Form Five History 1: Topic 4 – From Colonialism to the First World War (1880’s-1914)

From Colonialism to the First World War (1880s-1914)

Colonial Rivalry in Africa

The rise of capitalism in Europe spurred the industrial revolution, which began in Britain in 1750. By the close of the 18th century, Britain stood as the sole industrialized nation globally. However, the 19th century saw industrialization spread to other European nations like France, Belgium, Germany, and Italy.

The widespread industrialization meant European countries needed new areas to expand. This expansion was driven by monopoly capitalism, which required:

• Markets
• Raw materials
• Cheap labor
• Investment opportunities
• Areas to resettle surplus labor

These needs prompted capitalism to evolve into its monopolistic phase, known as imperialism. Colonialism became intertwined with European capitalism, as it aimed to fulfill its demands.

The Scramble for and Partition of Africa

The “scramble for Africa” refers to the competitive rush among European powers to acquire African colonies, while the “partition of Africa” describes the steps taken by these powers to divide the continent into territories with fixed boundaries.

Key European nations involved in this process included Britain, Germany, France, Portugal, and Belgium. By the 1880s, Africa was the last uncolonized region, drawing intense imperialist interest driven by capitalism’s growth.

Factors Influencing the Scramble for and Partition of Africa

Several factors determined the pattern of the scramble for and partition of Africa, including:

• Accessibility to the Interior: European powers sought areas that provided transport routes into Africa’s interior for raw materials and markets for manufactured goods. The Congo and Niger Rivers were heavily contested.
• Strategic Importance: Britain controlled Egypt due to the Suez Canal’s strategic value for transporting raw materials and goods. They also controlled Uganda to protect the Nile’s source.
• Agricultural Potential: Fertile areas were highly sought after for cash crop production. The Congo and Niger basins, with their fertile lands, were prime targets.
• Mineral Wealth: Regions with abundant minerals, like Zimbabwe’s gold and diamonds or the Congo’s copper, attracted significant interest.
• Population: Areas with high populations were desirable for their cheap labor supply and ready markets for European goods.

Establishment of Colonial Rule in Africa

The partition of Africa marked the end of the continent’s political independence and the start of foreign rule. European powers employed various methods to establish colonial rule, depending on local circumstances and the nature of the population:

• Treaty Signing: European powers often persuaded African leaders to sign treaties, promising protection in exchange for control. Examples include Karl Peters’ treaties in Tanganyika for German control.
• Military Force: Direct military confrontation was used against resistant areas, such as the British against the Nandi in Kenya and the Germans against the Hehe in Tanganyika.
• Alliances: Europeans allied with local factions to gain control, such as the Germans with the Sango and Bena against the Hehe.
• Gunboat Diplomacy: Threats of force without actual violence were used to coerce submission, as seen with the British and King Jaja of Opobo.
• Mercenary Technique: Colonial powers used mercenaries from other regions to establish control, like the Germans using the Rugaruga in Tanganyika.
• Berlin Conference: This conference formalized the scramble for Africa, setting principles for effective occupation.

The Colonial State

The colonial state served as an extension of the metropolitan state in the colony, established after the scramble and partition of Africa. It facilitated the exploitation and oppression of African colonies, primarily benefiting European capitalists.

Objectives of the colonial state included:

• Linking colonies with the metropolitan state to ensure capitalist demands were met, such as raw materials and markets.
• Enforcing laws to protect capitalist interests, like land alienation and taxation.
• Suppressing African resistance to maintain a conducive environment for exploitation.
• Constructing infrastructure, like roads and railways, to support the colonial economy.
• Supervising colonial production of cash crops and minerals for metropolitan economies.
• Providing security for white settlers through judiciary, prisons, and police.

Significance of Agriculture in the Colonial Economy

Agriculture played a crucial role in the colonial economy, benefiting colonialists and, to a lesser extent, Africans. Its significance included:

• Providing raw materials like cotton, tea, sisal, and cocoa for European industries.
• Expanding markets for European manufactured goods, including agricultural tools.
• Destroying African technology to eliminate competition.
• Facilitating the exploitation of African resources, both human and natural.
• Boosting European industrial development through a steady supply of raw materials.
• Leading to the construction of social and physical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads, and railways.

The Colonial State’s Violence

The colonial state was inherently violent, using extreme measures to establish and maintain a colonial economy. Notable instances of violence included:

• Colonial Conquest: Military force was used against resistant African societies, such as the British in Kenya and the Germans in Tanganyika.
• Exploitation: Brutal methods were used to collect taxes and acquire cheap labor, with punishments for those who resisted.
• Land Alienation: Force was used to take fertile land from Africans for cash crop production and mining.
• Suppression of Resistance: Military force was employed to crush African resistance, such as the Nama-Herero and Majimaji uprisings.
• Destruction of Traditional Industries: African industries were destroyed to ensure dependency on European goods, often using violent means.

Different Systems of Agriculture in the Colonies

Several factors influenced the introduction of various agricultural systems in the colonies:

• Dense Population: Areas with high populations could not support land alienation, leading to the reinforcement of peasant agriculture.
• Centralized Kingdoms: Strong, centralized kingdoms were often governed indirectly, favoring peasant economies over settler and plantation agriculture.
• Governor Preferences: Different governors preferred peasant agriculture, such as Harry Johnston in Uganda.
• Territorial Changes: Changes in colonial administration, such as post-WWI shifts, influenced agricultural systems.
• Labor Supply Problems: Monoculture economies faced labor supply challenges.
• Nature of Crops: Certain crops required careful cultivation, making them unsuitable for large-scale agriculture.
• Climate Conditions: Climate influenced the suitability of European settlement and agricultural practices.
• Mandate Territories: Mandate territories prepared for independence, avoiding settler colonies and favoring peasant agriculture.
• Soil Fertility: Fertile soils in regions like Morogoro in Tanganyika favored plantation agriculture.