SCRAMBLE AND PARTITION OF AFRICA_*

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[9/30, 8:26 AM] . History Sir: how far true is it that the Berlin conference of 1884 contributed more
towards the colonisation of Africa ?

Question demands

The Question demands candidates to demonstrate how the Berlin conference led to the scramble and
partition of Africa. Brilliant candidates should also show the role of other factors.

*Possible answers*

*Background to the Berlin conference*

The Berlin Conference took place between 1884 and 1885 in the capital of the German Empire. It was
attended by many of the major powers of Europe, including the German Empire, Italy, Britain, France,
the Ottoman Empire, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, and the Russian Empire.

Answer and Explanation:

The Berlin Conference was a conference held by the major powers of Europe in order to set rules for
their colonization of Africa. It is worth noting that none of the peoples of Africa were given a say in how
their homelands were divided up.

*These were some of the agreements that came out of the conference:*

📝Belgian control of the area that is today known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo
📝Any country that colonized new African territory on the coast would have to inform the other countries
who signed the agreement

📝Free trade in the Congo Basin and Lake Malawi

📝Open access for ships in the Niger and Congo River

📝The 'Principle of Effectivity': An agreement that allowed European nations to steal land claimed by
another European nation if they were not fully using the land or its resources

*Contribution of the Berlin conference towards the scramble and partition of Africa*

The Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 marked the climax of the European competition for territory in
Africa, a process commonly known as the Scramble for Africa. During the 1870s and early 1880s
European nations such as Great Britain, France, and Germany began looking to Africa for natural
resources for their growing industrial sectors as well as a potential market for the goods these factories
produced. As a result, these governments sought to safeguard their commercial interests in Africa and
began sending scouts to the continent to secure treaties from indigenous peoples or their supposed
representatives. Similarly, Belgium’s King Leopold II, who aspired to increase his personal wealth by
acquiring African territory, hired agents to lay claim to vast tracts of land in central Africa. To protect
Germany’s commercial interests, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who was otherwise
uninterested in Africa, felt compelled to stake claims to African land.

More so, Inevitably, the scramble for territory led to conflict among European powers, particularly
between the British and French in West Africa; Egypt, the Portuguese, and British in East Africa; and the
French and King Leopold II in central Africa. Rivalry between Great Britain and France led Bismarck to
intervene, and in late 1884 he called a meeting of European powers in Berlin. In the subsequent
meetings, Great Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, and King Leopold II negotiated their claims to
African territory, which were then formalized and mapped. During the conference the leaders also
agreed to allow free trade among the colonies and established a framework for negotiating future
European claims in Africa. Neither the Berlin Conference itself nor the framework for future negotiations
provided any say for the peoples of Africa over the partitioning of their homelands.

Furthermore ,the Berlin Conference did not initiate European colonization of Africa, but it did legitimate
and formalize the process. In addition, it sparked new interest in Africa. Following the close of the
conference, European powers expanded their claims in Africa such that by 1900, European states had
claimed nearly 90 percent of African territory.

More so , Berlin Conference established the legal claim by Europeans that all of Africa could be
occupied by whomever could take it. It also established a process for Europeans to cooperate rather
than fight with each other. This cooperation played a huge role in the division and conquest of Africa. It
was a form of legal violence practiced upon the whole continent and all of its people. It is for this reason
that we tend to see the Berlin Conference as a significant event in world history.

*Other factors*

Political

- Franco-Prissian war

- Balance of power

- National prestige

*Social factors*

-Evangelism

- Social darwinism

- Stop slave trade

- Over population
[9/30, 8:27 AM] . History Sir: *To what extent was the demographic factor the main cause of the
scramble and partition of Africa*

*Question demands*

The question demands a candidate to show the contribution the extent to which the issue of
overpopulation contributed to the scramble and partition of Africa. Brilliant student should go on to
discuss other factors as well

*Possible answers*

*Demographic factors*

To begin with , Africa was colonised to get areas for the surplus population due to the overpopulation in
Europe. with the aim of settling the surplus and unemployed population for example British settling
some of her population outside in united states of America, newzealand , south Africa and Canada.
Other Europeans nations such as German encourage their citizens to find an alternative, which involve
the migration to other areas for example Dutch opted to settle their surplus in south Africa and involved
in various economic activities such as crops production, livestock rearing and soon so this desire
speeded up the scramble and partition of Africa.

