20019 DBQ 1A: Score of a 8 for Years After the Berlin Conference

20019 DBQ 1A: Score of a 8 For years after the Berlin Conference, various European powers raced to occupy and colonize land in Africa. It was a time of growth for Europe, but what was it for Africa? Africa’s fate was being decided for it by the European invaders. Not all Africans just stood by and watched, however. There was a wide range of actions and reactions to the scramble for Africa from the Africans themselves, from giving in peacefully to fighting back with all of their might. Many Africans were afraid of European power, so they just gave in to the scramble without a fight. In 1886, the British government commissioned the Royal Niger Company to administer and develop the Niger River delta. Many African rulers just signed their land away (doc 1). This document is official and provides no personal report, so it is possible that the rulers did not give in entirely peacefully, all we know is that they gave in. A personal record of the Niger River delta dealings would help immensely to tell how easily the rulers signed. Ashanti leader Pyempeh I turned down a British offer of protectorate status, but he said that the Ashanti would always remain friendly with “all White men” (doc 2). Ndansi Kumalo, an African veteran of the Ndansi Rebellion tells how at first his people surrendered to the British and tried to continue living their lives as they always had (doc 4). Samuel Manherero, a Herero leader, wrote to another African leader about how the Herero people were trying to be obedient and patient with the Germans (doc 7). Many people in Africa just gave in to the changes occurring all around them. Not everywhere the Europeans went did they encounter this obedience and complacency. Many places people fought the invaders. The emperor of Ethiopia, Menclik II, wrote a letter to Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia in 1891 telling them he would not just sit by and watch if they continued parceling off Africa (doc 3). Ndansi Kumalo, tells how, after trying to live normally, his people could not stand the Europeans anymore and they took up arms against the Europeans and rebelled (doc 4). An Ethiopian painting off the Battle of Adowa shows the Ethiopians greatly overpowering the Italians and clearly winning the battle while suffering very few casualties (doc 5). This is an Ethiopian painting so the artist probably depicted the battle to make the Ethiopians look as good as possible. A document from the Italians about this battle would make it easier to pass judgment on it. The Ashanti green mother, Yaa Asantewa, spoke to the Ashanti chiefs in 1900 telling them that if they would not fight the Europeans the Ashanti women would (doc 6). Samuel Maherero said in his letter to another African leader that they should fight the Germans as it is better to die fighting for freedom than to die from maltreatment, imprisonment, or something similar (doc 7). A German military officer said about the 1905 Maji Maji Rebellion that the chiefs told their people that they had a medicine that would make them invincible so they could fight the Europeans for as long as necessary (doc 8). An African chief, Mojimba, described a battle in 1877 on the Congo River, saying that the battle just kept going and going and that many many Africans were killed (Doc 9). He also said that white men are very wicked. As an African who fought the Europeans and saw them kill many of his kin, Mojimba naturally thinks that the Europeans are wicked! This account of the battle was also given 30 years after the battle, so it might not be entirely accurate. A European account would help to see this battle more clearly. The Scramble for Africa was a difficult time for Africans and they reacted differently, some accepting their fate and others fighting it. 1B: Score of a 4 Throughout history, colonization has been a main concern of many nations. In the 1880s there was a giant desire by European powers to colonize and control Africa in order to gain resources. This became known as the Scramble for Africa. The hypocritical actions of the European powers led to an extreme contempt for the European colonizers among the African people, which triggered violent rebellions that eventually helped lead Africa to liberty later on. The Europeans’ reason for colonizing was for resources that their own nations lacked. However, another given reason for colonizing other nations was described by Rudyard Kipling as “the white man’s burden.” This principle states that native, non-white people are wicked, sinful, and uncivilized, and that it is the duty of the Christian Europeans to convert them to Christianity and give them, better livers. This belief is demonstrated in a European document that was sent to Africa to be signed by chiefs, that would give over their land and power to European control (document 1). The document states that the chiefs are giving their territory up for the “bettering of our country and people.” The European author(s) of this document were most likely upper-class politicians with the desire to gain power from the Africans, as he/they attempt to persuade the chiefs with an appealing, friendly-speaking offer that would in reality take away their freedoms. Another example of European feeling superior is found in a German military newspaper in which the author describes an African ritual in a peer light, portraying them as pagan savages, when that uses only their cultures (document 8). This was written by a German officer who most likely had been fighting the Africans and saw them as enemies, so he therefore portrayed them in a negative light. Overall, the Europeans saw the Africans as lesser and presented them with a message of prosperity and unity between Africa and Europe, although the colonizer only wanted resources out of the deal. The initial African response to the European request was a respectful rejection to submit, but they showed interest in being friendly trading partners. The response of Prempeh I, an Ashanti leader, stated that it was “a matter of serious consideration,” but later says that “Ashanti must remain as of old and at the same time remain friendly with all white men” (Document 2). This essentially says that they desire to be independent, but on good terms with the Europeans in a respectful manner. The author, Prempeh I, was an Ashanti leader who had been in a leadership position long enough to know the welfare of his people, and he determined that they were doing well on their own. The same ideas are expressed in a letter from Africa to the European powers. In addition to these it claims to be like the Europeans since it is a Christian nation and that they are protected by God (Document 3). This was written by Mnelik II, the emperor of Ethiopia, who knows the history of his country as proof that they should remain free, so he was probably educated based on that and the fact that he can read and write. Overall, the initial response to the Europeans requests were negative, but respectful as well. When the Europeans still tried to take control of Africa anyways, the response was violent. The African people were outraged at the actions of the Europeans, so they rebelled. Document 4 describes the European treatment of Africans as overbearing and slave-like, so the African people rebelled. Document 9 tells how the Europeans killed many Africans and plundered a village. “You call us wicked men, but you white men are much more wicked! You think because you have guns you can take away our land and our possessions. You have sickness in your heads, for this is not justice” (Document 9). Documents 6 and 7 state that the people are being mistreated and call on the Africans to fight the Europeans to the death rather than be enslaved and abused. All of these authors are natives who are seeing that their homes being destroyed and their people mistreated, and they decided not to tolerate it. Document 5 depicts the result of the uprising. It is a picture of a battle in which the Africans won. The desire of the poorly treated Africans to take back their homes prevailed over the Europeans who wanted resources in the end. Finally, as a result of Europe’s harsh treatment of the Africans, contrary to their statements, the Africans became unclarrous and spend the doors of freedom later on. Another helpful document would have been an account of how the colonizers treated the Africans from their perspective, so that the reader does not only see the African side of the story. .

Load more