Assign#_____ Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________Pts:______
a brief history of the berlin conference
The Berlin Conference was Africa's undoing in more ways than one. The colonial powers superimposed their domains on the African
continent. By the time independence returned to Africa in 1950, the realm had acquired a legacy of political fragmentation that could
neither be eliminated nor made to operate satisfactorily. (de Blij, p.340)
In 1884 at the request of Portugal, German chancellor Otto von Bismarck called together the major western powers of the
world to negotiate questions and end confusion over the control of Africa. Bismarck appreciated the opportunity to
expand Germany's sphere of influence over Africa and desired to force Germany's rivals to struggle with one another for
territory.
At the time of the conference, 80% of Africa remained under traditional and local control. What ultimately resulted was a
hodgepodge of geometric boundaries that divided Africa into fifty irregular countries. This new map of the continent was
superimposed over the one thousand indigenous cultures and regions of Africa. The new countries lacked rhyme or
reason and divided coherent groups of people and merged together disparate groups who really did not get along.
Fourteen countries were represented by a plethora of ambassadors when the conference opened in Berlin on November
15, 1884. The countries represented at the time included Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great
Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway (unified from 1814-1905), Turkey, and the United
States of America. Of these fourteen nations, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal were the major players in the
conference, controlling most of colonial Africa at the time.
The initial task of the conference was to agree that the Congo River and Niger River mouths and basins would be
considered neutral and open to trade. Despite its neutrality, part of the Congo Basin became a personal kingdom for
Belgium's King Leopold II and under his rule, over half of the region's population died.
At the time of the conference, only the coastal areas of Africa were colonized by the European powers. At the Berlin
Conference the European colonial powers scrambled to gain control over the interior of the continent. The conference
lasted until February 26, 1885 - a three month period where colonial powers haggled over geometric boundaries in the
interior of the continent, disregarding the cultural and linguistic boundaries already established by the indigenous
African population.
The Berlin conference managed to form a set of rules for the “orderly extension of European influence” in Africa. First, the
fourteen nations agreed there would be freedom
of trade and navigation in the Congo Basin. Second, they agreed that any power that annexed territory or established a
protectorate from that day forward would let every
other country know immediately. At the same time, that country was responsible for establishing political stability,
thereby guaranteeing effective occupation of those regions. They also agreed to put a stop to the slave trade, that “these
territories may not serve as a market or means of transit for the trade in slaves, of whatever race they may be”
Following the conference, the give and take continued. By 1914, the conference participants had fully divided Africa
among themselves into fifty countries.
Major colonial holdings included:
• Great Britain desired a Cape-to-Cairo collection of colonies and almost succeeded though their control of Egypt, Sudan
(Anglo-Egyptian Sudan), Uganda, Kenya (British East Africa), South Africa, and Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana
(Rhodesia). The British also controlled Nigeria and Ghana (Gold Coast).
• France took much of western Africa, from Mauritania to Chad (French West Africa) and Gabon and the Republic of
Congo (French Equatorial Africa).
• Belgium and King Leopold II controlled the Democratic Republic of Congo (Belgian Congo).
• Portugal took Mozambique in the east and Angola in the west.
• Italy's holdings were Somalia (Italian Somaliland) and a portion of Ethiopia.
• Germany took Namibia (German Southwest Africa) and Tanzania (German East Africa).
• Spain claimed the smallest territory - Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni).
de Blij, H.J. and Peter O. Muller Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.
The National Geographic Desk Reference. National Geographic, 1999.
Because of its size, surface features, climate, resources, and strategic importance, Africa became a prime candidate for
conquest by ambitious European empires. 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 established those ground rules.
By the mid-nineteenth century, Europeans had established colonies all along the African coast and competed for control.
The push for overseas territories was made even more intense by the Industrial Revolution and the need for cheap labor,
raw material, and new markets. The competition between the Europeans often lead to violent conflict.
The conference was held in Berlin between November 15, 1884 and November 26, 1885, under the leadership of German
Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Although controlling the slave trade and promoting humanitarian idealism were
promoted as the focus of the conference, the conference only passed empty resolutions about the ending of slave trade
and providing for the welfare of Africa. In truth, the result of the Conference was a method of dividing the continent of
Africa between the European powers.
Article 34 of the Berlin Act states that any European nation that took possession of an African coast, or named themselves
as “protectorate” of one, had to inform the other powers of the Berlin Act of this action. If this was not done then their
claim would not be recognized. This article introduced the “spheres of influence” doctrine, the control of a coast also
meant that they would control the hinterland to an almost unlimited distance.
