SCRAMBLE FOR AND PARTITION OF AFRICA
To scramble is to fight for something against contradicting sides. The Europeans scrambled for territorial occupation in Africa in the 19th Century; after intensive scramble, they had to divide the continent among themselves. Generally speaking the scramble for and partition of Africa in the 19th Century resulted from development of capitalism from industrial to monopoly capitalism.
THE CAUSES OF SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA
The factors for the scramble for Africa can also be referred as the reasons
behind European colonization of Africa in the 19th and in the 20th century. The following were among of them;
Economic factors;
Industrial revolution. In Western Europe, industrial revolution started in Britain since 1750s and reached its climax 1850. Other powers became industrialized in 1870s onwards.
Revolution intensified competition for raw materials, markets, cheap labor and industrial (investment) areas in Europe. The Europeans had to trace new sources of raw materials and markets; Africa became the First victim.
Prestige and wealth. Some powers had to scramble for colonies in Africa in order to raise their status before other European powers. E.g. king Leopold II of Belgium who managed to defeat other powers in the competition for Congo {Zaire}. He defeated France, Germany and other powers which scrambled for Congo;
King Leopold II wanted to increase their status before other powers.
Strategic positions. The areas with navigable rivers, dense populated areas, rich fertile valleys, areas with mineral deposits also attracted many European powers to scramble. These areas experienced intensive scramble than other areas E.g. Congo, Egypt etc.
The agents of colonialism. The activities of traders, explorers, Missionaries, colony mongers exposed the Africa’s interior to the European Capitalists.
This also caused intensive scramble for occupation of Africa. The agents prepared maps and information explaining the hidden wealth of Africa’s interior. Example, De Brazza in Congo in 1870s and 1880s. He worked for France. He signed the Brazza Makoko treaty in 1880, Stanley who worked for King Leopold II in Congo, Karl Peter for Germany in East Africa etc.
Political factors;
European nationalism. This was an extreme form of patriotism in Western Europe whereby small states which shared the same history language and other elements of culture to write themselves to form strong bounds. The new powers (nations) dared to extend their influence and culture in exile (overseas) nations and areas such as Africa in order to benefit economically; so they opted to scramble for colonies in other continents.
Military rivalries {Balance of power}. The rise of German in the 19th century intensified the European balances of power. The British and French were the supreme powers in terms of armed forces. They were shocked by the Franco- Prussian war of 1871.
In this war, Germany forces defeated France; the Germans acquired the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine which were rich in coal and iron deposits. France opted to find new sources of raw materials hence the scramble for Africa. France started to acquire colonies in Africa.
Social factors
Demographic challenges in Europe.
In the 19th century Europe experience a problem of shortage of free land for settlement and for production, they also faced unemployment challenge. Africa offered a suitable solution to those challenges. This also intensified the scramble for Africa.
Eurocentric reasons.
The Europeans also claimed to acquire the colonies in Africa in order to develop the continent and suppress slavery and slave trade in the interior of Africa. These reasons aren’t accepted by Afro centric historians (Marxists) due to the fact that it defended and blessed the European evils of colonialism in Africa.
Note; Scramble for Africa was intensified in some areas of Africa as compared to other areas of Africa.
