World History DBQ John Graham

3/21/14
Seeliger Period 4
th


Years after the Berlin Conference in Germany, many European nations and powers went
head to head to occupy and colonize in the continent of Africa. Though Europe continued to
climb up the ladder of success, the same could not be said for Africa due to the fact Africas fate
was being decided by the invading Europeans. Naturally, the African people did not take sudden
European control of their country very lightly. As a result, a wide range of actions and reactions
occurred from the African people from giving in peacefully to fighting against the invading
Europeans with all of their might.
Most Africans possessed a fear of the European powers infiltrating their country. In
essence, the African people gave in to the Scramble of Africa without a fight. Later on in 1886,
the British government sent a commission to the Royal Niger Company in order to administer
and develop the Niger River Delta. When this commission was ordered, many African leaders
willingly signed over and gave their homelands away to the British (Doc. 1). The document
referenced is official and lacks any trace of a personal report. With that evidence, it is plausible
that the African leaders/rulers did not give in entirely peacefully. Although according to world
history, historians only know that eventually the African leaders gave in. A personal record of
the Niger River Delta dealings and commission would help immensely in determining how
easily or difficult it was to have the African rulers sign their land over to the British. Ashanti
ruler Prempeh I refused and turned down a British offer of protectorate status, but reassured the
British that the Ashanti would remain friendly with all White men (doc. 2). Ndansi Kumalo, an
African veteran of the Nolebole Rebellion tells how when the British first arrived in his land, his
people surrendered to the British and tried to continue to live their normal everyday lifestyles as
they have in the past (doc. 4). Herero leader, Samuel Maherero, wrote a letter to another tribe
leader, expressing his emotion and concerns on how the Herero people were trying to be
obedient, patient and tolerant with the Germans (Doc. 7). As stated previously, many people in
Africa gave into the pressured and forced changes occurring all around them.
Though most of the African people seemed peacefully and defenseless, the Europeans
were surprised to find that not all of the African people were willing to surrender to them. In
many parts of Africa, the people fought the European invaders. For example, in 1891 the
emperor of Ethiopia, Menelik II, wrote a letter addressed to Great Britain, France, Germany,
Italy and Russia. In this letter, Menelik expressed how he would not sit back and watch if the
European powers continued to parcel off the African people (Doc. 3). Also Ndansi Kumalo
recaps his story: after attempting to live his normal lifestyle, his people could not stand the
Europeans controlling them anymore. In turn, Kumalos people took up arms against the
Europeans and rebelled (Doc. 4). Since then, there now is an Ethiopian painting of the Battle of
Adowa, showing the Ethiopians greatly overpowering the Italians and defeating them, suffering
very little casualties (Doc. 5). The painting derives from Ethiopia so knowing this information;
the artist most likely depicted the battle to make the Ethiopians look better than their European
enemies. In 1900, Yaa Asantena, the Ashanti queen mother, spoke with the Ashanti chiefs saying
World History DBQ John Graham
3/21/14
Seeliger Period 4
th


that only the Ashanti women would fight against the European invaders (Doc. 6). Also, Samuel
Mahenero exclaimed in his letter to another African leader hat his people should take on and
fight the Germans. In Maheberos eyes, it is better to die fighting for freedom than to die from
mistreatment, imprisonment, etc. (Doc. 7). After the fact, a German military officer mentioned
the chiefs told their African people they possessed a medicine to make them invincible to defeat
the Europeans for as long as necessary during the Maji Maji Rebellion in 1905. Also African
chief, Majimba, described a certain battle in 1887 on the Congo river that kept going on nonstop
and many African people were killed (Doc. 9). In addition, Majimba also shared his opinion on
the fact that white men are very wicked. Majimba, being an African who fought and saw the
Europeans kill many of his kin, naturally thinks the Europeans are wicked. This account of the
battle was told thrity years after the battle, so Majimbas tale may not be entirely accurate.
The Scramble for Africa was a very difficult time for the African people. They all reacted
differently in the fact that some chose to accept their fate and others fought the European powers,
even to death.