria-France, Iraq-Britain, Palestine-Britain);
should be administered for a short period
Category B: former Germany colonies in Africa;
need more time and supervision before
independence
Category C: Pacific colonies; pretty much
stayed colonies



No real authority to watch over the mandates
Mandatory powers (Britain, France, etc) were
supposed to send an annual report
When there was unrest in a mandate country,
the LoN set up a committee to check it out, and
did a pretty good job of it

The former Ottoman territories were turned
into mandates:
Syria to France (never able to control it very well—
remember Faisal had a stint as ruler, then left)
 Iraq to Britain (brought in Faisal eventually to rule)
 Transjordan to Britain
 Palestine to Britain

 Series of bad/contradictory promises led to tension
between Jews and Palestinian Arabs





Britain gained Eastern territories of Africa from
Germany
France ended up with most of West Africa
^ Supports the idea that the mandate system was
just imperialism
But, the African mandates (and former colonies)
did all gain independence (1950s & 1960s)
Bigger but, the mandate system did not reduce
the gap between the “advanced” people and the
“backward” people, so the aim of establishing
racial equality failed.

Choose an African mandate
during the inter-war years.
Decide if the mandate system
helped or hindered its
development.