19th Century American Imperialism

At the brink of the 1600's, European nations were expanding beyond the reaches of their own lands. Instead they began focusing on what lay beyond the vast oceans. With the discovery of a new world, the distant shores soon to be known as America provided both refuge for those seeking religious freedom as well as the potential of a better life. By the time of the late 19th century, European explorers had turned their attentions to the interior of Africa. Between both of these vastly different eras, explorers had major impacts on the environment and the lives of the inhabitants.
America was a land just waiting to be claimed and taken. This was the belief at the forefront of every explorer that set foot and planted the flag of their homeland into
They did so by extending the reaches of their territory and exploiting the resources found there. When exploration first began in Africa, a scramble to lay claim to the country's territories soon unfolded. Africa faced military invasions, diplomatic pressure and imperialist aggression from many European powers. The famous Berlin Conference in 1884, was held in Portugal by Otto Van Bismark to establish rules to make sure the division of Africa remained peaceful.
The natives of Africa were against the invasion of European explorers, and tensions escalated when treaties were misinterpreted. Europeans sought sovereign control over natives, and the Africans believed the treaties were simply diplomatic and commercial friendships. Soon African rulers realized that they had been deceived. European powers were soon attempting to impose and exercise political control over the land. This was met by military resistance of Africans who resisted colonial
When a famous missionary and explorer by the name of Dr. David Livingstone vanished in the Congo Basin, he led a mission to find him. After Stanley's successful exploration of central Africa, king of the Belgians, Leopold II, wanted Stanley to carry out expeditions for him. Leopold was looking to establish a domain in Africa, and that is just what he did. Before long, the African territory held by Belgium had become infamous for the ghastly treatment of the native population. In King Leopold's Public Letter, the king writes to missionaries working for him in the Congo. The overall subject of the letter strongly encourages the use of violence in order to subdue the native people. At one point Leopold says that Africans should be converted "with the whip (Leopold 2)." Along with native Africans being mistreated, the natural resources of Africa such as rubber, diamonds, gold and copper were exploited for the benefit of