Motives of Imperialism
Name one economic motive for European imperialism in Africa.
Access to raw materials (rubber, gold, ivory), new markets, trade routes.
What ideology suggested Europeans were racially superior to other people?
What year did the Berlin Conference take place?
1884-1885
Name one African leader or group that resisted European rule.
Which European ruler controlled the Congo Free State?
King Leopold II of Belgium.
National prestige and competition between European powers.
What phrase describes the belief that Europeans had a duty to civilise other nations?
"White Man's Burden"
Which European leader organised the Berlin Conference?
Otto van Bismarck.
Which African nation successfully resisted Italy in 1896?
Ethiopia (Battle of Adwa)
Which resource was heavily exploited in the Congo?
Rubber.
Steamships, railways, machine guns, malaria treatment.
What role did Christian missionaries play in imperial expansion?
They spread Christianity and justified imperial rule as a civilising mission.
What rule required nations to show actual control of territory to claim land?
Effective occupation.
Why was African resistance often unsuccessful?
European technological superiority and better weapons.
What brutal punishment was commonly used against workers who failed quotas?
Their hands were cut off.
How did motives for imperialism change over time during the Age of Imperialism?
Early motives focused on trade and exploration, but later shifted toward territorial control, nationalism and strategic dominance.
Why might a poem or speech about imperialism be useful for historians?
It reveals contemporary attitudes and ideologies.
Why were African leaders excluded from the Berlin Conference?
European powers controlled decisions and prioritised their own interests.
Give one example of resilience despite European domination.
Preservation of cultural traditions or continued uprisings.
What was one impact of Belgian rule in the Congo?
Millions of deaths and extreme exploitation.
Explain two motives for European imperial expansion in Africa.
Detailed explanation of two motives.
Identify one limitation of using propaganda to study imperial ideology.
It reflects biased viewpoints and may exaggerate imperial success or justification.
Explain the significance of the Berlin Conference.
Detailed explanation of the acceleration of the Scramble for Africa and formalised European territorial claims.
To what extent was African resistance successful?
Detailed explanation of the mostly unsuccessful military, but some successes (e.g. Ethiopia) and long-term cultural resistance.
Explain the nature and impact of Belgium's rule in the Congo.
Brutal forced labour system focused on rubber extraction causing widespread suffering.