Revision notes on the imperialism taking place during 1871-1919 with the Scramble for Africa and berlin conference of 1884.

1. The Scramble for Africa and the
Berlin Conference
What was the Scramble for Africa?
The Scramble for Africawasthe colonisationandannexationof Africanterritory
by Europeanpowersthattookpart duringthe endof the 19th
century. In 1871,
only10% of Europe was underEuropeancontrol,however,bythe 1900s
90% of the continentwasundercolonial rule.
What were the causesof the Scramble for Africa?
1. Strategicfactors:One of the maincauseswhichhistoriansarguedtriggeredthe Scramble
for AfricawasBritain’sstrategicmotivesincolonisingEgyptinorderto protectitstrade
routeswithIndia. Aftergainingcontrol of Cape ColonyinSouthAfrica,Britain
establishedthe SuezCanal,whichlinkedthe MediterraneanandRedSeaacross Egyptian
territory,makingtrade withIndiamuchmore efficient.Therefore,afterinstabilityin
Egypt’sgovernmentposedathreatto thisroute,Britaintookadministrationof Egyptin
1882 to have control overthe canal, and thisarguablytriggeredthe new imperialismof
the latterhalf of the 19th
century.
2. Medical Advancement: Before the Scramble,Africawasassociatedasthe “white man’s
grave”,due to itsdeadlydiseasessuchasMalaria,thisultimatelyrestrictedEuropean
interestinthe country,asthey vieweditastoo dangerous.However,after1817 with
Frenchdiscoveriesof effectivetreatmentforsuchdiseasessuchworriesbegantocease
and countlessexpeditionsbegantotryand remove othermythsassociatedwiththe
country.
3. Industrial revolution: The industrialrevolutionmeantthatcountrieswere experiencinga
rapidincrease inproductionof manufacturedgoodsandtherefore therewasanever-
increasingneedforrawmaterials toaddsuch development. Africawithitsrich
resourcessuchas gold,iron,cocoa beansandrubberprovidedthese much-needed
resourcesanddue to itsrivers – the Congo,Zambezi andNigertransportationand
access intothe interiorof Africamade thisexploitationeasier.
4. Nationalism:Toreportacquisitionof new landandexpandempireswasseentoenhance
the prestige of the state gainingnational pride backhome.
5. Technological developments: Before the 1870s Africanriverswere hardtonavigate,
makingaccessintoAfricadifficult.However,afterthe creationof the steam boats,
effectivenavigationof riverswasnow easyandnationscouldenterthe country.Aswell
as steamboats,improvedweaponry,suchasthe introductionof the maximgunin1883
meantthat Europeanshadan advantage overthe poorlyequippedAfricans,making
theman easytarget whocouldproduce little resistance.
6. Abolitionof the Slave trade: Beforethe scramble,slaverywasapopularthing,with
Africansbeingtakeneitherbybarteringorsimple capturingandshippedtothe USA
where theywouldbe exploitedandforcedtoworkas slaves.However,by1871 slavery

2. had beenabolished,denyingthe slave trade of huge profits,therefore,thesewealthy
businessmensoughtafterdifferenttradeswithAfricatomake up fortheirlosses.
7. A sense of dutyand superiority(white man’sburden+Darwinism): Europeanswere
convincedof theirracial andcultural superiorityandbelieveditwastheirresponsibility
to civilise the “uncivilised”AfricanpeoplebyintroducingChristianity,orderand
stability.AsAfricawaslessdevelopedthanEuropeans,theybelieveditwastheirdutyto
bringresultsof theirprogresstoothercountries,however,thiswasmerelya
justificationforthemtoinvade Africa – inrealitytheirmotiveswere all of self-interest,
characterisedbyexploitation.
8. Political rivalry:Africaofferedcountriesthe optiontoexpandwithoutcreatingawar,
and therefore desperatenottomissout inthe race, countriesall gotinvolvedtryingto
take as much poweras possible,tryingtonotletany of theirpolitical rivalsgetthe
upperhand.
The BerlinConference 1884-1885:
The Scramble had become amad rush betweencountriesanddeterminednottoletthis
spiral intoa war, Bismarckthe newchancellorof the newlyunifiedGermanycalledfortha
meetingtosettle anddiscussthe political portioningof Africa.14countrieswere
representedatthe conferenceof November1884, witha seriesof agreementsdiscussed.
What happened?
The conference lasteduntil February1885 and in thistime,the Europeannationsdrew a
newmap of the continentinrelationtolatestacquisitions. Thisnew mapdisregarded
cultural,linguisticandtribal boundariesalreadyestablished,andplacedgroupsandtribes
togetherwhodidnotget along,whilstseparatingcoherentgroups –thishadthe effectof
dividingthe country,makingunificationdifficultforAfricans(whichworkedtoEuropean
advantage)
The Treaty of Berlin:
The treaty of Berlinwasestablishedwhichcomposedof three mainagreements…
1. In orderfor a countryto annex anotherAfricancountry,theyhadto prove itwould
be effectivelyoccupied–theyhadto properlyadministeranddefendit.
2. Free passage wasto be givento all forthe Congoand Tiberrivers
3. Slaverywasto be officiallyabolished –thisprovidedsuitable justificationtosatisfy
those havingdoubtsaboutEuropeanssimply exploitingAfricanlandtotheir
detriment.

