AICE International History -Imperialism-
Exam with Accurate Answers
1871-1914 wave of imperialism - ✔✔•largely focused on Africa and Asia
•involved rivalry between European countries, there was an attempt to prevent open
confrontation and warfare
•massive industrial growth led to USA seeking greater control over Central and South America
and access to trading rights (which led to the development of a strong US navy and acquisition
of overseas bases). At the same time, Japan was industrializing and undergoing a military
revolution, seeking greater power and influence within Asia, conflicting with Russia and making
rivalry with USA more likely
Scramble for Africa - ✔✔•late 19th century to early 20th century
•European powers rushing to acquire land and resources in Africa
•Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Italy
Scramble for Africa causes - ✔✔•strategic factors
trade routes w/ India vital for Britain
•medical advancement and exploration
people became less and less afraid of African diseases
•weaponry
Europeans had great weaponry advantage over native Africans, somewhat easy to conquer
•political factors
nowhere left to expand in Europe because of borders clearly drawn--Africa good opportunity
•the abolition of slave trade
1871, slavery abolished in most countries, European businessmen denied huge profits--seeking
more trade opportunities in Africa
•industrial revolution
, rapid increase in production of manufactured goods associated with European Industrial
Revolution lead to a need for raw resources and materials
•a sense of duty
Europeans convinced of their religious/racial superiority
the rush: each country's motives - ✔✔•Britain: protect Indian trading routes, economic
interests
•France: active in the west and north-west, searching for raw materials, wanted a large
overseas empire
•Belgium: recently won independence from the Netherlands in 1830, King Leopold II
determined to increase his own wealth and put Belgium on the map by claiming Congo
•Portugal: didn't want to be left behind
•Germany: late comer (1881) to the scramble, government felt pressure to join, didn't gain
much profitable land, only country that lost money in scramble
Treaty of Berlin 1885 causes - ✔✔•scramble for Africa became a nationalism issue
•opened up windows for conflict between nations
•in an attempt to prevent war/conflict, 13 countries met at Berlin Conference 1884-85 to
produce an agreement concerning Africa
•designed to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa
Treaty of Berlin 1885 - ✔✔•in order to take possession of an African territory, a nation must
inform the other European governments of its claim immediately-- 'effectively occupied'
•free passage of all ships on the Niger and Congo river
•no slavery
Fashoda Incident (1898) - ✔✔•Britain and France
•France expanding rapidly eastwards from French West Africa towards Somaliland
•British expanding rapidly southwards southwards from Egypt towards the cape
Exam with Accurate Answers
1871-1914 wave of imperialism - ✔✔•largely focused on Africa and Asia
•involved rivalry between European countries, there was an attempt to prevent open
confrontation and warfare
•massive industrial growth led to USA seeking greater control over Central and South America
and access to trading rights (which led to the development of a strong US navy and acquisition
of overseas bases). At the same time, Japan was industrializing and undergoing a military
revolution, seeking greater power and influence within Asia, conflicting with Russia and making
rivalry with USA more likely
Scramble for Africa - ✔✔•late 19th century to early 20th century
•European powers rushing to acquire land and resources in Africa
•Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Italy
Scramble for Africa causes - ✔✔•strategic factors
trade routes w/ India vital for Britain
•medical advancement and exploration
people became less and less afraid of African diseases
•weaponry
Europeans had great weaponry advantage over native Africans, somewhat easy to conquer
•political factors
nowhere left to expand in Europe because of borders clearly drawn--Africa good opportunity
•the abolition of slave trade
1871, slavery abolished in most countries, European businessmen denied huge profits--seeking
more trade opportunities in Africa
•industrial revolution
, rapid increase in production of manufactured goods associated with European Industrial
Revolution lead to a need for raw resources and materials
•a sense of duty
Europeans convinced of their religious/racial superiority
the rush: each country's motives - ✔✔•Britain: protect Indian trading routes, economic
interests
•France: active in the west and north-west, searching for raw materials, wanted a large
overseas empire
•Belgium: recently won independence from the Netherlands in 1830, King Leopold II
determined to increase his own wealth and put Belgium on the map by claiming Congo
•Portugal: didn't want to be left behind
•Germany: late comer (1881) to the scramble, government felt pressure to join, didn't gain
much profitable land, only country that lost money in scramble
Treaty of Berlin 1885 causes - ✔✔•scramble for Africa became a nationalism issue
•opened up windows for conflict between nations
•in an attempt to prevent war/conflict, 13 countries met at Berlin Conference 1884-85 to
produce an agreement concerning Africa
•designed to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa
Treaty of Berlin 1885 - ✔✔•in order to take possession of an African territory, a nation must
inform the other European governments of its claim immediately-- 'effectively occupied'
•free passage of all ships on the Niger and Congo river
•no slavery
Fashoda Incident (1898) - ✔✔•Britain and France
•France expanding rapidly eastwards from French West Africa towards Somaliland
•British expanding rapidly southwards southwards from Egypt towards the cape