Article 35 determined that in order to occupy a coastal possession, the nation also had to prove that they controlled
sufficient authority there to protect existing rights such as freedom of trade and transit. This was called the doctrine of
“effective occupation” and it made the conquest of Africa a less bloody process.
The Berlin Act was an important change in international affairs. It created the rules for “effective occupation” of
conquered lands, ensuring that the division of Africa would take place without war among the European powers.
Through the Berlin Act, the European powers justified dividing a continent among themselves without considering the
desires of the indigenous peoples.
While this appears extremely arrogant to us now, it seemed to them to be the obvious extension of their imperialism. The
Berlin Conference is one of the most clear examples of the assumptions and preconceptions of this era, and its effects on
Africa can still be seen
berlin conference activity
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.
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.
The proposal should include:
o No more than two rules that you feel European countries should follow when colonizing the land.
o Shade the regions on the map provided that you feel your country should maintain and control.
o Explain why your group would like to colonize this region.
o Explain why the other representatives should allow your country to colonize this region.
Things to consider when drafting your proposal:
o Be sure to create rules that your country is willing and able to follow
o Location, Location, Location
o Natural Resources
o The needs of your country
o The regions that your already control
o The information on your country’s information card
Once the proposals have been drafted, the groups will meet together to negotiate and divide the land.
Germany
The 1884 Berlin Conference to partition Africa has been called by the German Chancellor, Otto Von Bismark.
You are hosting the conference in your capital city. The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a
process for the partition of Africa into European colonies or spheres of influence. The European powers are
interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for their industrialization. Germany has some control
of coastal southwestern Africa and coastal east Africa. Germany desires to maintain control of these areas.
France
The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a process for the partition of Africa into European colonies
or spheres of influence. The European powers are interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for
their industrialization. France has colonial outposts established along the west coast of Africa and extending
inland approximately 500 miles east of Lake Chad. French colonial outposts include the cities of Libreville,
Conakry, Dakar, and Abidjan.
Great Britain
The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a process for the partition of Africa into European colonies
or spheres of influence. The European powers are interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for
their industrialization. Great Britain is most concerned about maintaining control of the Suez Canal (it has been
under their control since 1875) and the surrounding territory. The canal connects the Atlantic Ocean,
Mediterranean, Red, and Arabian Seas providing important shipping routes. Great Britain has expanded its
control around the canal, throughout Egypt and south into the Sahara to create a buffer zone against French
expansion. Great Britain desires holdings from the Cape (southern tip of Africa) to Cairo. British colonial
outposts exist in west Africa in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. Great Britain is also in conflict with the
Dutch for control of Cape of Africa.
Portugal
The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a process for the partition of Africa into European colonies
or spheres of influence. The European powers are interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for
their industrialization. Portugal has the oldest colonial outposts on the continent: on the west coast, southwest
coast, and the southeast coast.
Netherlands/Dutch
The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a process for the partition of Africa into European colonies
or spheres of influence. The European powers are interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for
their industrialization.
The Dutch have a long history in the Cape region of Africa dating back to the 1600s. The Dutch are presently
struggling for control of the area against the British.
Belgium
The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a process for the partition of Africa into European colonies
or spheres of influence. The European powers are interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for
their industrialization. Led by King Leopold, the Belgians want access to the mineral and rubber resources of
the interior tropical rainforest in the Congo River basin. The Belgians are also interested in the ivory trade
(elephant tusks).
Spain
The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a process for the partition of Africa into European colonies
or spheres of influence. The European powers are interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for
their industrialization. The Spanish want to maintain a presence on the western coast of Africa. However, the
wars for independence in Latin America beginning in the 1820s have left the empire with little monetary funds.
Italy
The goal of the conference is to negotiate and create a process for the partition of Africa into European colonies
or spheres of influence. The European powers are interested in gaining access to raw materials and resources for
their industrialization. Italy desires the Horn of Africa.
berlin conference questions
Answer the following questions. Answers should be thoughtful and in complete sentences.
1. What similarities do you see between your Berlin Conference and the outcome of the actual conference?
What differences?
2. Why did the United States get involved with the conference but not receive or take any land?
3. Who was not represented at the conference? Why?
4. What challenges did the outcomes of the Berlin Conference create for the indigenous people of Africa?
5. How do you think this conference might still affect the African people today?
(NOTE: NOT EVERY RESOURCE IS REPRESENTED BELOW)
______________’s proposal
Directions: Your proposal must be 2 to 3 paragraphs in length. Everyone in the group should have the
same proposal written down. Please refer to the “Berlin Conference Activity” for further instructions.
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