The berlin conference began on november 15, 1884 and ran until the following february, and essentially divided africa into spheres of influence among major nations. Africa, let us help just like in 1884 george monbiot. Typical of the emotion engendered is this passage from the british journal, new statesman, for january 27, 1984. The berlin conference regulated european colonization and trade in africa during the new imperialism period. To discharge this grave responsibility, europes powers discovered, to their undoubted. The berlin conference of 18841885 marked the climax of the european competition for territory in africa, a process commonly known. What were the outcomes of the berlin conference in 1884. Alina ko contribution to war results of the berlin conference even though the berlin conference had set rules and divided africa among the nations, conflict still arose. The berlin conference was held in berlin, germany, from november 15, 1884, to february 26, 1885. It also made nations even more angry because they felt like they didnt get a fair. Congress of berlin 1878, concerning the aftermath of the russoturkish war and the political future of the balkans. A hundred years ago at the conference of berlin, european men began the process of dividing up africa into colonial possessions.
The berlin africa conference 18841885 and the onset of partition 0th edition by german historical institute in london author, stig forster editor, wolfgang j. The consequences of the berlin west africa conference of 18845 are still with us today. Berlin conference of 18841885 the berlin conference was a meeting of 14 nations to discuss territorial disputes in africa. The conference met during the scramble for africa, a time with more colonial activity by european powers. O ne of the stated purposes of the conference of berlin in 1884 was to save africans from the slave trade. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Despite most african countries having regained their independence by the late 1950s, the borders drawn by the european powers have caused political conflict and turmoil that. Ch 1 worksheet 1the berlin conference 1884 the berlin conference because of its size, surface features, climate, resources, and strategic importance, africa became a prime candidate for conquest by ambitious european empires. This forced apart people coming from a same background and belief system, whereas, in some cases, it compelled people from different school of thoughts to.
We are tomorrow visions and retrospection on occasion of. Swedennorway at the berlin conference 188485 the scramble for africa from a nordic perspective. The berlin west africa conference of 18841885 has assumed a powerful symbolic presence in international legal accounts of the 19th century, but for historians of the era its importance has often. By the time independence returned to africa in 1950, the realm had acquired a legacy of political fragmentation that could neither be eliminated nor made to operate. Berlin west africa conference, a series of negotiations nov. The meeting was held in berlin, germany, from november 1884 to february 1885 and included representatives from the united states and such. The berlin conference was a meeting of 14 nations to discuss territorial disputes in africa. Imperialism domination of another countryregion economically, politically, and socially colony territory that a foreign power rules directly direct officials protectorate territory with own gov. Sincethetimeoftheancientgreeks,europeandafricahavebeenhighly. What were three conditions of the berlin conference of 188485. Congo as a state is a colonial construct, its boundaries.
I know there was a meeting in 18841885 which representatives of european nations agreed upon rules for colonizing of africa, but i would like to know more explaining about it all. Looking for online definition of berlin conference, 188485 in the medical dictionary. Berlin west africa conference european history britannica. Although africa is physically remote from the power centers of europe, north america, and asia, it is surrounded.
The conference will begin november 15, 1884, for the purpose. A summary and significance of the berlin conference of 188485. The purpose was to divide up africa among the various european powers who had an interest in exploiting its resources by forming colonies there. The congo conference 18841885 berlin laid the basis for the scramble for africa copy french commentary on the berlin conference of 18841885. It ended most existing forms of african autonomy and selfgovernance, assuring that. The berlin conference or congo conference of 188485 made rules for european colonization and trade in africa. The three conditions of the berlin conference of 188485 were. By 1914, africa had been completely divided into 50 countries among the conference participants. The centennial of the west african conference of berlin. The countries represented at the time included austriahungary, belgium, denmark, france, germany, great britain, italy, the netherlands, portugal, russia, spain, swedennorway unified from 1814 to 1905, turkey, and the united states of america. As countries scrambled to establish colonies on the continent, the heads of state wanted to head off any potential conflicts between them over territory.
Berlin conference 188485, concerning the scramble for africa. This conference of the then great european powers including. Among those present at the conference were representatives from fourteen different countries. The ottoman empire and the usa although the usa was an observer. Berlin conference 1884 africa free essays studymode. Kongokonferenz or west africa conference westafrikakonferenz. In so doing, i also wish to give impetus to a reassessment of swedish identity in relation to africa, including after decolonisation, and of how this identity has been constructed through historical narratives. The berlin conference the berlin conference 18841885. Berlin conference berlin conference text general act. The berlin conference of 18841885 formally regulated european colonial efforts in the scramble for africa and basically overrode the autonomy and selfgovernance of african peoples.
The berlin conference of 18841885, also known as the congo conference german. Melvyn bragg and his guests discuss the berlin conference of 1884. In the 1880s, as colonial powers attempted to increase their spheres of influence in. State the terms of the berlin conference 1884 1885 state the terms of the berlin conference 1884 1885 answers. State the terms of the berlin conference 1884 1885. Berlin conference simple english wikipedia, the free. Berlin conference 1945, an older alternative name for the potsdam conference. Austriahungary, belgium, denmark, france, germany, great britain. After the great shake up induced by the napoleonic adventures into the international trading continental system, europe was reorganised in vienna and they setup a concert of europe to solve pacifically the worlds affairs a pre version of th. These did not take into factor any geographical factors or ethnicity. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Fourteen countries were represented by a plethora of ambassadors when the conference opened in berlin on november 15, 1884. It aimed at determining the territories of the states in the balkan peninsula after the russoturkish war of 1877. General act of the berlin conference on west africa, 26 february 1885. The congress of berlin june july 1878 was a meeting of the representatives of the eras six great powers in europe russia, great britain, france, austriahungary, italy and germany, the ottoman empire and four balkan states greece, serbia, romania and montenegro. The berlin conference accomplished this very well, and every last square mile of africa except for the. Although controlling the slave trade and promoting humanitarian idealism were promoted as the focus of the conference, the conference only passed empty resolutions about the ending of slave trade and. The berlin conference 18845 the berlin conference was africas undoing in more ways than one. The berlin conference was a series of meetings held in 1884 and 1885 with the goal of dividing the continent of africa between the european powers. Choose from 189 different sets of berlin conference of 1884 flashcards on quizlet. The african continent was randomly divided in about fifty countries. By the time of the berlin conference in 1884, european activity in africa was limited to around 20% of the continent.
How did the berlin conference of 1884 affect africa. What was the purpose of the berlin conference of 1884 and. Berlin conference of 1884 flashcards and study sets quizlet. What was the purpose of the berlin conference 18841885. Help with explaining more about the berlin conference. The colonial powers superimposed their domains on the african continent. Macharia munene accepted december 15 1989 abstract this paper hopes to help to increase the understanding of american historical involvement in african affairs by focusing on the 1884 85 berlin conference on africa. Kongokonferenz or west africa conference westafrikakonferenz, regulated european colonization and trade in africa during the new imperialism period and coincided with germanys sudden emergence as an imperial power. A political cartoon illustrating the way africa was carved up at the berlin conference.