Every country under consideration in this
course went through a liberalization in the 19th century…more
rights, guarantees of freedom, higher levels of representation. Many great
documents emerged form this process: the Declaration of Independence, the
Declaration of Rights of Man, Declaration of Rights of Woman and Citizen, the
Napoleonic Civil Code, the Jamaica Letter, just to name a few.
Considering these advances, how does one
explain the Scramble for Africa?
If you believe in rights, in rule of law, and
in extending freedom, how could you justify imperialism?
WHAT EXPLAINS THIS NEW THRUST OF EUROPE INTO
AFRICA?
1.
TO IMPROVE THE OTHER NATIONS:
“Take up
the White Man's burden The savage wars of peace Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease; And when your goal is nearest The end for others
sought, Watch Sloth and heathen Folly Bring all your hope to nought ....”
“Take up the White Man's burden Ye dare not stoop
to less Nor call too loud on Freedom To cloak your weariness; By all ye cry or
whisper, By all ye leave or do, The silent, sullen peoples Shall weigh your
Gods, and you.”
“Take up the White Man's burden Have done with
childish days The lightly proffered laurel, The easy, ungrudged praise. Come
now, to search your manhood Through all the thankless years, Cold-edged with
dear-bought wisdom, The judgement of your peers!”
From “The Five Nations” Rudyard Kipling
U.S.
becomes an Empire…the Philippines
President William McKinley admitted that when he
first heard the news of the victory, he "could not have told where those
darned islands were within 2,000 miles."
2.
EXPLORATION:
David Livingstone
Henry Morton Stanley
3.
DOUBLE STANDARDS…freedom and democracy are okay
in Europe but not in Africa.
4.
A HIERARCHICAL VIEW OF HUMANITY:
SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA
I.
Early
Efforts at Attaining Africa:
A.
The French occupy Algeria in 1830:
B.
The Suez Canal…connects the Mediterranean and
Red Seas
II.
EUROPE AVOIDS INTERNAL CONFLICT…BERLIN
CONFERENCE (1884-1885)
The Berlin Conference: The
General Act of Feb. 26, 1885
Chap. I
I. The trade of all nations shall enjoy complete
freedom
II. All flags, without distinction of
nationality, shall have free access to the whole of the coast-line of the
territories . . .
III. Goods of whatever origin, imported into
these regions, under whatsoever flag, by sea or river, or overland, shall be
subject to no other taxes than such as may be levied as fair compensation for
expenditure in the interests of trade . . .
IV. Merchandise imported into these regions shall
remain free from import and transit duties [subject to review after 20 years]
V. No power which exercises or shall exercise
sovereign rights in the . . regions shall be allowed to grant therein a
monopoly or favor of any kind in matters of trade...
VI. All the powers exercising sovereign rights or
influence in the aforesaid territories bind themselves to watch over the
preservation of the native tribes, and to care for the improvement of the
conditions of their moral and material well-being and to help in suppressing
slavery, and especially the Slave Trade Christian missionaries, scientists, and
explorers, with their followers, property, and collections, shall likewise be
the objects of especial protection.
Freedom of conscience and religious toleration are expressly guaranteed to the natives, no less than to subjects and to foreigners . . .
Freedom of conscience and religious toleration are expressly guaranteed to the natives, no less than to subjects and to foreigners . . .
Chap. II Documents relative to the
Slave Trade
IX. Powers which do or shall exercise sovereign
rights or influence in the territories forming the .. basin of the Congo
declare that these territories may not serve as a market or means of transit
for the trade in slaves, of whatever race they may be. Each of the Powers binds
itself to employ all the means at its disposal for putting an end to this trade
and for punishing those who engage in it.
III.
IMPERIALISM BECOMES CONFLICT…
A.
Fashoda Crisis…
France—Major Marchand
British—Lord Kirchener
B.
Belgian Congo…
IV. CONCLUSION:
Carving up Africa from 1885 to
1914:
(97% colonized
by 1914)
Britain 30%
France 15%
Germany 9%
Belgium 7%
Germany 1%
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