Name: __________________ A.P. World History

The Scramble for Africa & the Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

Africa before the Berlin Conference

(80% under traditional or local control)

Objectives: Describe the economic motivations for AND the process of European imperialism of Africa in the 19th and early 20th century.

Rationale: Because of its size, surface features, climate, resources, and strategic importance, Africa became a prime candidate for conquest by ambitious European empires. Although Africa is physically remote from the power centers of Europe, North America, and Asia, it is surrounded by water and can therefore be reached easily from the other continents. This meant that the Europeans needed to establish rules for dealing with one another if they were to avoid constant bloodshed and competition for African resources. The Berlin Conference established those ground rules.

Introduction: It is the latter part of the 19th century (1884). Your country is entering a scramble to obtain colonies in Africa with 13 other nations. In order to participate in this race, you must carefully consider the geography of Africa. During the conference, you and 13 other European countries will be racing to claim colonies in Africa. Your goals are to get the best land, minerals, and resources that you can. Remember to choose places that will be easy to manage from a great distance that will also be profitable, or at least useful for your country.

Rules & Directions :

Belgium will start the conference because they were the first European country to claim a colony during the Scramble for Africa when their leader, King Leopold II conquered part of the Congo Basin as his own personal kingdom. After Belgium’s initial turn we will continue going around the tables of the room counter-clockwise until the Scramble for Africa concludes.

When it is your turn to come up to “claim” your land you must use the index card that you are provided. For each turn you may only “claim” one card worth of land. You may fold your card in half or fourths if you desire to claim different land in different locations. You may also challenge another European country for their land. If you do, come up to the board and put an X on the land that you want to challenge.

A representative from that country will come up and battle you in a game of “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” The winner of the battle will get to keep the land. Land can only be battled for one time during the conference. Remember that if you challenge and lose, you have lost your turn to claim land.

No one may choose Ethiopia, since it is an independent kingdom that is several thousand years old, or Liberia since it was an independent nation founded by freed American slaves in 1847.

Be ready when it is your turn. You don’t want to miss out on your opportunity to claim part of Africa. Best of Luck!

Berlin ConferenceDebriefing Questions

1. What factors did you consider in acquiring territories in Africa?

2. What factors were totally ignored in your decisions?

3. Your decisions created colonial boundaries that will eventually become the borders of modern African countries. What problems have you created in these African countries by dividing up Africa based on European needs and concerns rather than African ones?

4. Who was not represented at this conference? Why?

5. Compare the simulated and actual political map (Africa 1914) created by the conference, how close were your territorial selections to those actually made by your European power in the Scramble for Africa? Similarities or differences?

6. Predictions:

What impact will the Berlin Conference have on Europe?

What impact will the Berlin Conference have on Africa?

Africa before the Berlin Conference(80% under traditional or local control)

Africa after the Berlin Conference(Only Ethiopia and Liberia remain independent)

Observations Inferences

African Historical Ethnic Boundaries and Country Boundaries(Country Boundaries Created by Europeans during the Berlin Conference)

Observations Inferences

The Berlin Conference:

Invitation & Maps of Africa

OTTO VON BISMARCK, CHANCELLOR of GERMANYChairman of the Conference

BERLIN, GERMANY

 

Committee Delegate:

  The Conference Commission requests your immediate presence in Germany as a delegate to the Berlin Conference. You and your delegation, experts in the areas of economics, geography, ethics, military history, and international negotiations, have been appointed by your government to represent them in this process. Each nation present will be allowed to participate in a review and deliberation to determine the fate of the African Continent.

Your timely presence in Berlin by 15 November 1884 will allow your country to be heard. As Chairman of the Berlin Conference, I assure you that your task will be difficult, but of supreme importance to the future of Africa, Europe, and the entire world.  

 Otto von BismarckOTTO VON BISMARCK

CHANCELLOR of GERMANY

Map: Major Waterways in Africa

Map: Natural Resources in Africa

Map: European Possessions in Africa before the Berlin Conference

You may use this map to help you plot and plan which land your country wants to claim.