Question

What factors were behind the “scramble for Africa,” and what impact did it have on the continent?

Answer 1

SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA:

• It is also known as "Partition of Africa" or "Conquest of Africa".
• "Scramble For Africa" is the invasion,Occupation,Colonization and Division of African Territory by Europeon powers between 1881 to 1914 i.e,during the period of New Imperialism.
• The Berlin Conference of 1884-85 which regulated the European Colonisation and Trade in Africa laid down the rules for the partition of Africa.

Factors behind the scramble for Africa:

1. End Of The Slave Trade - The Slaves Trading is Stopped at the shores of the continent by involvement of The Britain but internally in the continent it has not shown any effect.It shown effect on the capitalism.
2. Exploration: The Berlin Conference laid the rule of Colonise the place if you have local military power and treaties with local leaders.This causes many European Countries who do not have funds for colonisation have created treaties with other European countries for their Colonisation in that continent.
3. Henry Morton Stanley: He is a a Explorer and the first responsible for starting for Scramble for Africa.He Created his own colony which triggered the other European Countries to do the same.
4. Capitalism:The end of European Trading of slaves shown effects on the commerce of Europe and Africa.This leads the Europeans to exploit the raw materials which are vast in the African Continent.
5. Techincal Advancements: The European Countries are more advanced than Africa due to Industrialisation.They have Steam Engines,Iron Hulled Boats..with which they can be able transport the goods and raw materials and exploit the continent.
6. Quinine and Medical Advances: The 2 major diseases in the africa which leads to many deaths is Malaria and Yellow Fever. The Europeans Used the drug Quinine extracted from the bark of Cinchona Tree to treat Malaria which then the africans have no idea about the treatment of malaria.
7. Politics:many European Countries changed their Capitals near to sea shore as their main way to transport the raw materials is by waterways through Suez Canal.So that they can exploit the continent and able to transport easily.
8. Military innovation: The Europeans have advanced weapons like Breech loading riffle and bullet with cartridge which are not seen in Africa. They are the 2 important innovations made by Europe and restricted the sale of weaponry to colony having African Military Superiority.

Impacts of Scramble for Africa:

1. White Man's Burden:The Europe is much more Civilized and they thought it was their job to show Africa how to speak and behave.
2. Loss of Self-Governance on Mother Land.
3. Making of Political Decisions and Economic Decisions for the Tribes
4. Low Wages and High Taxes
5. Exploitation of raw materials such as mines,plantations...Still lots of Resources are depleted to Europeans
6. Separation of Workers from Family in the name of work for long periods
7. African Culture last and a blend of African and European Culture is adopted
8. Leading to Violence and created roots for World War I