In addition,Social crimes due to the over population in Europe a lot of people becomes unemployed due
to the uses of machines which replace mans labor’s many people become jobless they engaged in the
social crimes like riots, theft, prostitution, rural and urban migration, banditry and raping this situation
led European countries to look for the solution elsewhere to settle the paupers and un employed
population for example Canada, Australia, newzealand were already exhausted and African were seen as
the only alternative to be used, so this situations led the sparked off the scramble for and partition of
Africa. Let us quote few words to support this points this is,

*Other factors*
Further more ,the need for raw materials also led to the scramble and partition. Due to the industrial
revolution in Europe their industries needed the raw materials and due to the civil war going on into
their countries British and their fellows come to Africans searching for raw materials like cotton, ivory,
gold, copper, timber ground nuts for lubricating machines , palm oil, vegetables and soon in order to
feed their industries for the examples the areas like Zambia, Zimbabwe, and south Africa which posses
minerals were strongly scrambled.

More so, the need to control areas for investments of their capital .European nations wanted to have an
outlet for the investments of their surplus capital so they came to invest in Africa with the aim of getting
huge profit because it seemed that in Africa there plenty land , having good fertility soil which is suitable
for agriculture like Matebele and Shona land in Zimbabwe and also there was cheap labor which could
lower the production of coasts so those colonies regarded African countries as one of the most lucrative
methods of capital investment

Moreover ,cheap labor is one of the factors which led scramble and partition of Africans countries. This
is due to the needed of cheap labor which were able to produce cash crops which low prices needed for
their manufacturing industries so they come to Africans especially in Zimbabwe to get raw materials
which were produce with those cheap labors.

Search for the markets also led to the scramble and partition. Due to the over production of their
finished goods like clothes and other finished goods the European countries come to the Africa in order
to sold their finished goods so the alternative solution is to come to Africans where they can sold their
finished goods so through that factors led them to scramble and partition of Africans especially in
Zimbabwe.

More to that , Soil fertility is also among of the factors which led Europeans scramble and partition of to
Africa. Those fertility soil favored the productions of cash crops example the area like Zimbabwe
Botswana and soon were more scrambled and missionaries as agents of colonialism are the one who
invited their home government to take over the colonies. The areas like matebele and shone region of
Zimbabwe and mineral potentiality were more scrambled by British and Portuguese they form a joint
company known as British south Africa company.

Politically there was some factors which led scramble and partition of Africa this is like Franco Prussian
war, national glory and prestige, influence of Berlin conference and finally the European nationalism

[9/30, 8:27 AM] . History Sir: *To what extent was the Scramble and partition of Africa a product of
Political reasons than Social ?*

*Question demands*

The question demands a candidate to give a critical view on the political and social factors and judge
which contributed most .

*Possible answers*

*Political*

Politically there was some factors which led scramble and partition of Africa this is like Franco Prussian
war, national glory and prestige, influence of Berlin conference and finally the European nationalism let
as start with following

*Franco Prussian war* this was war between German and France which led the taken of the France
provinces Alsace and Loraine by the German so through that situation led France decided to compasate
their looses provinces which were rich in iron and coal and this situations enhance them to come to the
Africa to find good place of getting raw materials for their industries so through that situation it led
them scramble and partition of Africa the are like Zimbabwe, and Malawi were more scrambled because
it having the fertility soil which help them for agriculture activities.

