Prompt: Analyze African actions and reaction in response to European Scramble.</p>
Link to documents: <a href=“http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap09_frq_world_history.pdf”>http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap09_frq_world_history.pdf</a></p>
Please use the DBQ rubric and grade me 1-9. I wrote this under test conditions. </p>
After some time following the Berlin Conference discussing Africa, many Europeans “Scrambled” to colonize and occupy much of the African’s lands. The actions of the Europeans trying to occupy and colonize Africa, led to some violent resistance from the natives. However, there was also peaceful acts of rebellion which sometimes led to the accommodation of European demands because of a sever lack in modern weaponry. An additional document that would help me answer this question be is a response from African merchants that detailed the possible economic consequences of Europe colonizing Africa.</p>
<pre><code>The Europeans trying to colonize Africa led to violent responses from native Africans. Document 4 discusses an account from an African rebellion against Britain, saying that the British had advanced machinery like “Machine guns and rifles” and without that the outcome of battle would have been different. Ndansi Kumalo believes that the Europeans treated them unfairly and like slaves because he is an African and therefore already had a bias towards white men and probably thought their own killing was justified. This also shows that because of a lack of weaponry they couldn’t fight back necessarily as hard as the more advanced Europeans. An Ethiopian painting of the battle of Adowa (doc 5) depicts the victory of the Africans against the Italians. The painting shows the violence that was used against the African oppressors by the natives. Document 7 shows a letter from an African leader trying to convince another leader to assist in battle against the foreigners. Samuel Maherero believes that another African leader should assist him in a European and African battle because he is a leader and therefore wants the Africans to unite and defeat the Europeans. Document 8 is an account from the Europeans discussing a rebellion. The German military officer is saying that they did in fact take women and children which supports the African’s need to react violently. Document 9 talks about another battle against Britain and Africa and the deaths of many Africans. It shows the violent response needed because Africans saw “our brothers, dead, bleeding,” and then an angry response showing the violence from the Africans.
Although there were violent responses to European advances, there were also peaceful reactions. Document 2 is a response to a British proposal from an African leader saying “Ashanti must remain as of old and at the same time remain friendly with all White men”. He’s declining the offer while still being respectful about it to not cause any unnecessary conflict. Document 3 is a letter to Britain discussing how the African leader himself is Christian and therefore will not take harsh action. Mehelik II believes the Europeans would most likely listen to them because he is a Christian and therefore thinks the Europeans who are mostly Christian will think twice about starting something. Document 7 discusses a letter to an African leader from another leader and says “All our obedience and patience with the Germans is to little avail”. This shows that they were making an effort to be peaceful, although it was not working out they were still attempting.
An effect of peaceful responses of the Africans led to the accommodation of European demands. Document 1 discusses a contract between Africa and Britain for land rights and compensation “agree to pay native owners of land reasonable amount for any portion they may require.” There is a blank for the signature of a chief and it shows that they accommodated the Europeans. Document 3 talks about the Africans not fighting back “we do not pretend to recover out seacoast by force”. This shows that they’re conceding to the Europeans knowing that they cannot fight back against their advanced weaponry. Document 6 shows a speech from the queen mother of Ashanti urging her people to take action. The document explains however “No white man could have dared to speak to the chiefs of the Ashanti in the way the British governor spoke to you chiefs this morning.” It shows that she is angry because they are letting the Europeans tell them what to do.
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