Question
By the early 1900s around 90% of Africa’s territory fell under the control of different European nations either as colonies
or protectorates – where local rulers were kept in place but were controlled by European military forces.
Britain created colonies in southern,
western, and eastern Africa. It also
had protectorates over Egypt, the
Sudan, and Somaliland. In total,
Britain ruled around 30% of Africa’s
population.
France came to dominate west and
northwest Africa with much of their
territory covered by the huge Sahara
desert. They also colonized
Madagascar. In total, France ruled
around 15% of Africa’s population.
Portugal had large colonies in Angola
and Mozambique. It also had smaller
territories in Guinea, Cape Verde, and
the islands of Sao Tome and Principe.
In total, Portugal ruled around 9% of
Africa’s population.
Germany created colonies in
Cameroon, Tanzania, Rwanda,
Burundi, Namibia, and Togoland. In
total, Germany ruled around 9% of
Africa’s population.
Belgium had control over the huge
Congo region in central Africa. In
total, Belgium ruled around 7% of
Africa’s population
Italy took control of Libya in northern
Africa as well as Eritrea and Somalia
in northeast Africa. In total, Italy
ruled around 1% of Africa’s
population.
Spain created colonies in northwest
Africa/Morocco. They also had
several tiny pieces of land – called
enclaves – on the North African coast.
In total they ruled around 2% of
Africa’s population.
The only independent African nations
remaining were Ethiopia – which had
some protection because of its
Christian religion and Liberia which
had been founded by the United
States in the early 1800s.
AFRICAN COLONIES
BRITISH
FRENCH
PORTUGUESE
GERMAN
BELGIAN
SPANISH
ITALIAN
INDEPENDENT
4 : THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA : QUESTION SHEET
1. What problem did factory owners have? 2. How could colonies help businesses?
3. How could colonies help the military forces of different
countries?
4. How could colonies help the societies of different
nations?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are the answers to the questions based on the historical context provided:
1. **What problem did factory owners have?**
- Factory owners faced issues such as the need for raw materials to supply their production processes and the challenges of finding new markets for their finished goods. As industrialization progressed, the increasing demand for resources such as cotton, rubber, minerals, and other raw materials became critical, creating a push to secure these resources from colonies.
2. **How could colonies help businesses?**
- Colonies could provide a steady supply of raw materials needed for manufacturing, thus ensuring factories could run efficiently. Additionally, they offered new markets to sell surplus goods, which could enhance profits. By creating a captive market in the colonies, businesses could reduce competition and stabilize their profits.
3. **How could colonies help the military forces of different countries?**
- Colonies offered strategic locations for military bases and supply depots, enhancing a nation’s military reach and operational capabilities. They also provided manpower for military forces, as colonial subjects could be recruited to serve in armies. Moreover, colonies could serve as buffers against rival nations and ensure control over important trade routes.
4. **How could colonies help the societies of different nations?**
- Colonies could enhance national prestige and power, as ruling large territories was viewed as a sign of strength. The resources and wealth extracted from colonies could be used to support development and infrastructure in the home country. Additionally, colonial expansion could create social and economic benefits for citizens, who would experience increased employment opportunities due to the expansion of business operations. However, it is also critical to recognize that such benefits often came at the severe expense of indigenous populations, cultures, and societies.
1. **What problem did factory owners have?**
- Factory owners faced issues such as the need for raw materials to supply their production processes and the challenges of finding new markets for their finished goods. As industrialization progressed, the increasing demand for resources such as cotton, rubber, minerals, and other raw materials became critical, creating a push to secure these resources from colonies.
2. **How could colonies help businesses?**
- Colonies could provide a steady supply of raw materials needed for manufacturing, thus ensuring factories could run efficiently. Additionally, they offered new markets to sell surplus goods, which could enhance profits. By creating a captive market in the colonies, businesses could reduce competition and stabilize their profits.
3. **How could colonies help the military forces of different countries?**
- Colonies offered strategic locations for military bases and supply depots, enhancing a nation’s military reach and operational capabilities. They also provided manpower for military forces, as colonial subjects could be recruited to serve in armies. Moreover, colonies could serve as buffers against rival nations and ensure control over important trade routes.
4. **How could colonies help the societies of different nations?**
- Colonies could enhance national prestige and power, as ruling large territories was viewed as a sign of strength. The resources and wealth extracted from colonies could be used to support development and infrastructure in the home country. Additionally, colonial expansion could create social and economic benefits for citizens, who would experience increased employment opportunities due to the expansion of business operations. However, it is also critical to recognize that such benefits often came at the severe expense of indigenous populations, cultures, and societies.