Africa

** Essential Questions **: If people do not agree with the political change, they can rise up and challenge it, causing conflict between the people and the government. If the change is not great enough, people will also be dissatisfied. It can have a uniting force and make the country's people more patriotic and proud, but it can also seal them off from outsiders' views of the nation. It makes people feel more connected to their nation's culture. If two nations do not have a good political relationship, they will often cut off ties with each other economically as well. Political and economic relationships usually reflect each other. A nation will be united under a good leader/government, and if they generally agree with the political, economical and social direction that their country is headed in. Common enemies, cultures, political views, a tragedy occurring [|Questions on Imperialism Map]
 * **How can political change cause conflict**
 * **How does the development of nationalism impact people, nations, and empires?**
 * **How can political relationships affect economic relationships?**
 * **What characteristics and factors unite people as a nation?**

Notes on Imperialism video: Notes on African Imperialism
 * Europe majorly developed Africa as it colonized there
 * Started by using their coasts for trade
 * Industrialization made European countries want to colonize
 * Didn't colonize greatly until late 19th century due to diseases
 * Europeans used ships, guns and new medicine as the first started colonizing
 * Guns allowed the Europeans to battle resistant Africans more effectively (they actually fought back quite often, but were easily defeated)
 * Intermediary governments were established (under command of Europeans)
 * Used superior military to control rulers of the nations they colonized in
 * The Europeans took advantage of these nations and their resources, while imposing their influence forcefully on them
 * Many people living in colonies were killed, and they were taken advantage of to make money for the conquerors
 * Europeans believed they were superior because of their stronger economies and governments
 * The technology of the Industrial Revolution gave them an advantage in controlling the people in the colonies
 * Missionaries forced people to give up their cultural and religious traditions
 * They used Africans in the Congo for labor and this led to drastic population reduction

** Analyze the quote below. Copy and paste the quote and your analysis into your wik **i:

** Like a cyclone, imperialism spins across the globe; militarism crushes peoples, and sucks the blood like a vampire. ** ** By Karl Liebknecht **

This quote means that imperialism is a very strong force that is impossible to battle. It rips the vitality and even original culture out of people. It is also very contagious--as more countries take part in imperialism, others will be influenced to do the same to keep up with it ("spins across the globe"). They also suck the resources from the country. [|Graphic Organizer on New Imperialism]



[|Berlin Conference Markup]


 * Significance of Berlin Conference in five words**: Established fairness between imperialist nations

Questions: The White Man's Burden 1. According to Kipling, and in your own words, what was the “White Man’s Burden”? The White Man's Burden was the white peoples' obligation to carry their beliefs and traditions to nations that they believed were inferior. This was justification and motivation for imperialism. The white man would receive praise, reward and appreciation from others by carrying his "burden". The world would be judging them on how well they performed this duty. Kipling's audience was probably to other white people, since it seems like a poem of encouragement to them. It was aimed towards government officials. He would probably be expecting a proud and positive response from the white men, who would be newly inspired to spread their influence. 4. What lines of the poem did you find the most interesting and why?"Your new-caught, sullen peoples, half devil and half child": This line implies that Europeans were morally and developmentally superior. "To veil the threat of terror and check the show of pride": This line seems like it is calling other people uncivilized in comparison to the whites, strengthening the white peoples' will to rescue them from this state.
 * 2. What reward did Kipling suggest the “White Man” gets for carrying his “burden”? **
 * 3. Who did Kipling think would read his poem? What do you think that this audience might have said in response to it? **

The Black Man's Burden: The message of "The Black Man's Burden" was that imperialists were only worsening conditions in nations that were already struggling ("Why heed long bleeding Cuba, or dark Hawaii's shore?"), and were ruining and ending the lives of those in these nations using their high-tech weaponry. They think that they are helping these nations, but they are ruining and disrespecting their culture. The people of these nations are at a disadvantage due to the lack of technology.

** Primary Sources on Imperialism in Africa ** // " Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference //// of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered //// that has made it possible for evil to triumph." //** Haille Selassie, Ethiopian emperor, 1892-1975 **Questions to consider** : **
 * What is the perspective of the author? What events might have caused the author to think as he does?

The author believes that only bad things will happen if nobody takes action against them even if they are aware of the threat of evil (which implicitly means imperialism). The imperialists impeding on African ways probably inspired him to think this way. He probably wants his people to be more proactive and assertive when their culture and lifestyles are being threatened. It relates to imperialism because Selassie's advice can be used to fight against the force of imperialist interests. The people of a nation can take this advice to try to prevent imperialists from selfishly destroying the old state of their country.
 * Why might the author be making this statement?
 * How does the quote relate to Imperialism in Africa? Explain.

