Imperialism Autosaved 
Jasmin Aguilar
Period 6
1-15-16
The Causes of European Imperialism in Africa During the 1800’s, seven European nations were taking land from Africa for themselves without the consent of the Africans. This is known as Imperialism; imperialism is an action by a strong nation to take control of another country. In this case Europe was the strong nation, and it was taking control of Africa. Many asked themselves why the Europeans were engaging in Imperialism. The European nations were engaging in imperialism for political factors and cultural causes because they wanted to gain power and spread their culture. However, the primary cause for engaging in imperialism was economic. European nations competed against one another to exploit Africa’s natural resources for financial gain. To begin with, political factors were one of the causes of European Imperialism. European nations wanted to gain power and restore their national pride. There were seven European nations that claimed land in Africa. (Doc A.) These industrialized European powers had control of the land while the Africans had no say. Africa was losing land and they couldn’t do much about it because the British and the French were the dominant ones. Their neighbors didn’t want to be surpassed in riches or glory by these two countries so they would do anything in their power to gain more and more power. Many in England believed that they had to take as much land as possible from Africa “or perish.” They wanted to “advance the power of England by land and by sea.” (Doc B.) England wanted all the power they could get; it was a race for political power. Joining the race Germany believed that they “needed to prove and maintain its newly won position.”(Doc B.) This meant that they wanted to take more colonies to prove that they had power. European powers wanted to maintain their national pride by competing and expanding their territory. This only accelerated European movement into Africa. In addition, cultural
Period 6
1-15-16
The Causes of European Imperialism in Africa During the 1800’s, seven European nations were taking land from Africa for themselves without the consent of the Africans. This is known as Imperialism; imperialism is an action by a strong nation to take control of another country. In this case Europe was the strong nation, and it was taking control of Africa. Many asked themselves why the Europeans were engaging in Imperialism. The European nations were engaging in imperialism for political factors and cultural causes because they wanted to gain power and spread their culture. However, the primary cause for engaging in imperialism was economic. European nations competed against one another to exploit Africa’s natural resources for financial gain. To begin with, political factors were one of the causes of European Imperialism. European nations wanted to gain power and restore their national pride. There were seven European nations that claimed land in Africa. (Doc A.) These industrialized European powers had control of the land while the Africans had no say. Africa was losing land and they couldn’t do much about it because the British and the French were the dominant ones. Their neighbors didn’t want to be surpassed in riches or glory by these two countries so they would do anything in their power to gain more and more power. Many in England believed that they had to take as much land as possible from Africa “or perish.” They wanted to “advance the power of England by land and by sea.” (Doc B.) England wanted all the power they could get; it was a race for political power. Joining the race Germany believed that they “needed to prove and maintain its newly won position.”(Doc B.) This meant that they wanted to take more colonies to prove that they had power. European powers wanted to maintain their national pride by competing and expanding their territory. This only accelerated European movement into Africa. In addition, cultural