Before the new found riches
Before Europe discovered all the gold, diamonds, other riches, and plentiful natural resources in Africa, it was once just a free country with no government. Just tribes, or separated cultural areas. The tribes were not near each other, and everyone was happy with that. There was no plan about future establishments.
What interested Europe?
Africa had more than enough of natural resources. Europe saw this as a one gigantic gold mine and planned for colonization. Some common resources they had were:
∙Oil
∙Diamonds
∙Gold
∙Iron
∙Cobalt
∙Uranium
∙Copper
∙Bauxite
∙Silver
∙Petroleum
∙Wood
∙Tropical Fruits
∙Oil
∙Diamonds
∙Gold
∙Iron
∙Cobalt
∙Uranium
∙Copper
∙Bauxite
∙Silver
∙Petroleum
∙Wood
∙Tropical Fruits
Dividing Africa
When the Europeans were deciding about how to split Africa, a conference in Berlin was held to make a decision. However, no Africans were represented. France and Great Britain gained the most land, Great Britain taking the most, and France taking the desert areas. Look in the video below to thoroughly understand the situation.
The effects of drawing lines throughout Africa
Separating Africa without thinking about all the ethnic groups was a big mistake. After the ethnic groups were forcefully mixed together, the outcome was obvious: war. Cultures and religions would not cooperate with each other, so violence broke out.
Independence:
A Good Thing?
Soon, after much violence, riots and suffering, independence through Africa began to arise. There were no more colonizers. Now, Africa had to build a stable government. The thing is, no one was experienced. The Europeans did bring more education, but not to train Africans to succeed at life, but to work at gold mines and such. Economies were failing all throughout Africa. That's even not the worst part. There were still white Africans living there, so segregation was to occur in many places. The funny thing is, whites only made up 10% percent of the population, but owned 80% of the land.
Apartheid & African National Congress (ANC)
Featuring F.W. DeKlerk and Nelson Mandela
The apartheid was a policy of segregation. It made things much, much worst than before. Blacks could do limited things. ANC was created to go against apartheid. Their leader was Nelson Mandela. He was a great leader, and took many risks. Mandela would not give in, even to torture, which was given to him in his 27 years in prison.
Luckily, a white president F.W. DeKlerk saw the better of humanity and ended the apartheid. Along with that, he also freed Nelson Mandela from jail. The two worked together to make South Africa a better representation of mankind. Because of their work, both received the Nobel Peace Prize. After F.W. DeKlerk's term was over, Nelson Mandela took over as president.
↓ F.W. DeKlerk ↓ ↓ Nelson Mandela ↓
Luckily, a white president F.W. DeKlerk saw the better of humanity and ended the apartheid. Along with that, he also freed Nelson Mandela from jail. The two worked together to make South Africa a better representation of mankind. Because of their work, both received the Nobel Peace Prize. After F.W. DeKlerk's term was over, Nelson Mandela took over as president.
↓ F.W. DeKlerk ↓ ↓ Nelson Mandela ↓
After Mandela became president, he worked to make South Africa -and maybe even all of Africa- a better place.
§ Summary §
- Europe wanted to colonize Africa because of it's natural resources.
- Africa was divided -with no care for ethnic groups- at The Berlin Conference -with no African representatives- in 1885.
- After Africa gained independence, there were no experienced leaders.
- Whites created the Apartheid, but it was soon demolished thanks to F.W. Deklerk.
- While the Apartheid was in action, Nelson Mandela led ANC and was sentenced to 27 years to jail, until DeKlerk freed him.
- South Africa today is very productive and its government is working quite well.