**"On French Colonial Expansion" A Speech before the French Chamber of Deputies, March 28, 1884, by Jules Ferry (1832-1893): Ferry was twice prime minister of France, from (1880-1881, 1883-1885)** //Gentlemen, we must speak more loudly and more honestly! We must say openly that indeed the higher races have a right over the lower races...// //I repeat, that the superior race races have a right because they have a duty. They have the duty to civilize inferior races...In the history of earlier centuries these duties gentlemen have been misunderstood; and certainly when the Spanish soldiers and explorers introduced slavery into Central America, they did not fulfill their duty as men of a higher race....But inour time, I maintain that European nations acquit themselves with generosity, with grandeur, and with sincerity of this superior civilizing duty.//

//I say that French colonial policy, the policy of colonial expansion, the policy that has taken us under the Empire, that has led us to Tunisia, to Madagascar- I say this policy of colonial expansion was inspired by...the fact that a navy such as ours cannot do withtout safe harbors, defenses, supply centers on the high seas...Are you unaware of this? Look at the map of the world.//

Jules Ferry is the author of this source. He believes that the Europeans should flaunt their superiority over the nations that they are colonizing in. He believes that Europeans should take care of the inferior races, who don't know better. He justifies his belief by explaining that Europeans are born with the duty to civilize other races. He also claims that since the Europeans are already more technologically advanced, they deserve more territory to match. He believes that slavery did not do enough to improve the level of civilization of the enslaved. The purpose of this speech, like "The White Man's Burden", is to inspire other Europeans to carry on their ways in order to improve other inferior races. He is also justifying Europe's acquirement of new harbors and supply centers overseas. It shows that many Europeans were inconsiderate, snobby, and racist, and the fact that these racists held such powerful positions allowed them to spread these prejudiced beliefs to more people. They thought that because they were more civilized, they could take more from inferior people.
 * Who is the author of this piece of evidence? What is his viewpoint?
 * What justifications does he offer to support his viewpoint?
 * Why might he be giving this speech? What is the purpose of this speech?
 * What does the speech tell you about life and attitudes of that time?

"The Rhodes of Colossus: Striding from Cape Town to Cairo" Published in Punch, or the London Charivari, December 10, 1982. Artists: Linley Sambourne



It was published in London in 1892. Therefore, it should have a bias towards British imperialist interests. The title implies that Britain is a major force throughout the entirety of Africa. The colossus was a giant statue, representing Britain's imperial power. "Striding" suggests confidence. "From Cape Town to Cairo" indicates that they have power throughout all of Africa, not just in a certain portion of it. Britain is being depicted as a powerful, technologically advanced nation. The man representing Britain has a rifle and is holding up what seems to be power lines across Africa. The artist believes that Britain should bring its civilized culture and technology into less civilized nations, such as those in Africa. This is clear due to how the British man appears--he is posing as if he is showing off something grand, and he makes Africa seem insignificant in comparison to his stature.
 * Where and when was this political cartoon published? What impact might this have on its perspective and bias?
 * What meaning does the title give to the Illustration? Why might the author have chosen the words he did/ (colossus, striding, Cape Town and Cairo)
 * Who is being depicted in this political cartoon? (research cartoon) What objects do you see?
 * What is the artists viewpoint? What evidence from the political cartoon supports your claim?

[|Letter from Moshweshewe Markup]

The author is Mark X of Moshweshewe. He is writing the letter to Sir Harry Smith of Britain to explain the abuses that Britain had inflicted on the African people, and the lies that they told them, resulting in their territory being taken from them. The Boers were a European people who lived in South Africa. They treated the Africans very badly, which explains why they lied to the Africans about their land. Sir Harry Smith was the high commissioner in South Africa. The fact that he was the recipient of this letter shows that the letter is criticism directly aimed at the British people who took part in imperialism in Africa. Yes, because it portrays the Europeans as an uncompromising enemy ("still we tried to keep all quiet, But the Boers went further and further day by day in troubling"). It clearly shows that the Europeans made a claim that they did not live up to. ("He said the Blacks and Whites were to live together in peace. I could not understand what he would do. I thought it would something very just, and that he was to keep the Boers in my land under proper control, and that I should hear no more of their claiming the places they lived on as their exclusive property. But instead of this, I now heard that the Boers consider all those farms as their own, and were buying and selling them one to the other, and driving out by one means or another my own people.") This fulfills the purpose of spotlighting the Europeans' lies and disrespect towards the Africans' happiness.
 * Who is the author? Why is he writing the letter? What is the purpose?
 * The letter included the names of several individuals and groups. Who are these individuals and groups? How do they impact the meaning of the letter? (you will have to research names and groups as example Boers, Harry Smith....)
 * Do you think the letter was successful in fulfilling its purpose? Why or why not? Use evidence (quotes) from the letter to support your claim.

