African American Imperialism Dbq Analysis

Between the 1870s and 1900, Africa faced European imperialist aggression, military invasions, resulting conquest and colonization. There were multiple effects deposited on the indigenous inhabitants of Africa, including social and economic. Socially, the negative impression of imperialism evolved into loss of religion, population and dignity. Economically, the negative impression of imperialism evolved into loss of land, economy and livestock.

In the time of 1892-1975, The continent of Africa was struggling with imperialist aggression, military invasions and eventually colonisation. Many countries within Africa were occupied by other, more powerful, countries. This impacted the social effect placed on the indigenous people of africa. For
example, Christians from occupying countries wanted to convert the native people into following their own religion, christianity. For example, in document 4, a speech, “On French Colonial Expansion”, by Jules Ferry, states, “They have the duty to civilize the inferior races...”. This quote implies that civilization, to the French, means to be christian. This quote also means that the french feel like they have to convert all the indigenous people. They believe that they would be doing something right by converting the natives, but really, they are destroying a religion. The indigenous people of Africa lost their dignity and self worth when the occupants perceived the Africans as less than themselves. For example in the speech “On French Colonial Expansion”, by Jules Ferry, he states, “Gentlemen, we must speak over more loudly and more honestly! We must say openly that indeed the higher races have a right over the lower races.” This quote translated to French imperialists believing that they are superior to the natives because they have a different lifestyle and religion. The french also believe that they are entitled to anything that the Africans had, whether it be land or livestock. Another negative loss of the native africans was that the impurity regions occupying Africa at that time pursued to make all of the natives slaves, take all of their resources and make them slaves. For example, in the Excerpt from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, he states, “The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, waiting for it’s cargo.” This quote means that the occupants were shipping the native peoples as slaves. Vassa refers to slaves as cargo, as material objects.

One economic loss of imperialism in Africa is the loss of land.
For examplocument 1, “The Map of Africa by Treaty” by Sir. Edward Hertslet, it shows how the continent of Africa was divided and occupied by many different countries. These countries include Germany, France and England. The map also depicts independent states. There are few independent states whereas the major countries occupy Africa. Another economic loss of the african imperialism was the economy. Churches would send missionaries to Africa and take photos of the people before and after the natives were “civilized”. To the occupying countries, civilizing the natives was converting them into christianity and introducing them to western ways. The missionaries would attract tourism and donations when showing photos of the natives westernized. For example, Document 3, “Images of Colonial Africa”, These two photos show Kenyans before and after colonization. Before colonization, the Kenyan family depicted in the photo were wearing traditional kenyan clothes as well as standing in front of their mud hut home. The after colonization photo displays a family in westernized clothing in front of a christian church. These photos attracted people from all over to donate to the churches so they could go back to Africa and convert the natives, ruining another
culture.

There were many economic and social losses for Africa and the native people of the continent. The continent and its people persevered through imperialist aggression and resulting in eventual conquest and colonization.