Page 7- 17

factors affecting new imperialism:

1.) Medical advancement:

previously Europeans were too afraid to venture into African Interiors because of the diseases.
however, the discovery of quinine proved to be effective in treating malaria. this enabled the
European Nations to venture into Africa's Interiors without the risk of diseases.

2.)Technological advancement:
-The development of railways and steamships helped the Europeans to better navigate Rivers
such as the Congo, Zambezi and Niger.

-The Telegraph network was established and by 1891 its cables reached from London to North
and South America, news and India. this helped the Europeans to better control their overseas
possessions.

- finally, the Invention of rapid-fire rifles, machine guns, and heavy artillery gave the European
Nations an advantage over the pulley-armed Africans. an example of this is during the Matabele
War in 1893 where even though the British were vastly Outnumbered by African opponents the
possession of the Machine Gun helped them quickly win the war.

Nature and purpose of the ‘Scramble for Africa’:

European Britain France Belgium Portugal Germany

nation

colonies Egypt, South Algeria, Congo Angola, Cameroon, a

Africa, Senegal, Mozambique part of
Sudan, Ivory Coast, Nigeria,
Kenya, Tunisia, Rwanda,
Uganda, Madagascar Burundi,
Zimbabwe, Most of
Zambia, Tanzania,
Botswana, Togoland,
Gambia, Namibia
Sierra Leone,
Nigeria,
Ghana,
Malawi

Motives for Protect its Economic Financial Raw Logical

Acquiring vital Indian and benefit and materials like strategic and
 Colonies Ocean diplomatic need for raw fabrics and commercial
trading routes disputes and materials. spices and a reasons,
the desire for faster route national pride
Economic popular to southern and prestige.
rewards such military Asia.
as gold and success.
minerals
Need for raw
materials
such as palm
oil

The manner Used Used Used Used Used

in which technology technology technology technology technology
colonies were against them against them against them against them against them
acquired eg weapons eg weapons eg weapons eg weapons eg weapons

Consolidation The The idea of Belgium They Germany

of domestic government "civilizing portrayed emphasized propagated
support and media missions" their the spread of the idea of a
often was colonisation Christianity, civilizing
portrayed promoted to as bringing education, mission,
colonial justify their civilization, and emphasizing
expansion as colonial modernizatio European the spread of
a noble activities as a n, and values, European
mission to noble cause European presenting values,
bring aimed at values to the these efforts technology,
civilisation, bringing African as beneficial education,
Christianity, progress, continent, for the and
and progress civilization, including development Christianity.
to what was and education and
deemed as Christianity to and upliftment of
"uncivilized" the African healthcare, the African
or continent. even though populations.
"undeveloped the reality
" regions. was often
vastly
different and
exploitative.

Reasons for the scramble of Africa:

Economic Interests:
● Raw Materials: European powers sought access to Africa's abundant
natural resources, such as rubber, timber, minerals, and agricultural
products, to fuel their industrial economies.
 ● Market Expansion: As industrialization progressed in Europe, there was a
growing need for new markets to sell manufactured goods. Africa
represented a potential market for European products.
Strategic and Military Considerations:
● Strategic Positions: Control over certain regions in Africa provided
strategic advantages, including access to important sea routes and naval
bases.
● Military Power: European powers wanted to establish military dominance
to protect their economic interests and secure their colonies against
potential rivals.
Nationalism and Prestige:
● National Pride: European nations competed for colonies as a way to
demonstrate their power and prestige on the global stage. Owning
colonies was seen as a symbol of national greatness.
● National Rivalries: The intense nationalism of the time, coupled with
competition among European powers, led to a race for colonial
possessions as a means of asserting dominance.
Humanitarian and Religious Motivations:
● Missionary Activities: Humanitarian and religious motives played a role in
the colonisation process. Missionaries sought to spread Christianity, and
some European powers claimed to be motivated by a desire to civilize and
educate African populations.
● Abolition of Slave Trade: European powers justified colonization as a
means to end the slave trade, although economic motivations often took
precedence.
Technological Advancements:
● Advancements in Transportation: The development of steamships and the
expansion of railroads made it easier for Europeans to penetrate deeper
into the interior of Africa, facilitating colonization.
● Medical Advances: Improvements in medicine, particularly in the
treatment of tropical diseases, made it more feasible for Europeans to live
and work in Africa.
Political and Diplomatic Factors:
● Balance of Power: European nations sought to maintain a balance of
power among themselves. The fear of one nation gaining too much
influence or territory pushed others to expand in order to maintain
equilibrium.
● Conference Diplomacy: The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 formalized
the rules for the division of Africa among European powers, establishing
guidelines for the acquisition of territories to avoid conflicts among
European nations.

