THE BERLIN CONFERENCE AND THE
PARTITION OF AFRICA
1884-1885
The Berlin Conference
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Date: 1884-5
Host: German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
What do we know about Chancellor Bismarck?
Purpose:
With King Leopold of Belgium sponsoring
exploration of the Congo in the early 1880s,
other European powers began to scramble to
press claims to African lands
The purpose of the Conference was to
establish an orderly (and hopefully peaceful)
method for European nations to claim colonies
in Africa
The General Act of the Berlin Conference
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International Prohibition of the Slave Trade
throughout Africa
King Leopold’s private ownership of the
Congo was confirmed
Method for claiming colonies was
established:
Establish a government office in the region
Effect treaties with local leaders
Notify other European powers of the claim
Effects of the Berlin Conference
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European powers rushed to colonize Africa
(the “Scramble”), drawing arbitrary borders
with no regard for traditional settlement
patterns or ethnic boundaries
Within 20 years of the conference, nearly all
of Africa had been partitioned among the
European powers
Long Term Results of the Berlin Conference?