At a time where European countries began dominating the world through imperialism, Africa became an interesting target for many of these nations. Without any communication with Africa or regards for the cultural, linguistic, and tribal boundaries in Africa, these countries took the land for themselves. This event is often called "The Scramble for Africa". Held from November 1884-February 1885, Ambassadors from a total of 14 countries came together to take over Africa and turn it into fifty countries.
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German Chancellor Otto von Bismark called the meeting, with plans to have every country that claimed possession of the land bring civilization in the form of Christianity. They had tribal chiefs sign under and x, claiming their tribe would have full protection from them. Since these chiefs were often illiterate, it was hard to understand what they were signing away, which turned out to be their land. Ethiopia and Liberia were the only countries that escaped European rule.
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Fourteen European countries were invited to the Berlin Conference, including France, Germany, Great Britain, Portugal, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway, Turkey, and the United States, the first four being the major players in the conference, turning Africa into fifty countries as shown above.
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The Effects on Africa |
King Leopold II |
Nearly 90% of the continent of Africa came under control of the Europeans. Education was offered, and while some were grateful some refused, resulting in conflicts and a difference in culture. Europeans brought over many diseases, and left Africans in famine as cash crops were planted. While most Europeans had traveled to coastal regions of Africa, border lines were drawn despite the lack of knowledge of land forms and regions Europeans drew border lines through.
The large amount of resources like oil, gas, timber, diamonds, and gold were taken for the Europeans with out regards for Africans. Luckily, as the new century emerged, countries started gaining independence beginning with Ghana in 1957. Nearly all colonies were granted independence by 2000. |
The original purpose of the Berlin Conference was to agree that the Congo River and the Niger River mouths were considered neutral and open to trade. The King of Belgium, King Leopold II , took control the basin of the Congo. He forced the native people to farm rubber as a tax payment to him. Those who couldn't pay would have their hands or feet cut off or were even killed. Half of the population in that region died, and the King was stripped of this power once the public became aware.
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King Leopold II
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