First, King Leopold II of Belgium acquired the Congo, today called Zaire. Then the French moved into West Africa, while the British took control of much of the rest of the continent. Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Italy also entered the race for African territory (Pakenham 58 ). .
The scramble for colonies in west and Central Africa began in the 1870's. In that period, King Leopold II of Belgium, with the help of Henry Staley, carved out an empire along the Congo River. Stanley who had previously explored the Congo River basin in great detail had hoped that Britain would send settlers to the Congo, but Britain was not interested. So Stanley turned to Leopold II, who was eager to set up Belgian settlements there. At the king's request, Stanley negotiated treaties with local rulers for the right to exploit mineral wealth of the region. The king thereby gained control of the enormous area, which became known as the Congo Free State (Lemarchand 78). .
The brutal treatment of the local people in the Congo Free State has come to symbolize the worst aspects of European imperialism. Leopold II ruled the Congo Free State as his own private possession. The area was rich in ivory as well as rubber, copper, and other minerals. Leopold granted monopolies to European companies to exploit these resources and earned huge profits for himself (Forbath 25). .
The European companies ruthlessly exploited both the land and the people in the Congo Free State. To ensure maximum profits, company managers forced Africans to work long hours. If workers failed to produce enough rubber or copper, labor bosses felt free to cut off their hands or ears. They also imprisoned African women to force their husbands to work harder (Conrad 81). This brutal system took a huge toll in human lives. Between 1885 and 1908, the population of the Congo fell from about 20 million to 10 million (Forbath 43). .
When Christian missionaries in the Congo revealed these atrocities, the Belgian government investigated.
But when European Imperialism came to Africa many new, good things were introduced. ... Thus, Imperialism is justifiable. When Imperialism came to Africa, Europeans brought new medicines that cured many diseases that were killing many people. ... Imperialism in Africa is rather a blessing than a misfortune. People say that Imperialism was a plague that hit Africa and destroyed culture, took people away, and stole the Africans land. ...
Western European imperialism in Africa greatly influenced the economic, cultural, and military development of countries in that area. ... All in all, imperialism formed Africa into a global economy on unequal terms, and a provider of raw materials and cash crops. ... Western European imperialism resulted in cultural disorientation in Africa. ... African culture was greatly disorientated because of imperialism, and replaced with the culture of the Western Europeans. Also, imperialism exceedingly weakened and disabled the militaries of many African countries. ...
Economic causes also led to imperialism. ... Imperialism also had its negative side. ... Much of Africa suffers from restrictive trading patterns established during the age of European imperialism. ... This was known as the Scramble for Africa. ... Imperialism caused much turmoil and commotion, but also created much opportunity for civilization in West Africa to flourish and prosper. ...
Imperialism There are many different causes and effects of European Imperialism on the continent of Africa. ... One general cause of Imperialism in the mid 1800s- mid 1900s is Nationalism. ... Another cause of Imperialism is Economics. ... An immediate effect of new Imperialism was that the Europeans claim and conquered large empires in Africa and Asia. ... There are still connections today from new imperialism. ...
The New Imperialism which took place in Asia and Africa had many motives besides what was called, "the white man's burden"(which said that it was the "civilized peoples duty" to civilize those who were "less" civilized than themselves) some of these motives were economic motives because of the resources these continents had that Western countries was lacking and that we in high demand; also political and military motives such as controlling more land and expanding their "civilized" lifestyles were a part of the New Imperialism. ... Africa was the main continent to be "had" because of th...
Western Imperialism Western Imperialism had a tremendous impact on the continent of Africa. ... Imperialism subjugated African resources to every extent. The main impact that imperialism had on the continent of Africa was felt by the native people. ... Imperialism did not benefit Africa as well as it benefited Westernization. Africa is still struggling to recuperate from imperialism and slavery....
All of the Africans were happy with their own economy and political system before the Age of Imperialism. Imperialism is the main trigger to the current situation in Africa where there are epidemic, slavery and famine. ... One of the most famous examples of European countries racing to colonize is "Scramble for Africa" in the late 1800s when Europeans were deciding which part of Africa they should take without the approval of Africans. ... Due to European imperialism, Africans suffered and many died of diseases such as malaria and small pox: "Europeans brought with them many ne...
Imperialism changed everything in the past. When the Europeans used imperialism in Africa and Asia, they changed the people's lives. ... Most of Africa today is full of white people. ... Imperialism affected Africa and Asia's lives. ... Imperialism pushed the Europeans into war against Africa and Asia or even against some other country for competition. ...
Countries like Africa, and India, were severely impacted both positively and negatively from the imperialism by the west. ... Some positive effects of western imperialism were the new advancements such as medicine that was brought to Africa. ... An example of the violence that went on during the time of the imperialism was the great quarrel over South Africa. ... The major difference between Western Imperialism is that in Africa there were more than two powerful groups fighting for the territories. ... The imperialism that occurred in Africa and India had more similarities than different. ...