*National glory and prestige*

due to having more colonies to Europeans nations the many countries proud on having many colonies so
this situation led others nations to find more colonies in Africa and condition led to the scramble and
partition of Africa

*Influence of Berlin conference*

this was the second stage in the colonization of Africa this stage begun from 1880’s to 1890’s it was
characterized with the interventions of late comers in the process of scramble and partition of Africa for
example Italy and Germany after their unification they become powerful and industrialized such for raw
materials of Africa

*European balance of power*

German was afraid of attacked by France because taking Lorraine and Alsace France provinces so they
fear of France revenge so he allied with British in order to create the conflict between the Britain and
France and measure taken by German led him to be in a good position and hold European balance of
power when the two nation will be in a conflict another event threatened the balance of power is
Turkish war of 1877-1888 after the war it become quite impossible for any European nations to expand
its territory in Europe thus scramble and partition of African was in evitable.

*Social reasons*

*Social crimes due to the over population in Europe*

a lot of people becomes unemployed due to the uses of machines which replace mans labor’s many
people become jobless they engaged in the social crimes like riots, theft, prostitution, rural and urban
migration, banditry and raping this situation led European countries to look for the solution elsewhere
to settle the paupers and un employed population for example Canada, Australia, newzealand were
already exhausted and African were seen as the only alternative to be used, so this situations led the
sparked off the scramble for and partition of Africa.
*Abolition of slave trade,*

Europeans groups such as Granville sharp and William Wilberforce played an important role in the
abolition of slave trade during 19th century those groups of humanitarian they argue that slavery and
slave trade undermined the mans dignity this arguments influenced by the France revolution of 1789
which emphasized on human rights and they had principles believed in liberty, equality, brother hood
and sister hood among the people so they established the freed areas for the slaves like sierra Leone
and Liberia. But their main interest is to occupy those place so they impart the ideas of equality, liberty
and fraternity to all men in Africa they come with that gear in order to fulfill their demanding of their
raw materials, marketing place and soon

*To get areas for the surplus population*

due to the overpopulation in Europe and increases of bad crimes so through that reason they found an
alternative solution outside their countries with the aim of settling the surplus and unemployed
population for example British settling some of her population outside in united states of America,
newzealand , south Africa and Canada. Other Europeans nations such as German encourage their
citizens to find an alternative, which involve the migration to other areas for example Dutch opted to
settle their surplus in south Africa and involved in various economic activities such as crops production,
livestock rearing and soon so this desire speeded up the scramble and partition of Africa.

*Survival for the fittest this theory*

established by darwism and men roes which explain about the strongest nations could rule the weaker
nations so due to that reason the Europeans countries use that theory to control the Africans countries
so this situations led to the scramble for and partition of Africa especially Zimbabwe.

*Evangelical reasons*

this also is the main factors which facilitated the scramble and partition of Africa the agents of
colonialism like missionaries they come to Africa for the work of preaching Christians as they seen that
Africans is the dark continent and their people are not civilized so for that case they come and softern
Africans mind so for this reasons enable them to colonize Africans without any quarrels and welcoming
their fellows to come to Africa and colonize.

Conclusion
*NB* Show in your conclusion which contributed most according to your arrangements of points either
political reasons or social

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*🌴Why the* *European powers scrambled for colonies in Africa in the late 19th C* ?

🌊The question demands one of explain the reasons for the colonisation of Africa. One must explain the
contribution of economic, social and political factors.

*‼️Economic factors*

🌳The economic motives included the need for raw materials by European powers. Due to
industrialisation the Europeans wanted to occupy African territories where raw materials were
abundant.

🌳The Europeans also wanted to establish ready markets for their finished goods in Africa. This was
because there was overproduction of goods in European countries like Britain which was accompanied
by low consumption.

🌳There was also the need to invest surplus capital in Africa by European powers. Due to industrialisation
European industrialists obtained a lot of money which they did not want their money to remain idle. So
these European capitalists wanted to invest their money in Africa so as to earn more profit.

Besides that, the discovery of and the need to exploit minerals such as diamonds and gold in Southern
Africa engendered a scramble for territories in Southern Africa by Europeans. To aggravate the situation,
the European hunters, traders and missionaries who had ventured into Lobengula’s territory had spread
rumours about the abundance of minerals in the Zimbabwe plateau. This made the colonisation of
Zimbabwe unavoidable.

