Ch. 20 - European Partition and Colonization of Africa

End of the Slave Trade

Britain officially abolished the slave trade in 1807

Suppression of the Slave Trade

Gradual Shift of Commerce

Gradual Shift to Legitimate Commerce

Most trade sites were limited to certain areas among the coast, after slavery was abolished venture into the inland broadened

European invasion and conquest

It is argued that before 1885 Britain conquest were not geared to real colonization of Africa

European Invasion and Conquest

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How did Abolition get started?

How did

abolition get

started?

• In 1807, Britain abolished the slave trade
• In 1772, the first major success of anti-slavery movement occurred
• Chief Justice Mansfield ruled in favor of James Somersett
• Supported the notion that English law can't uphold slavery
• Created uprising against slavery
• Led to the passing of the 1807 Act
• Made slave trading illegal for British subjects

Humanitarian Reasons for

Britain's Abolition

Humanitarian

Reasons

• Reginald Coupland supported a humanitarian thesis
• Revolved around a movement led by Thomas Clarkson, Fowell Buxton, William Wilberforce, and Granville Sharp
• Stated that the ideas of the enlightened humans with strong efforts from humanitarians covinced the British government
• Abolition was seen as a victory for the good in men

Economic Reasons for

Britain's Abolition

Economic

Reasons

• Eric Williams took an economic side to the necessity of abolition
• The Industrial Revolution
• Britain's manufacturing of good increased
• The British Caribbean islands had declined as a market
• Therefore, the high cost of slaves and the economic crisis now demoralized leading slave dealers
• These economic conditions lessened the need for slaves as British industrialists searched for alternative, profitable ventures

The significance of Abolition in Britain

Significance

• Britain's abolition was especially notable because of their dominating position in the slave trade
• Britain took active diplomatic and military steps toward enforcing other nations to comply
• The abolition lead to a strong effort by Europeans to penetrate Africa's inner land, or hinterland, and stop slave trade at the source and establish model farms
• Significant in showing that moral virtues is the strongest security against disloyalty

Agents and Major Players

Agents

• Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Belgium sought to divide and gain control over the continent
• European politicians and traders took advantage of knowledge about landscape from explorers and increased presence from missionaries
• These groups shared a common desire - invading the interior and "civilizing" the African people
• Missionaries played major role in increasing European influence - conversion of outcasts of African society

Motives

Motives

• Economic
• Overseas expansion resulted from overproduction, surplus capital, and under-consumption
• Desire to monopolize raw materials and broaden markets for manufactured goods
• Diplomatic
• Focus on nationalism - conquest of territories created national pride
• African Factors
• African resistance and economic crises weakened the continent, set stage for assumption of direct control
• Psychological
• Theory of Social Darwinism - control of weak by the strong was in accordance with laws of nature

The Scramble

• 1885: Establishment of Congo Free State from Belgian colonies along Congo River under King Leopold II
• Monopoly of rubber trade
• 1879-1880: Portuguese expeditions and the annexation of Mozambique
• 1876-1880: Aggressive French expansion out of fear of British control
• Joint control of Egypt with Britain
• Control on north bank of the Congo
• Colonies in Tunisia and Madagascar
• Construction of railway that linked French colonies with upper Niger valley
• In response to these events, Britain and Germany joined the rush for acquiring African territory
• Need for "rules" for partitioning and colonization to be established

Organization of the Berlin Conference

Berlin

Conference

-1884-1885

-Overall can be described as the formalization of the Scramble for Africa

-European powers were slow to realize the benefits of claiming land in Africa and had mainly kept to coastal colonies

-Scramble was intensifying, so the 13 European countries and United States met in Berlin

-Met to avoid future complications between countries

-They discussed the rules and boundaries of claiming land

-Ultimately neglected any opinions of African people over their homeland

Effects

Effects of Colonization

-90% of African continent came under control of Europeans

-Africans treated as inferiors and worked as slaves

-Spread European disease

-Took mineral resources of Africa: tin, copper, gold and diamonds

-Took African culture and tradition and provided education

-Divided Africans and caused tribal conflicts

Discussion