11-2 (Imperialism)

1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance * assimilation *paternalism *Menelik II

* Paternalism—policy of treating subject people as if they were children, providing their needs but not their rights * Assimilation—a policy in which a nation forces or encourages a subject people to adopt its institutions and customs * Menelik II—Emperor of Ethiopia who played various European powers against each other and successfully resisted imperialism

Negative Effects

- Africans lost control of their land and independence - Many died of new diseases such as smallpox - Lost thousands of their people resisting the Europeans - Famines resulted from the change to cash crops in place of subsistence agriculture >> Africans suffered from breakdown of their traditional cultures << - Traditional authority figures were replaced - Homes and property were transferred with little regard to their importance to the people - Men were forced to leave villages to find ways to support themselves and their families - Contempt for the traditional culture and admiration of European life undermined stable societies and caused identity problems. >> The most harmful political legacy from the colonial period was the division of the African continent << - Long-term rival chiefdoms were sometimes united, while at other times, kinship groups were split between colonies - The artificial boundaries combined or unnaturally divided groups, creating problems that plagued African colonies during European occupation; these boundaries continue to create problems for the nations that evolved from the former colonies.

Gaining Control

- Britain gained control of southern Nigeria through both diplomatic and military means. - Local rulers agreed to sign treaties of protection and accepted British residents. - However, others opposed the foreign intervention and rebelled; British used force to put the rebellions down. - The British conquest of northern Nigeria was accomplished by the Royal Niger Company; it gained control of the palm-oil trade along the Niger River after the Berlin Conference gave Britain a protectorate over the Niger River Delta. - Nigeria was declared a colony of British in 1914

Ethiopia: A Successful Resistance

- Ethiopia was the only African nation that successfully resisted the Europeans. - Its victory was due to one man MENELIK II (emperor of Ethiopia in 1889) * He successfully played Italians, French, and British against each other, all of whom were striving to bring Ethiopia into their spheres of influence. * He built up a large arsenal of modern weapons purchased from France and Russia. * In 1889, shortly after Menelik had signed a treaty with Italy, he discovered some problems with the wordings of the treaty -- He believed he was giving a tiny portion of Ethiopia but Italians claimed all of Ethiopia as a protectorate. * Italian forces were advancing into northern Ethiopia, Menelik declared a war.

Period of Imperialism

- Europeans demanded influence over the economic, political, and social lives of the people. - They were determined to shape the economies of the lands to benefit European colonies. - They wanted the people to adopt European customs.

Paternalism

- Europeans governed people in a parental way by providing their needs but not giving them rights. - Europeans brought in their own bureaucrats and did no train local people in their way of governing.

Unsuccessful Movements

- Included active military resistance and resistance through religious movements. - Algeria's almost 50-years resistance to French rule was one outstanding example of active resistance. - The resistance movement led by Samori Touré in West Africa against the French is another example. * After modernizing his army, Touré fought the French for 16 years. - Africans in German East Africa put their faith in a spiritual defense. * African villagers resisted German's insistence that they plant cotton (cash crop for export), rather than planting their own food crops. * In 1905, the belief suddenly arose that a magic water "maji-maji" sprinkled on their bodies would turn the German's bullets into water.

Managing the Colony

- Managing Nigeria wasn't easy because it was one of the most culturally diverse areas in Africa. - About 250 different ethnic groups lived there [Hausa-Fulani (north), Yoruba (southwest), Igbo (southeast)] ; they were different from another in many ways. - Hausa-Fulani were Muslims and had a strong central government. The Igbo and Yoruba peoples followed traditional religions and relied on local chiefs for control. - Britain did not have enough troops to govern such a complex area; they turned to indirect rule of the land through local officials (which worked well with the Hausa-Fulani) - Indirect control didn't work well with Igbo and Yoruba; their local chiefs resented having their power limited by the British.

Battle of Adowa

- One of the greatest battles in the history of Africa that happened in 1896 - Ethiopian forces successfully defeated the Italians and kept their nation independent - After the battle, Menelik continued to stockpile rifles and other modern weapons in case another foreign power challenged Ethiopia's liberty.

Maji Maji rebellion

- Over 20 different ethnic groups united to fight for their freedom. - Fighters believed that their war had been ordained by God and that their ancestors would return to life and assist their struggle. - However, when resistance fighters armed with spears and protected by the magic water attacked a German machine-gun post, they were moved down by the thousands. - 75,000 resisters died - More people died in the famine that followed - Shaken, the Germans made some government reforms to make colonialism more acceptable to the Africans.

