The Positive And Negative Effects Of European Imperialism In Africa

European imperialism increased due to forces such as social, political, and economic in between 1870 and 1914. Europe was more advanced, so they were able to control the less industrialized world. Imperialism spread throughout the years and many people saw the way it was impacting others and changed their attitude towards imperialism. Eventually, some learned about the negative aspects of imperialism, while others only focused on the positive aspects. European imperialism in Africa had positive outcomes such as establishing schools and developing territory, however it had problems associated with it such as having their land taken by force and being denied basic human rights; it also impacted Europeans in both positive and negative ways.

Imperialism gave Africans opportunities and their life changed to an improved lifestyle with new jobs and improved healthcare and education. Professor of Geography, George H.T. Kimble, gave his point of view in a 1962 New York Times Magazine article, “Colonialism: the Good, the Bad, the Lessons,” where he shares that the colonial powers introduced the region to lumber, mining, and planting (Document 4). This was important because it opened up new job opportunities and gave the continent more means of wealth. O.P. Austin describes the benefits that colonies gained from Europe by bringing foodstuffs and manufacture as needed, developed territory (building roads, canals, railways, and telegraphs), and initiated newspapers and schools. This opened up new trading routes and essentially made life easier for Aficans by industrializing. Most of all, it gave Africans the experience and blessings of civilization which they could not have established all by themselves (Document 5).

Imperialism had devastating consequences that sometimes hurt instead of helped the Africans. In an excerpt by an African nationalist named Sekou Toure stated, “convince us that our civilization was nothing less than savagery” (Document 2). The colonial powers were brainwashing the Africans into thinking that their lifestyle was brutal and labeled them as reckless and injudicious. In 1958, in Accra, Ghana, a conference took place which elucidated why these people reprimanded imperialism. They’re main point was how Africans were denied fundamental human rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, etc (Document 3). This was dreadful for the Africans because they weren’t able to live an inexhaustible life. Davud Diop, a French poet, talked about abuse from the colonials and a sorrowful way they were treated (Document 7).

Europeans wanted to gain control of much of the world, so they gained control of Africa. They started by sending missionaries and teaching Africans on Christianity. The Africans were grateful for learning about this religion but it also had its faults by the loss of African culture and increase of nationalism. The Europeans gained the land and were able to spread their religion (Document 6). In an excerpt by a British scholar named J.A. Hobson delineates how Europeans took the territory by force and witnessed wars caused by attacks on the “lower races” (Document 1). Grover Clark, an educator and writer, talks about the struggles that the colonies faced. They included but not limited to lives being lost, wars being fought, and hatred which led to even more wars (Document 8). This also led to a major cash deduction.

European imperialism had many outcomes and affected Africa positively by improving the future for the Africans by improving healthcare and education, but Africans also had problems with the way they were being treated, and Europe was affected by taking control over an entire continent as well. Africans were left in a difficult position after this time period because they didn’t know how to rule after being imperialised. They also lost much of their culture and became more industrialized. However, industrialization opened up more access to world trade and it allowed them to effectively get more resources. Africans were becoming more educated and that opened up more opportunities for them. Europe increased in economic growth, was able to get cheap resources, and have new trading markets.