🌳-There was also the need for fertile land for agriculture in Africa. This was important in supplying both
the local and international market with agricultural commodities. This would make agro-based
industries in Africa and abroad more viable.
🌳-The Europeans wanted cheap labour in Africa. The use of cheap labourers in mines, factories and
industries would enable the European capitalists to earn greater profits.

‼️*Political factors*

🌳Diplomatic reasons necessitated the colonisation of Africa by the European powers. For example, the
rise of new nations especially Germany and Italy led to the scramble for territories in Africa. This was
because there was little or no room for manoeuvre in Europe hence European powers turned to Africa
for colonies.

🌳-European imperialism in Africa was also due to prestige reasons. This was because there was
competition for dominance among the various European powers, especially Germany, Britain and
Portugal.

🌳-The Berlin Conference of 1884-5 caused the scramble for Africa. This was because this conference
legitimised the scramble and partition of Africa. One must note that by 1900 all African countries with
the exception of Ethiopia and Liberia had been colonised by Europeans.

*‼️Social reasons*

🌳Humanitarian reasons also helped in bringing about the scramble for Africa. This was because the
Europeans wanted to spread Christianity, civilisation and commerce in Africa. There was a common
belief among Europeans that Africans were irreligious and barbaric. Thus it was the responsibility of the
Europeans to bring light to the dark continent of Africa.

-The need to solve social problems in Europe also fuelled the scramble for Africa. Thus pride in colonial
ventures would help to bring unity and peace among Europeans.
🌳-Population pressure in Europe also caused the scramble for Africa. The Europeans therefore wanted to
settle excess population in Africa. It must be noted that the Europeans were seen as people without land
and the African continent was seen as a land without people.

MR MUTENGA 0783293058

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Mr Mutenga 0783293058 or 0715037667

🏹🏹*Question: To what extent was the colonisation of Africa a product of humanitarian zeal* ?

🌴The colonisation of Zimbabwe was caused by humanitarian considerations but to a lesser extent. For
example, the Europeans wanted to civilise Africans, they wanted to spread Christianity on Africa, they
wanted to educate Africans and they also wanted to end slavery and slave trade in Africa. However,
there were other factors which also led to the colonisation of Africa. These included the need for raw
materials, the need for markets, the need for areas to invest, the need for fertile land, prestige reasons
and diplomatic reasons.

🌴To commence with, humanitarian zeal caused the colonisation of Africa to a lesser extent, for example,
the Europeans wanted to spread Christianity in the African continent. It was commonly believed among
Europeans that Africans were irreligious and they did not have a religion to talk about. The early
European missionaries who had visited the African continent published pagan practices by Africans
which needed the attention of European governments. Thus it was the duty of Europeans to convert the
African heathens into Christians. It must be noted that Zimbabwe was colonised by the British for this
reason. Hence Africa was colonised for humanitarian considerations.

To add on, the need to educate Africans also caused the colonisation of Africa by Europeans. It was
commonly believed among Europeans that Africa was a dark continent. Thus the Europeans believed
that it was their responsibility to educate the Africans and to bring light to the dark continent of Africa.
The Europeans wanted to teach Africans western education, that is, to read and write. Therefore, the
colonisation of Africa was due to humanitarian zeal.

🌴Besides that, the need to end slavery and slave trade facilitated the colonisation of the African
continent by the Europeans. Slavery was seen by the Europeans as inhuman, evil and outdated
[obsolete]. The Europeans therefore wanted to replace slave trade with legitimate trade. Legitimate
trade is the trade in goods. Hence the colonisation of Africa was due to humanitarian considerations.

