The Berlin Conference
The Europeans had been wanting to colonize Africa for a very long time because of its natural resources and its mineral rich land. Africa did not know how to utilize their resources because they lacked required technological knowledge. The Europeans looked at this as a possibility for imperialism. They agreed that Africa had to be carved up in an organized fashion, which led to the Berlin conference.
The Berlin Conference took place on November 15, 1884, at the residence of German chancellor Otto Von Bismarck. It was called at the request of Portugal and the support of the British. Western nations were invited to negotiate their rule in Africa; representatives from every European country except Switzerland attended. No representatives from Africa were invited because they were considered uncivilized. This means that no Africa would own their land subsequently. Bismarck also looked at this as an opportunity to extend the German influence in Africa and wanted Germany's rivals to have get into a tussle over their territories.
At that time, 80% of African land was controlled by its traditional natives. But soon, it would all change. Africa was then divided into 50 irregular countries with no regard or thought given to its traditional cultures and different indigenous groups of people. A new map was forced upon Africa and its around one thousand native cultures. The new countries divided and separated cogent groups of African people and intermixed them with other groups who did not really get along often. In the 1950's, when Africa regained its freedom, most of its areas had developed severe political and ethnic division. The result of this turbulence and division is the occurrence of violent civil wars and genocides in African countries such as Rwanda.
As European were racing for colonies, Germany also began to take part in it for its own interests, and it frightened several European leaders. Leopold II of Belgium convinced both the French and Germans that there is one thing that is in the best interest of the three powers: common trade. , representatives from 13 European nations, and United States were invited. The nations that sent representatives included:
General Act
The talks went from November 15, 1884 to November 26, 1885 and set a number of rules that the nations agreed upon:
One of the points of the General Act was to control the slave trade and promote humanitarian idealism but the conference did nothing but pass hollow resolutions about the issue. The conference mainly focused on dividing Africa among European powers. By 1914, Africa had been divided into fifty countries.
Aftermath
When the Europeans left Africa in the 20th century, most of their colonies were not fully prepared for the challenges of independence. Many of the Africans were not well-educated. They had no experience running their own governments or economies. In many cases, they were expected to cooperate with other tribes and groups of people that didn't get along quite well with each other, to build their countries. Many of the problems that Africa face today is the consequences of the “Scramble for Africa”. So, here we are asking those questions of "what's wrong with Africa?". Well, they were just left with a messed up set of circumstances in the European imperialism.
The Berlin Conference took place on November 15, 1884, at the residence of German chancellor Otto Von Bismarck. It was called at the request of Portugal and the support of the British. Western nations were invited to negotiate their rule in Africa; representatives from every European country except Switzerland attended. No representatives from Africa were invited because they were considered uncivilized. This means that no Africa would own their land subsequently. Bismarck also looked at this as an opportunity to extend the German influence in Africa and wanted Germany's rivals to have get into a tussle over their territories.
At that time, 80% of African land was controlled by its traditional natives. But soon, it would all change. Africa was then divided into 50 irregular countries with no regard or thought given to its traditional cultures and different indigenous groups of people. A new map was forced upon Africa and its around one thousand native cultures. The new countries divided and separated cogent groups of African people and intermixed them with other groups who did not really get along often. In the 1950's, when Africa regained its freedom, most of its areas had developed severe political and ethnic division. The result of this turbulence and division is the occurrence of violent civil wars and genocides in African countries such as Rwanda.
As European were racing for colonies, Germany also began to take part in it for its own interests, and it frightened several European leaders. Leopold II of Belgium convinced both the French and Germans that there is one thing that is in the best interest of the three powers: common trade. , representatives from 13 European nations, and United States were invited. The nations that sent representatives included:
- Austria-Hungary
- Belgium
- Denmark
- France
- The German Empire
- Italy
- Netherlands
- The Ottoman Empire
- Portugal
- The Russian Empire
- Spain
- Sweden-Norway
- United Kingdom
- United States
General Act
The talks went from November 15, 1884 to November 26, 1885 and set a number of rules that the nations agreed upon:
- The freedom of trade in the Congo Basin, Lake Malawi, and an area east of Lake Malawi,
- That if any country annexed territory, they'd inform all other countries (in the agreement) and will be responsible for the political tability, and
- To stop the use of the regions for the market or trade of slaves.
One of the points of the General Act was to control the slave trade and promote humanitarian idealism but the conference did nothing but pass hollow resolutions about the issue. The conference mainly focused on dividing Africa among European powers. By 1914, Africa had been divided into fifty countries.
Aftermath
When the Europeans left Africa in the 20th century, most of their colonies were not fully prepared for the challenges of independence. Many of the Africans were not well-educated. They had no experience running their own governments or economies. In many cases, they were expected to cooperate with other tribes and groups of people that didn't get along quite well with each other, to build their countries. Many of the problems that Africa face today is the consequences of the “Scramble for Africa”. So, here we are asking those questions of "what's wrong with Africa?". Well, they were just left with a messed up set of circumstances in the European imperialism.
References and further readings
“Berlin Conference of 1884–1885.” Oxford Reference, 13 Jan. 2015, www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195337709.001.0001/acref-9780195337709-e-0467.
“Berlin Conference: Negative Impact on Africa.” BrainMass, brainmass.com/earth-sciences/environmental-policy/berlin-conference-negative-impact-on-africa-320757.
“Berlin Conference.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Conference.
“Consequences Of The 1884/5 Berlin Conference….” Zebra-Mbizi, 20 Feb. 2009, zebrambizi.wordpress.com/2007/08/09/consequences-of-the-18845-berlin-conference/.
“Berlin Conference: Negative Impact on Africa.” BrainMass, brainmass.com/earth-sciences/environmental-policy/berlin-conference-negative-impact-on-africa-320757.
“Berlin Conference.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Conference.
“Consequences Of The 1884/5 Berlin Conference….” Zebra-Mbizi, 20 Feb. 2009, zebrambizi.wordpress.com/2007/08/09/consequences-of-the-18845-berlin-conference/.