European Imperialism Dbq

One main driving force behind European imperialism in Africa is resources. Resources were very valuable back then. Someone couldn't just go to the grocery store and buy what is needed. They had to find it and process it by hand. Africa is rich in resources. By conquering Africa, Europeans would owned those resources. They could use the resources for their own uses or sell

Acquisition and discovery are two extremely separated concepts, as one is fueled by the unknown, while the other is driven on by the known. Since the popular discovery of the Western Hemisphere, European expenditures and ventures to unchartered lands have constantly taken place, evermore mapping the Earth. However, once the geography of the World was understood, those same Europeans began movements to seize and occupy the lands they were once mystified and intrigued by. Although the Age of Discovery and the time of New Imperialism share similarities, regarding where each took place, in lands outside of Europe, the differences between the two are obviously more pronounced.

In Basil Davidson’s video, “Different but Equal”, Davidson examines ancient Africa, and how Africans were perceived in ancient and modern times. Davidson discusses pre-colonized Africa and its history, and how racism prevailed in the past and in modern day. By discussing early civilizations, as well as modern day perspectives, Davidson allows the viewer to have expansive information on how individuals view Africans and their culture.

What was the driving force behind European Imperialism in Africa? Between 1500 and 1800 the Europeans knew  little about the interior of Africa their presence was to buy and sell slaves for pots, cloth, and weapons and set sail to America. Late as 1870 ten percent of Africa was under Europeans control and most was along edges by 1914 ninety percent of Africa was in control four years later.  Due to the countries that held African colonies in 1914 that involved the British, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spain, and Belgian. France and Britain were the main  conquer in African colonies, because there conqueror of land in Africa.

Within the 1800’s European Explorers forced their way through the insides of western and central Africa. Along the west coast of Africa, European nations traded for slaves, ivory, and gold. Africa was under full assault by the 1800s, as European nations competed with one another for control of the continent. Europe wanted to imperialism (take over) Africa and the forces (what they did) that helped them succeed is the new technology, Nationalism, and lastly the most important industrialism.

There are economic, cultural, and political are the effects of the industrial revolution and European imperialism on both European nations and their colonies during the time period 1700-1914. European nations gained oversea colonies in North and South America, Africa and Asia. The European nations conquer Africa because they needed raw materials. European-introduced European culture, language, and religion to Africa. The European opened schools in Africa, which teach in the European language and spread Christianity. The European nations divided African and China into colonies.

British and French European countries were considered the biggest winners in the “race” to size African colonies in 1914. By 1885 the only two African countries to remain independent was Ethiopia and Liberia.(Doc A)

The Europeans realized that if they could take control of Africa, they would have access to resources without having to pay the expensive price and they would gain land at the same time. Africa was the richest continent in terms of resources back then. Document D shows African colonies that were then controlled by Europeans and their exports. All of the colonies that are shown have various valuable exports. It also shows that Great Britain had the most valuable colonies, because those colonies had resources that had multiple uses. In document E, a bar graph shows the difference between Great Britain and South Saharan Africa’s imports and exports in 1854 and 1900. Great Britains exports to South Saharan Africa went from well under five million British pounds in 1854 to a little over twenty million British pounds in 1900. The imports from Africa also went up from four million British pounds in 1854 to almost eight million British pounds in 1900. This serves as evidence that imperialism increased both the exports and imports for Great

The only thing Europeans loved more than political power was increasing their trade. In the 1800’s European nations had a desire to get a lead to widespread imperialism in Africa. With the end of slavery in 1833, European interest in Africa shifted to seizing colonies. King Leopold of Belgium acquired a private country in Africa that was 95 times bigger than Belgium and his purpose was to make money by taking out ivory and rubber. European leaders then became aware of two things: Africa was contained with natural resources, and a scramble of the riches could begin a war between European nations. At the Berlin Conference in 1885, European Nations claimed parts of the African continent through rule of occupation. Though they did not consider the land claims of Africans, they did agree to specific principles concerning colonization, which included free trade, and improving the moral and material well being of Africans. Before European nations stayed away from the African continent, and now powers such as England, France, and Germany want large amounts of land of Africa. Several reasons European nations began to colonize Africa included political competition and ideological superiority; however, economic profit was the primary driving force to imperialize Africa.

European countries such as Britain and France would use their colonies in Africa for economic gain. They would be able to exploit the country’s natural resources and bring them back to the “mother country” to sell and use. The natural resources would be able to be changed through factories and businesses that the African countries did not have. The colonies also provided people for labour. These people were paid in very low wages or would be taken as slaves for the new Europeans who moved to these colonies. New markets for goods were also now

In addition, Document C is a chart that presents inventions and discoveries that aided European colonizers in taking over Africa. The purpose of this document was to display European advancement and the utilities which were brought about by the acquisition of raw materials, which allowed them to travel further into Africa, take control, and continue the process of harvesting their raw materials. This evidences how the search for raw materials led to the creation of the inventions listed on the chart and how their purpose was to bring the European nations who used them power on the grounds of geopolitics. Although some of these inventions don’t seem much now, the steam engine, electric telegraph, and other such creations were made in certain places of European places and will forever being remembered as a certain nation’s product, which is similar to Germany and Japan with Toyota and Volkswagen brand cars, respectively, that are still currently being made

Africa was a giant magnificent cake. Many countries scrambled to cut into it and claim their own pieces of it as if it was theirs for the taking. The last unconquered piece of land was up for grabs which evoked top nations into sending explorers to claim the land for them. Africa during the rule of King Leopold II had many unexplored areas included his newly acquired land the Congo. The King’s charm, altered treaties, and a money hungry drive have all lead to the underlying problem of exploitation of the natives. In Hochschild’s novel King Leopold’s Ghost he details to readers that Leopold II was a man who managed to achieve his dream of developing a colony, but African exploitation fulfilled his dream.

Europe’s colonisation had major influences upon Africa’s development as a society. The book “Guns, Germs and Steel” written by American Ecologist, Jared Diamond, claims that Africa developed independently and with little major influence from Europe and its people. Moreover, Africa was colonized because of the natural landscape rather then the social and cultural influence from Europe. Controversially, historian Gene Callahan, opposes and describes Africa was developed based was off their own tradition and knowledge rather than through the influence of Europe. Jared Diamond has a valuable perspective on how Europe possibly impacted Africa’s development as a society. Europe’s encroachment upon Africa revolutionized their society, however the

Colonialism integrated Africa into international labor division. Colonialism is when a country or state overpower a particular state by a use of propaganda for them to agree with their terms without the targeted state or country saying anything to the above-mentioned terms (Ocheni & Basil, 2012). Colonialism in Africa refers to the incident which took place during the 1800-1960s where European states came into Africa and exploit resources. This essay will validate the effects of colonialism in Africa and how it affected the economy of Africa states which led them to be in the current economic state, furthermore, it will outline how colonizers used their colonial methods to get Africans to change their indigenous ways of doing things.

During the period of imperialism in Africa all of the countries were competing for the title of being the richest and the strongest. In fact, the whole scramble for Africa was an opportunity for countries to enhance their overall economy. For example, King Leopold II of Belgium was determined to get the area of land so he can become more wealthy. France’s politicians thought that an overseas company would strengthen the country when it came to wealth, prestige, and power, so as a result they invested in land more toward the west and north-west. Britain wanted to protect their trading routes which required them to purchase land in East Africa, and they they soon discovered the rewards of the land so the were determined to obtain as much as possible.