The 'Scramble for Africa' Flashcards
3 main reasons for the ‘Scramble for Africa’:
Raw materials
Competition between European countries
White man’s burden
What conference took place in 1884?
Berlin Conference - on the principle of effective occupation
Little account for African views, culture or language
Why had Europeans not ventured far into Africa before the 1870s?
No cures for diseases
What is the ‘White man’s burden’?
The duty to spread civilisation to supposedly backward countries
“White man’s Burden” was used as the title of a poem by Rudyard Kipling
What was the ‘Scramble for Africa’?
1870 - only 10% of Africa was controlled by European countries
1900 - 90% of Africa was controlled by European countries
It involved European countries which wanted to develop their empires
WHEN THE MISSIONARIES ARRIVED, THE AFRICANS HAD THE LAND AND THE MISSIONARIES HAD THE BIBLE. THEY TAUGHT US HOW TO PRAY WITH OUR EYES CLOSED. WHEN WE OPENED THEM, THEY HAD THE LAND AND WE HAD THE BIBLE.
Explain the meaning of this saying:
Manipulation with the use of Christianity
Land was taken behind their backs and Europe was gaining land
Why did Africans find it hard to resist the European powers?
They were poorer and outnumbered
They didn’t have weapons rivalling the European Maxim guns
They were less organised
3 reasons why GB was interested in Africa:
Powerful nations: France, Germany and USA were powerful nations whose growth began to match Britain - industrialised with large armies and navies
Explorers: Tales of riches, gold, diamonds, cash crops (rubber, coffee and timber), a place to sell exports.
Christian missionaries: Some felt it was their duty to convert Africans, set up schools and hospitals, seen as “enlightening the country”
What was the role of Christianity in the ‘Scramble for Africa’?
To spread Christianity to civilise areas as they thought this would help. This was used to justify the actions in Africa.
How much of Africa was under European control in:
- 1870
- 1900
- 10%
- 90%
What was agreed at the Berlin conference?
Can not afford to have a war in Europe so they drew out areas in Africa for them to share the regions.
