500
What is the Scramble for Africa?
King Leopold’s activities in the Congo set off a scramble by the other European nations. Before long, Britain, France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Germany were pressing for African territories. They wanted to be part of this wealth of resources. To avoid bloodshed and all-out war, the European powers met at an international conference in 1884. It took place in Berlin, not Africa, and was made up of Europeans, not Africans.