Positive Effects

- Reduced local warfare - Humanitarian efforts in some colonies improved sanitation and provided hospitals and schools; lifespans increased and literacy rates improved >> Economic expansion << - African products came to be valued on the international market - Railroads, dams, and telephone and telegraph lines were built (but for the most part, these benefitted only European business interests)

Why might the problems caused by artificial boundaries continue after the Europeans left?

- The problems caused by artificial boundaries continue after the Europeans left because the people do not share a common past or culture and have no allegiance to each other. - The European military would not be there to prevent rival groups from fighting

Methods of Management

- Two basic methods emerged; - Britain and other nations (like, U.S.) preferred indirect control. - France and most other European nations wielded more direct control. - Later, when colonies gained independence, the management method used had an influence on the type of government chosen in the new nation.

Direct Control

- Was preferred by the Europeans - They viewed the Africans as unable to handle the complex business of running a country; so they developed the attitude called paternalism - In practice, French abandoned the idea of assimilation for all but a few places and settled for a policy of "association" which was similar to indirect control. - French recognized African institutions & culture but regarded them as inferior to French culture.

Indirect Control

- relied on existing political rulers - In some areas, the British asked a local ruler to accept British authority to rule; local officials handled daily management of colony. - Each colony had a legislative council that included colonial officials as well as local merchants and professionals nominated by the colonial governor. - [Assumption] councils would train local leaders in the British method and that a time would come when the local population would govern itself.

Assimilation

- was based on the idea that in time, local populations would adopt French culture and become like French. - All local schools, courts, and businesses were patterned after French institutions.

Colony

A country or a territory governed internally by a foreign power. [Somaliland in East Africa was a French Colony]

Protectorate

A country or a territory with its own internal government but under the control of an outside power. [Britain established a protectorate over the Niger River Delta]

Why were African resistance movements usually unsuccessful?

African resistance movements usually unsuccessful because of the Europeans' superior arms. The contest between African states and European powers was never equal.

Sphere of Influence

An area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading privileges. [Liberia was under the sphere of influence of the United States]

Economic Imperialism

An independent but less-developed country controlled by private business interests rather than other governments. [The Dole Fruit company controlled pineapple trade in Hawaii]

How was the policy of paternalism like Social Darwinism?

Because they believed Europeans had the right and the duty to bring the results of their progress to other countries, so they governed people in a parental way by providing for their needs but not giving them the rights and brought in their own bureaucrats and did not train local people in European methods of governing

Why would the French and Russians sell arms to Ethiopia?

French and Russians sold arms to Ethiopia because they don't want Italy to bring Ethiopia into their sphere of influences.

2. Do you think the positive effects of imperialism outweighed the negative impact? Why or why not?

I think the positive effects of imperialism outweighed the negative impact. Although many people died from disease, lost their land and independence, breaking down of their traditional cultures and division of the African continent, still, the positive effects are more useful and efficient in nowadays. If they didn't provide hospitals and school, they might have trouble with disease and education in present days. If they didn't expand their economy, they would not be able to maintain the country.

<<Forms of Control>>

Imperialism - is a policy in which one country seeks to extend its authority by conquering other countries or by establishing economic and political dominance over other countries.

Indirect Control vs. Direct Control

Indirect Control * Local government officials used * Limited self-rule * Goal: to develop future leaders * Government institutions are based on European styles but may have local rules. Examples: - British colonies such as Nigeria, India, Burma - U.S colonies on Pacific Islands <<Direct Control>> * Foreign officials brought in to rule * No self-rule * Goal: assimilation * Government institutions are based only on European styles. Examples: - French colonies such as Somaliland, Vietnam - German colonies such as German East Africa - Portuguese colonies such as Angola

Which forms of imperialistic control did Britain use in Nigeria?

Indirect Control Protectorate

What idea is the policy of assimilation based on?

That policy was based on the idea that in time, the local populations would adopt French culture and become like the French.

How did colonial rule cause a breakdown in traditional African culture?

Traditional authority figures were replaced. Homes and property were transferred with little regard to their importance to the people. Men were forced to leave villages to find ways to support themselves and their families. Contempt for the traditional culture and admiration of European life undermined stable societies and cause identity problems for Africans.

Do you think Europeans could have conquered Africa if the Industrial Revolution had never occurred? Explain your answer.

Yes, the Europeans could have conquered Africa even if the Industrial Revolution had never occurred. Guns and other weapons had already been invented, and the Europeans were far more advanced than the Africans were at this point in time.