Berlin
conference refers to the international capitalist conference which was held in
Berlin, the capital city of Germany from November 1884 to February 1885 under
the Germany chancellor Otto
Von Bismarck who
was the conference
chairman.
The main
objective of this
conference was to
divide the African
continent peacefully among
the scrambling European powers
so as to
avoid the outbreak
of wars/ fighting
European
nations which participated in the Berlin conference were 27 nations including:
Belgium, Britain, Italy, Portugal, France, Spain, German etc. Denmark and USA
attended in the conference as observers
who were to
observe all activities
of the conference.
WHY GERMANY MANAGED TO HOLD THE CONFERENCE
There
were several reasons as
to why Germany
under Otto Von
Bismarck managed to
hold the conference
of all capitalist
nations and not any
other nations like
Britain, France etc.
Germany was able to summon the international
conference due to the following: -
a) Military power. During the
last quarter of 19th c Germany
dominated Europe in
terms of military
strength. Germany was powerful
militarily therefore other
European nations feared
her. Failure to attend the conference could end up into military
punishment.
b) Economic strength. German
was very powerful economically compared to other European nations by the last
quarter of the 19th c. This also influenced Germany to hold the
conference.
c) The influence of Bismarck. Bismarck
was a very influential factor for Germany to hold the Berlin Conference. He was
very diplomatic and propagandist and therefore the conference in Berlin became
inevitable.
d) Enmity between other nations. This
gave Germany an opportunity to summon the conference
e) Participation in scramble. Germany
did not fully participate in the scramble for Africa and therefore was seen by
other nations as the only solution for the division of Africa.
REASONS FOR THE BERLIN CONFERENCE
(AIMS/OBJECTIVES OF THE BERLIN CONFERENCE)
The
Berlin conference was hold due to a number of reasons. Some of the reasons for
the holding the conference was as follows:
a) To discuss the nature of the scramble for
Africa so as to avoid conflicts of European over the African
territories.
b) To divide Africa. The
conference was summoned in order to discuss on how to divide the continent of
Africa into colonies among scrambling European nations.
c) To solve and avoid conflicts. The
conference also aimed at solving the ongoing conflicts between scrambling
European nations in Africa and also avoid other conflicts which were likely to
occur (To settle European conflicts which occurred before arranging the
meeting).
d) To set up boundaries in Africa. The
conference also aimed at setting up boundaries in African colonies so as to
avoid interference among European colonial powers.
e) To lay down principles. The
Berlin Conference was also aimed at laying down principles which were to be
adhered in the division and colonization of Africa (To settle rules and
principles on how Africa should be divided up among the European nations)
f)
To
solve the problem of industrialization. The conference was aimed at
solving the problem of industrialization in Europe such as shortage of raw
materials, markets etc. This was to be done through dividing the continent of
Africa into colonies for the industrialized nations in Europe.
PRINCIPLES (AGREENMENTS/RESOLUTIONS) OF BERLIN
CONFERENCE
The
Berlin conference in order to divide and colonize Africa, laid down some
principles to be adhered by all colonial powers. These were: -
i.
Abolition
of slave trade and slavery in Africa - Every nation after being
given an area (colony) in Africa was told to abolish slave trade and slavery
activities in their respective colonies.
ii.
Principle
of notification – it
was agreed that that any European nation intending to have a colony in Africa
must inform other nations through provision of treaties signed by African
rulers.
iii.
Peaceful
setting of disputes - Any conflict that occurred between
European nations was to be settled peacefully between the conflicting nations.
iv.
King
Leopold II to colonize Congo - Congo was given to King
Leopold II as the conference recognized her influences.
v.
Principle
of effective occupation or control - European
power which claims to any part of Africa would be recognized by the other
powers if it was effectively occupied by such European power lie under this
clause. The claimants were supposed to develop the areas through their
missionaries trading companies’ explorers starting plantations and other
economic activities.
vi.
Freedom
of navigation - the
conference declared that Congo, the Niger River and other big rivers as free
zones for international navigation i.e. Niger River under the authority of
Great Britain and Congo River under the authority of Belgium. This means
that the area was not supposed to be under control of one particular nation.
vii. Mutual agreement in drawing boundaries - There should be mutual agreement between two
nations in drawing of boundaries.it was agreed to fix boundaries i.e. to divide
up the African continent so as to create separate colonies where each European
nation would be legally responsible to establish colonial rule.
viii.
Free
operation of missionary activities - Missionaries were to operate
free in every colony without any restrictions.
ix.
Fixing
of boundaries – it was agreed to fix boundaries so as to
create colonies where each Europeans nation will be legally responsible to
establish colonial rule.
SIGNIFICANCE OF
BERLIN CONFERENCE
i.
It resolved the international
rivalries that involved in areas like Congo, Egypt and Nile.
ii.
It speeded the partition of
Africa under the principle of effective occupation.
iii.
The Conference highligtened
the unity and degree of cooperation among European powers.
iv.
The Conference opened the
interior of African land for colonization.
v.
It avoided the possibility of
the emperior powers to inter into war during the scramble for Africa.
vi.
It led to the setting of
colonial boundaries in African Continent
IMPACTS OF BERLIN CONFERENCE
Berlin
conference had a lot of impacts to African continent. Some of these impacts
were as follows: -
i.
It intensified scramble for Africa. This
later on led to misunderstanding between European nations, something which led
to the emergence First World War.
ii.
It laid down rules and principles for
colonizing Africa. Therefore it legalized the colonization of Africa.
iii. It
resolved hostilities among Europeans nations. E.g. Britain and France in Egypt
iv. It
led to the drawing of African map and making of boundaries. This led to
division of Africans e.g. Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania.
v.
It led to division of Africa .Africa was
divided into colonies
among European nations
vi. It
led to influx of Europeans in
Africa who most of them
were colonial officials
and settlers who
together came to
colonize Africa.
vii.
It led to total colonization of Africa
(Loose of African control by themselves).
Tags
HISTORY