The Scramble for and Partition of Africa

THE SCRAMBLE FOR AND PARTITION OF AFRICA

1. Even before the 19th century or 1800 AD, Africa and its interior were not known to the outside world.
2. The interior of the African continent was exposed to the European world after the work of explorers, traders, and missionaries.
3. Europeans took interest in Africa's strategic areas with fertile land, minerals, navigable rivers, and many more areas that they could easily exploit.
4. Reports of the existence of snow-capped mountains in the interior of Africa and the inhuman slave trade activities also attracted great interest in the continent.

Scramble

Scramble is the act of rushing and grabbing parts of Africa's land and occupying them to the extent of nearly fighting among each other.

Partition

1. Partition is the act of dividing a large area into small parts or portions.
2. So, partition of Africa meant dividing the continent among the imperialist powers.

European capitalist powers partitioned the African continent among themselves during the Berlin Conference of 1884 to 1885 under the chairperson of the German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck, without involving the Africans.

Causes of the Scramble for and Partition of Africa

Development of capitalism in Europe from industries to monopoly stage in the 1870s created the demand for:

• New markets
• More raw materials
• Areas to invest their capital
• Cheap labor
• Areas to dump unemployed white men

National prestige:

• The possession of colonies was considered a symbol of greatness and respect.
• For example, Germany and Italy struggled for colonies with the aim of acquiring national prestige.

Balance of power:

• Franco disrupted the balance of power – Prussian war of 1870–1871 (between France and Germany).
• Germany rose to power after defeating France and seizing her provinces like Alsace (for coal) and Lorraine (for iron).
• Thereafter, France began to scramble for colonies to regain its power and compensate for the lost provinces.

The growth of European nationalism, especially in Germany and Italy (1870–1871):

• Union of various small European states into bigger empires.
• In Germany, unification was made under Otto Von Bismarck.
• In Italy, unification was created by Victor Emmanuel.

Strategic importance of some areas in the African continent, such as Egypt:

Scrambled for by British and France because of the Suez Canal as a shortcut and getaway to the British colony of India and the Indian Ocean where France monopolized sugar production.

Because the British and the Dutch exploited Gold and Diamonds.

Scramble for by Belgium, France, and Portugal because of:

• Minerals like gold and copper
• Navigable rivers
• Fertile soil for rubber production
• High population for market and labor creation

European powers (French, British, and German) scrambled for navigation, agriculture, and high population.

Balance of power:

Berlin Conference stimulated the scramble because each power exerted a colony proportionally.

Role played by missionaries, explorers, and traders.

• Claims to stop slave trade and spread.

• Humanitarian reason:

  • Given by European historians that they scrambled for the African continent to civilize African societies.

Reasons for Some Areas in Africa to Experience More Intensive Scramble Than Others

1. Fertile land:
   • Areas like Zimbabwe and some parts of Kenya (e.g. Kikuyu Highlands) experienced more intensive scramble.
2. Minerals:
   • For example, South Africa was scrambled by the Dutch (Boers) and the British.
   • The Dutch landed at the Cape under the Dutch East India Company in 1962.
3. Navigable water:
   • Examples include the Suez Canal and Congo Basin.
   • Belgium, Britain, France, and Portugal scrambled for the Congo Basin.
   • Both British and French scrambled for the Suez Canal.
4. Large population:
   • Areas with large populations like the Congo Basin experienced more intensive scramble due to market potential.
   • Europeans only scrambled for areas with the characteristics mentioned above.

The Impact of the Scramble for and Partition of Africa

1. It necessitated the calling of the Berlin Conference.
   • This was led by German Chancellor Bismarck to divide the African continent peacefully.
2. Led to the occurrence of the 1st World War of 1914.
   • Some imperialist nations like Germany were not satisfied with the number of colonies they had, which caused conflicts among them.
3. Germany took Tanganyika with its base in Dar-es-Salaam.
4. These treaties culminated in the prelude to colonialism.
5. Led to the exploitation of natural resources in East Africa.
6. Intensive oppression and harassment in East Africa by the British and Germans.
7. Germany took Tanganyika with its base in Dar es Salaam.
8. These treaties culminated in the prelude of colonialism.
9. Led to the exploitation of natural resources in East Africa.
10. Intensive oppression and harassment in East Africa by the British and Germans.