**Source: Ndansi Kumalo, African veteran of the Ndebele Rebellion against British advances in southern Africa, 1896.**

So we surrendered to the White people and were told to go back to our homes and live our usual lives and attend to our crops. We were treated like slaves. They came and were overbearing. We were ordered to carry their clothes and bundles. They harmed our wives and our daughters. How the rebellion started I do not know; there was no organization, it was like a fire that suddenly flames up. I had an old gun. They—the White men—fought us with big guns, machine guns, and rifles. Many of our people were killed in this fight: I saw four of my cousins shot. We made many charges but each time we were defeated.But for the White men’s machine guns, it would have been different.

The Africans were treated like slaves and abused by the imperialists. The rebellion was unsuccessful because the Europeans had guns and high-tech weapons.
 * How were the the people of southern Africa treated by the imperialists?
 * Why was the African rebellion unsuccessful?

**Source: Mojimba, African chief, describing a battle in 1877 on the Congo River against British and African mercenaries, as told to a German Catholic missionary in 1907.**

And still those bangs went on; the long sticks spat fire, pieces of iron whistled around us,fell into the water with a hissing sound, and our brothers continued to fall. We ran into our village and they ran after us. We fled into the forest and flung ourselves on the ground. When we returned that evening our eyes beheld fearful things: our brothers, dead, bleeding, our village plundered and burned, and the river full of dead bodies.You call us wicked men, but you White men are much more wicked! You think because you have guns you can take away our land and our possessions. You have sickness in your heads, for this is not justice

The author is Mojimba, an African chief. He is telling the story of a battle against British and African mercenaries. The Africans were weak in comparison to the British with their weapons ("You think because you have guns you can take away our land and our possessions.", "Our brothers, dead, bleeding, our village plundered and burned, and the river full of dead bodies"). The chief thinks that the British are sick and wicked.
 * Who is the author of this source? What does it refer to?
 * Describe the strength of the sides in this battle using evidence from the text.
 * What is the chief's opinion of the British?

**Source: German military officer, account of the 1905 Maji Maji Rebellion in German East Africa, German military weekly newspaper, 1906**.

The chiefs spread it among their people that a spirit, living in the form of a snake, had given a magic medicine to a medicine man. The medicine guaranteed a good harvest, so that in future people would no more need to perform wage labor for foreigners in order to obtain accustomed luxuries. The medicine would also give invulnerability, acting in such a way that enemy bullets would fall from their targets like raindrops from a greased body. It would strengthen women and children for the flight customary in wartime, with the associated hardships and privations, and protect them from being seized by the victorious attackers, who were accustomed to taking women and children with them as war prizes. The medicine consisted of water, maize, and sorghum grains. The water was applied by pouring it over the head and by drinking.

The officer could be trying to say that the East Africans do not have a scientific way of thinking and this will be to their disadvantage in battle. The Africans claim that " enemy bullets would fall from their targets like raindrops from a greased body" if the medicine is taken, but this is unrealistic and will obviously not work.
 * What is the message the German military officer was trying to send about the East Africans? Give evidence from the document to support your claim

The Africans probably made these claims to encourage their people to continue fighting and give them more confidence. It depicts a dream in which the Africans will be so prosperous that they would be able to resist all European control.
 * Why do you think the Africans made such claims?

**Document 8**: Smithsonian Institution sponsored African expedition for Theodore Roosevelt, 1909-1910. Photo was used as an illustration in Theodore Roosevelt's book, "African Game Trails" published in 1910. The person is Theodore Roosevelt, and he is standing next to a dead elephant. He seems to be holding a gun. The purpose is to show proudly what Roosevelt did during his expedition in Africa (hunting its animals). It represents his power over Africa and its wildlife. It shows that Africa's resources and nature were reaped and ruined by imperialist nations. **Document 9**:
 * Describe the person and objects in this photo.
 * What is the purpose of the photograph?
 * What economic or social implications does this photo indicate about Africa in 1909?

The clothing, motor vehicles, food, jewelery, and home goods industries benefited from African resources. Britain probably had the most valuable colonies because Rhodesia had the best resources for industry, which was booming at the time. Imperialist nations wanted to rise above the competition economically, so it was better for them to gain resources that had mechanical/industrial uses.
 * What European industries benefited from African resources?
 * Which European country do you feel had the most valuable colonies? Why?
 * How could this document be used to explain the primary reason for European imperialism in Africa?


 * Document 10**:

"Colonialism’s greatest misdeed was to have tried to strip us of our responsibility in conducting our own affairs and convince us that our civilization was nothing less than savagery, thus giving us complexes which led to our being branded as irresponsible and lacking in self-confidence. . . The colonial powers had assimilated each of their colonies into their own economy.  Our continent possesses tremendous reserves of raw material and they, together with its potential sources of power, give it excellent conditions for industrialization. . ." Sekou Toure, West African nationalist, 1962

He was angry that the imperialists considered Africans to be uncivilized savages, and that they incorporated Africa's resources into their economies to gain industrial power.
 * In 1962, what was the response of this West African nationalist to years of colonialism?