The impact of European imperialism on Africa:

Benefits that the Europeans brought to the African people during the period of colonization as
a whole:

1. They developed States with administrative and governmental systems

2. they provided education for the native inhabitants

3. they created new systems of Transport and communications, building Road, railways, and
running Telegraph wires across the continent

4. they engineered water and sanitation systems and provided medical care and Hospitals.

5. They introduced more efficient methods of farming and new, more productive crops such as
maize, pear, cassava, Cotton, sisal, and plantain.

Disadvantages to these benefits:

1. Africa was randomly petitioned according to the needs and wishes of the Europeans who
took no account of existing boundaries- the Europeans had little knowledge of local geography,
knew of tribals/ ethnic groups and were steadfast in refusing the opinions of local Chiefs.

2. Many African Chiefs or kings were killed or sent into exile for resisting attempts by Europeans
to take over their land. EG: Chief Mkwawa of the Hehe Beheaded for posing German colonial
rule in Tanganyika.

3. Government was based on a clear administrative hierarchy, with Europeans at the top and
Africans Below. this power structure partly reflected the European assumption that Africans
were inferior to them.

4. Traditional African cultures were undermined as the Europeans introduced Western-style

education, clothes, buildings and religion.

5. The introduction of money completely changed the nature of the African economy.

6. As ownership of land shifted to Europeans, many Africans were no longer able to form their
former land - leaving them little choice but to take jobs as cheap labour on public works, such
as building roads and railways.

7. There was a large-scale exploitation of African Resources.

➢ Raw materials were taken to support European industrial expansion, preventing Africa
from developing Industries of its own.
➢ European businessmen were able to enhance their own wealth through investment in
African copper, gold, diamonds, ivory and cash crops such as cotton and coffee
 ➢ Time this expectation cost alarming levels of inhumanity. e.g: King Leopold II of
Belgium, amassed a huge fortune from rubber plantations in the Congo Basin. he used
forced labour, effectively a form of slavery. workers who failed to meet their quotas were
beaten, Mutilated or Killed

Reason for domestic support for overseas expansion :

Britain:

- before new imperialism, Britain possessed of vast Overseas Empire. the British people were
already accustomed to the fact that the country had influence and control over distant foreign
funds and that the empire was a symbol of national pride, power and Prestige.

-This was heavily stressed in numerous ways during the 19th century:

➢ one example of this was the introduction of compulsory state education. In addition to
teaching the basics of reading and writing, schools encourage national pride and loyalty.
➢ maps of the British Empire were proudly displayed on classroom walls.

➢ Newspapers were owned and controlled by wealthy pro-imperialists( such as lord

Northcliffe, who co-founded the Daily Mail). day's newspapers and to shape public
opinion in favour of overseas expansion. they entail stories about mysterious foreign
lands, and their strange inhabitants were seen as ‘ barbaric’, these were hugely popular.
➢ Another popular story was an exciting account of how British Euros were fighting
against’ Savages’ in order to ‘ civilize’ them.
➢ these newspaper art, you exaggerate, rain for and nationalistic feeling in the living

➢ Popular literature also helped to shape public opinion in favour of imperialism. much of
the literature produced for children, party particular, was even more blatant in
encouraging support for imperialism and patriotism.

➢ Common items, such as tea packets and biscuit tins, Wood decorated with pictures of
exotic foreign Lands and heroic images of soldiers defending Britain's imperial
possessions.

➢ performers, often dressed in colourful military uniforms, Sang songs that justified
imperialism as a means of civilizing the Savage populations of foreign lands.
 France:

➢ The government played a leading role in encouraging popular support for imperialism.
French pride had been severely damaged by the humiliating defeat in the franco-
prussian war.
➢ gaining overseas possessions was seen as a way of restoring French Prestige.

➢ patriotism was fostered through the introduction of a state education system

➢ Children were encouraged to be proud of that country's achievements, it's Navy and it's
growing Empire.
➢ they were taught that they had a duty to their country which was unique, superior to all
others and had both the right and the responsibility to spread its culture across the world

➢ The Roman Catholic Church stretched the civilizing aspects of French imperialism in
publications such as La Croix.
➢ It was helping people rather than exploiting them. it was bringing Christianity, civilization
and French culture to people in distant lands who's Customs included human sacrifice,
slavery and other forms of brutality

➢ Government was proclaiming the social, political and economic advantages it would
gain from its overseas possessions.
➢ imperialism, would enhance the wealth of France enabling it to address the Social and
economic hardships of its lower classes.
➢ businesses Banks and entrepreneurs paid newspapers to carry stories demonstrating
how the overseas activities were benefiting the French people.

