European Imperialism In Africa Essay
European Nations wanted more land, power, and natural resources. They got this by conquering and colonizing new lands. Africa was not colonized, making the continent a prime area for colonization. Prior to the 19th century European nations only used Africa for its slave trade, therefore, only settling on the coasts. The driving forces behind these European conquests in Africa were caused by political, cultural, and economic reasons. The primary reason European countries were imperialistic in Africa were for economic reasons. Countries such as Germany, Great Britain, and France imported resources from Africa that they could not produce in their home countries. Large countries, such as Great Britain, had many colonies that they imported
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Each country wanted to be the most powerful, which included having a surplus of raw materials. For these raw materials countries mainly had to have colonies. Africa, being majority undiscovered and uncolonized, a prime area for imperialism. The Berlin conference was held to device Africa between the Europeans countries. Document A shows how Africa was divided, with only 2 independent countries left. Nationalism also played a part in the European imperialism in Africa. Citizens of these countries wanted more power from their country. Document B shows this for Britain when John Ruskin gave a lecture stating that “[England] must found colonies as fast and as far as she is able.” The last general motive behind European imperialism in Africa were cultural reasons. Industrialized countries felt as if it was their need to help less fortunate countries to lift them out of poverty and feed the “new-caught, sullen peoples, half-devil and half-child” (Document F). Document F also has a quote from Lobengula Khumalo, a chief leader in South Africa, stating how he felt as if England had crept up on his tribe’s territory and snatched it away, as a chameleon does to a fly, “England is the chameleon and I am the fly.” European Imperialism in Africa was driven by economic, political, and cultural
Each country wanted to be the most powerful, which included having a surplus of raw materials. For these raw materials countries mainly had to have colonies. Africa, being majority undiscovered and uncolonized, a prime area for imperialism. The Berlin conference was held to device Africa between the Europeans countries. Document A shows how Africa was divided, with only 2 independent countries left. Nationalism also played a part in the European imperialism in Africa. Citizens of these countries wanted more power from their country. Document B shows this for Britain when John Ruskin gave a lecture stating that “[England] must found colonies as fast and as far as she is able.” The last general motive behind European imperialism in Africa were cultural reasons. Industrialized countries felt as if it was their need to help less fortunate countries to lift them out of poverty and feed the “new-caught, sullen peoples, half-devil and half-child” (Document F). Document F also has a quote from Lobengula Khumalo, a chief leader in South Africa, stating how he felt as if England had crept up on his tribe’s territory and snatched it away, as a chameleon does to a fly, “England is the chameleon and I am the fly.” European Imperialism in Africa was driven by economic, political, and cultural