‼️However, there were other factors which also caused the colonisation of Africa, for instance, Africa
was colonised for prestige reasons. It was the need to enhance the image of one’s country that
compelled many Europeans to occupy territories in Africa. They wanted to create colonial empires that
were measured by the number of colonies. France occupied the Great Desert lands in North Africa which
were not of economic importance in order to gain pride and international image after her defeat in the
Franco-Prussian War. Apart from that, French occupation of Tunisia was a sign that she was recovering
her position as a great power after she had been defeated by Prussia in the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian
War. More to that, having coming into existence, the new states of Germany and Italy wanted to
demonstrate that they were world powers through acquiring colonies in Africa. This explains why
Germany colonised Namibia and Togoland. Hence other factors caused the colonisation of Africa.

🌴To add on, the African continent was also colonised for diplomatic reasons. Thus the colonisation of
Africa was an extension of European power politics. For instance, after the unification of Italy and
Germany in 1870 and 1871 respectively, it became dangerous to look for colonies in Europe. The result
was that European countries turned to Africa for colonies. Apart from that, when France was defeated
by Prussia in the 1870-71 war she wanted to compensate her loss in empire building by colonising
African countries like Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia. Moreover, when the Belgian king, Leopold II was
unable to find an outlet for his political ambitions in Europe he turned his attention to the African
continent. This explains why Belgium occupied Congo. Thus other factors also helped in bringing about
the colonisation of Africa.

🌴Furthermore, the need to solve social problems in Europe propelled the scramble for territories in
Africa. For example, industrialisation in Germany in the early 1870s engendered a conflict between the
rich land owners and their workers whom they paid low wages. Germany thus avoided a social
revolution through occupying territories in Africa. One must realise that pride in colonising African
territories would forge unity among the conflicting classes in Germany. In addition, pride in colonisation
was taken as an opportunity to unify diverse nationalities in the newly established German Empire. This
explains why Germany occupied Cameroon, Togo and Namibia. Hence other factors played a role in
bringing about the scramble for Africa.
🌴Moreover, the need for raw materials in Africa by Europeans caused the colonisation of Africa. Due to
the industrial revolution raw materials became scarce in Europe. The solution was to look for raw
materials in Africa. It must be noted that in order to get raw materials like minerals, palm oil, rubber,
timber, groundnuts and ivory, there was need to create colonial empires. King Leopold II of Belgium, for
instance, colonised Congo because there was cheap gold, land and labour. Hence one cannot doubt that
other factors were important in bringing about the colonisation of Africa.

🌴In addition, the need for markets for manufactured goods also caused the colonisation of Africa. The
industrial revolution in Europe resulted in overproduction of goods because the majority of people in
Europe were poor. Overproduction in industrialised countries like Britain, France, Belgium and Germany
was associated with low consumption of these goods. Thus Africa was seen as an alternative market for
surplus manufactured goods. Zimbabwe, for instance, promised to be a new market for the
commodities produced in British industries hence its colonisation was imminent. Therefore, other
factors helped in bringing about the scramble for Africa.

🌴Furthermore, the need for areas to invest precipitated the colonisation of Africa. Due to the industrial
revolution the European industrialists obtained large amounts of money. As such, these industrialists did
not want their money to remain idle. They wanted to invest their surplus capital so as to get more profit.
It was no longer viable to invest in Europe because there was stiff competition for low consumption. As a
result, they decided to invest their money abroad. The continent of Africa was seen as a place that was
conducive for future economic investment. One cannot hesitate to argue that the colonisation of
Zimbabwe by Britain in 1890 was due to the need to invest for greater profit. Leopold II of Belgium also
occupied Congo for investment opportunities. Hence other factors made the scramble for Africa
unavoidable.

🌴Last but not least, the need for fertile land in Africa by the Europeans also made the colonisation of
territories in Africa inevitable. Fertile land was needed for the production of crops as well as for livestock
production. It must be noted that there was a common belief in Europe that Africa was a land without
people and Europeans were people without land. Hence its occupation was imminent. Zimbabwe was
colonised by the British because of its fertile land and it received fairly adequate rainfall which
promoted both crop and livestock production. Therefore, other factors helped in bringing about the
colonisation of Africa.

🌴In summation, humanitarian zeal caused the colonisation of Africa to a lesser extent. However, there
were other factors which also made the colonisation of Africa inevitable.
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