The Scramble for Africa

 

 

This activity has five parts. Please type your answers as you work, and be sure to clearly label your answers.

 

click here to begin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. BACKGROUND

Take a few minutes to read this background piece about the emergence of advanced Imperialism in Africa.

 

 

 

2. SCRAMBLE CARTOON

Answer the following questions based on this fairly lame 'Scramble for Africa' cartoon.

 

1. According to the cartoon, which European countries were fighting for a position in Africa?

 

2. Based on the reading you just did, is the cartoon accurate? Does it really show what was going on at the time? Why or why not?

 

3. How did the Berlin Conference lead to the situation shown in this cartoon?

 

 

 

 

3. AFRICA MAP COMPARISON

 

Examine the Maps on the links below. Then answer the questions that follow

 

 

 

 

1. What is the main difference between the 2 maps?

 

2. What part did the Berlin Conference play in the creation MAP 2?

 

3. What happened to the independent African states by 1914?

 

4. According to Map 2-- Which 2 European countries held the most territory in Africa?

 

 

 

 

 

4. AFRICA POLITICAL DIVISIONS IN 1913

 

Percentage of Africa Controlled by European Countries in 1913

data above from Modern World History: Patterns of Interaction , 1999 by McDougal Littell, page 308

 

Examine the pie chart above, then answer these questions.

 

1. What percentage of Africa was colonized by 1913?

 

2. According to the graph, Which 2 European countries held the most territory in Africa? (did you get the same answer as #4 in the Map Comparison above?)

 

3. What percentage of Africa was controlled by the rest of the countries (excluding the 2 countries mentioned in #2)?

 

4. Think about it: Would the borders of colonial Africa (as represented by MAP 2 and the pie chart above) have been the same if there had never been a Berlin Conference? Explain your answer!

 

 

 

 

5. Summary & Connection to the Present

 

Compare the following two maps:

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 Partition of Africa, 1885-1914

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 African Nations Today

After reviewing the maps, write a paragraph that gives several specific examples of how the current borders in Africa reflect the boundaries established by the European nations during the scramble for Africa.

Why might these borders be responsible for some of the problems & ethnic conflicts that affect Africa in current times?