Germany:

➢ The German government promoted nationalism.

➢ as a country formed of people from different social, political, religious and

cultural backgrounds, something was needed to unite them.To give them a
genuine sense of German nationality
➢ imperialism provided this lighting Factor and as in France the government was
keen to stress the Enormous social and economic advantages it would bring to
the German people.
 ➢ the establishment of organisations such as the Colonial Society and the navy
League were clear Attempts by the German government to encourage public
support for German imperialism

➢ German Missionaries, Justified imperialism by bringing Christianity to heathen

populations, they provided the government with information and connections
that facilitated Germany’s acquisition of new Territories.

➢ German nationalism and the country's right and responsibility to extend its
influence into foreign lands was promoted in newspapers, little, art and even
postcards.
➢ post cards were effective in communicating a message being, distribute.

Opposition to imperialism:

● A number of religious leaders, intellectuals and writers argued that it was

morally wrong to seize control of territory that rightly belonged to the
local inhabitants.
● John Hobson, A British economist, conducted a study and it was
concluded that their involvement in new imperialism had harmed Britain
economically, politically and socially.
● It had not been cost-effective, and while some wealthy businessmen and
entrepreneurs benefited from it it had little increase in Britain's trade and
the advantage derived from having overseas possessions was
outweighed by the expense of maintaining control over them.
● It had increased tensions with other imperial Nations, these tensions were
only increased by Britain's involvement in costly and embarrassing Wars
e.g. the Boer Wars.
● The high expenditure needed to maintain the Empire made it impossible
for the British government to carry out much-needed social reform to
alleviate the conditions of the lower classes.

1.2: What was the impact of imperial expansion on international relations:

The impact of the growth of overseas empires on relations between European nations.

-In the late 19th century, European nations were rivals competing for raw materials, markets,
trade and territory.
-In a period of intense nationalism, European governments were determined to protect their own
rights and interests, to gain as much overseas territory as possible to defend their empires.

➢ Public opinion also demanded that they did.

-Because national pride was at stake, countries were prepared to adopt aggressive foreign
policies to preserve this pride.

➢ This naturally opened up the risk of direct conflict breaking out between European
nations

Fashoda Incident:

-The Fashoda Incident of 1898 was a diplomatic confrontation between the British
Empire and the French Republic over territorial claims in Fashoda, Sudan. Both nations
sought to expand their African empires, leading to a tense standoff when French forces,
led by Captain Jean-Baptiste Marchand, planted the French flag in Fashoda. The
situation escalated as military forces mobilized, raising the spectre of war. Both sides
(France and Britain) were outraged, with each country accusing the other of unjustified
aggression. However, diplomatic negotiations prevailed, and the crisis was peacefully
resolved with the signing of the Anglo-French Agreement in 1899.

Germany’s ‘Place in the Sun’:

- No major wars between the major European powers between 1871-1914

- Incidents like the Fashoda incident raised tensions but peace was maintained as
nations were eventually prepared to compromise.
- Imperial rivalry helped to instigate an arms race.
➢ Countries began to enhance their military capabilities in order to defend
their empires

-Germany's "place in the sun" in 1888 refers to a speech delivered by German Emperor
Wilhelm II upon ascending to the throne. In the speech, Wilhelm expressed the need for
Germany to secure its rightful and prestigious position among the world's colonial
powers. This concept reflected Germany's late entry into the colonial race and its
aspiration to acquire overseas territories to enhance economic and geopolitical
standing.

-Britain saw German acquisitions in Africa as a threat to its own strategic and
commercial interests.
-Germany embarked on a naval development programme, arguing that this was
necessary to protect its overseas trade and empire.

Entente cordiale:

-In 1904, Britain and France signed an agreement known as the ‘Entente Cordial’, which
settled the long-standing imperial rivalries between two countries in North Africa.

-In line with this agreement, Britain supported France’s claim in Morrocco.

- The Kaiser believed that the new friendship between Britain and France posed a threat
to Germany’s international prestige and influence.

➢ He viewed French claims over Morocco as an opportunity to weaken the

improved relationship between Britain and France.

Tangiers, Algeciras and Agadir:

- In march 1905, Kaiser whilhelm made an aggressive speech in the moroccan city
of Tnagiers , making it clear that germany favoured an independent morocco.
- Instead of causing a rift between britain and france he’s speech had the opposite
effect
- Britain continued to support france’s claims over morrocco