3. Resultant
Map
Effectsof the Scramble for Africa:
Positives Negatives
 Developedstateswith efficient
systemsof administration,
governmentand democracy
 Providededucationfor natives
 Providedhealthcare and hospitals
 Improvedtransport links – roads
and railways
 Improvedsanitation systemsand
engineeredwater
 Africanswere seenasinferiorandexperienced
racial inequality
 EuropeansexploitedAfricafortheirown
development,halting Africanprogress
 Africanculture underminedwithintroductionof
westernideologies,morals,religion,clothing,
buildingsetc.
 LeopoldIIforcedlabour– whichwas expressing
outlawedinthe Treatyof Berlin.He treated
Africansbadlyif theydidnotreach quotasby
beatingthem, mutilatingandmurdering.
Childrenandwomenincluded.
Effectsof the Scramble for Africa on international relations:
As shownbythe Berlinconference we cansee thatEuropeanswere keennottostart a war.
Nevertheless, thiscouldnotdisguise the factthatpolitical rivalryandtensionwasescalating
as countriesrushedtoacquire land – most notablyseeninthe Fashodaincidentbetween

4. Britainand France and the mini armsrace that developedascountriestriedtoprotecttheir
empires.
Fashoda Incident:
The Fashodaincidentoccurredin1898 whenFrance and BritaincrossedpathsinSudan.
France was expanding east,while Britainwasexpanding southwards towardsCape Colonyto
establishtrade links,whenthesetwocrossedpathsinFashoda,Sudan.Disputesarose from
the commondesire to annex the landand war betweenthe twoseemedlikely,astheyboth
were determinedtofulfil theirexpansionistambitions.Bothcountriesalike beganmobilising
theirfleetsinpreparationforwar;howeverfinallyinthe brinkof awar a compromise was
reachedwherebyFrance agreedtorespectBritain’scontrol of SudaninreturnforBritainto
respectFrenchcontrol of Morocco.
The Boer Wars:
Britainformallyannexedthe goldanddiamondrichTransvaal in 1877. However,once the
Zuluthreatwas removedfollowingthe Anglo-Zuluwar,the Boers – people of Dutchdecent,
whoresentedBritishrule,rebelledinwhatbecame knownasthe FirstBoerWar 1880-1881.
Thiswas nothingmore thana seriesof small skirmishesinwhichthe ill-preparedBritish
troopswere easilydefeatedandresultedin the Pretoriaconvention thatgave Transvaal and
the Orange Free state self-governingstatusoverBritishoversight.
Later, furtherdiscoveriesof goldanddiamondsinthe Transvaal attractedmanyBritish
newcomerstotry to exploitthe land;however, thesenew comerswere deniedpolitical and
economicrightsbythe presidentKruger.Thisledtothe failed Jamesonraidof 1895,
wherebyCape Colony Prime MinisterRhodestriedto invade the Transvaal andwasdriven
swiftlybackbythe Boers.Europeannationsresentedthe BritishinvasionandKaiserWilhelm
evensenta telegramtocongratulate Krugerondefeatingthe raiders –whichresultedin
deteriorationof Anglo-Germanrelations.
Four yearsin1899, Krugerdemandedremoval of Britishtroopsandfull independence of
the Transvaal – whenBritainrefused,Krugerdeclaredwar.Afterthe humiliationof the first
BoerWar, Britainincreaseditsforcesandsucceededincapturingthe Transvaal capital
Pretoriain1900. The BoersadoptedGuerrillatacticsandhad some successeshowever,two
yearslaterin 1902 the Boerswere forcedtosurrenderandthe Britishvictorywasmarkedby
the Treaty of Vereeniging whichplacedthe Transvaal andOrange Free state underBritish
control.
Resultsof the Boer Wars:
 The secondBoer war cost the tax payermore than200 millionpounds
 22000 soldiersof the Britishempire died
 Britainwascondemnedforits‘ScorchedEarth ‘PolicywherebyWomanandchildren
were imprisonedinconcentrationcampswithpoorhygiene,foodandcommon
sufferinganddeath.
 30000 civiliansdied

5.  BritishopinionopposedBritain’simperialistpoliciesandBritainwasleftfeeling
isolatedandvulnerable –leadingtoitsalliance withJapanin1902.