British Colonization in Africa
by
On
June 6, 1885, countries met in Berlin met to discuss
colonialism in Africa. This meeting was know as the West-Berlin Conference.
Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Portugal along with others were there
to discuss
this
topic
with each
other.
This
led to
the entire colonialism of Africa. The Africans had no say in all of thish.
This was why no countries save for Ethiopia and Liberia, were left to
be independent.
Our Great
Britain claimed part to a great number of territories in Africa. In West
Africa, Britain was granted Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra
Leone, and the
Gambia. "In areas without established rulers, the British generally chose Africans
to serve as chiefs."(1) They made Africans chiefs of the countries, but
the British put in their own
laws
for the Africans
to live by. The Africans had to live under their own chiefs with their
own people but by the British way. The British taxed the Africans so
that the only way they could pay the tax
was by working for the wages or selling their goods. The British will do
a lot of good for the Africans. The infrastructure will improve greatly
because of the British.
In
East Africa, Britain was granted Uganda, Kenya, Zanzibar, British Somaliland,
and
Tanganyika. The British again used self-rule in East
Africa.
The British
encouraged the Africans to plant cash crops. This made the East African countries
very rich.(2) This was good for both the Africans and the British. Everyone
became richer because of the cash crops in East Africa. If the British
had not came in to East Africa, the wealth that came as a result would
have never been introduced to the Africans. This was a good thing because
all of this new business lead to more wealth for
the
British.
In each
of
these
countries,
the
Africans
will probably want
independence. They do not know that if they get their independence, they
will lose the wealth that the British brought to them.
In
Central and Southern Africa, Britain took over Southern Rhodesia, Northern
Rhodesia, Nyasaland,
Bechuanaland, Basutoland, South Africa, and Swaziland.
In South Africa, diamonds were discovered. This made Britain stay there
longer than
they did in any other country. This was a very important find because the
diamonds brought a lot of wealth to Britain. They gained partial
control in South Africa because of the Dutch settlers
that settled
there
to. Eventually the British took over the Cape Colony fully after a
brief return to Dutch rule.(3) This was a big step for the Britsih because
it gave them a strong hold on a part in South Africa. This will prove useful
to the British when conflicts arise.
In
North Africa, Britain took over Egypt and Sudan. Britain’s control
over North Africa wasn’t as strong as it was over the countries
in West, East, and South Africa. Despite this, Britain’s rule in
North Africa was a very violent one. Even though it will be hard for
the British to keep control of Northern Africa, the British will still
be able to do some good in North Africa. Britain is a strong country
and will not allow for the ruling to turn against them.
Footnotes
1.Middleton, John, ed. Colonialism in Africa. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002), 156.
2.Middleton, 157.
3.Corona, Laurel. South Africa. (San Diego: Lucent Books, 2000), 37.
Images
1."Hotel Raffaello," n.d.,<http://www.hotelraffaello.it/>.(16 December 2003).
2."Exploring Africa," n.d.,<http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/curriculum/lm7/B/stu_7Bactivitytwo.html>.(16 December 2003).
3.Jezik, Angleski. "index," n.d.,<http://www2.arnes.si/~msmerk/>