European Imperialism In South Africa

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Throughout history, imperialism has led countries to extend their rule over weaker countries and then colonized those countries in order to expand their own power. Imperialism allows the ruling countries to use the weaker countries for their resources such as oil, water, and land. Colonizing other countries would then lead to growth and a better reputation for the dominating country. There are many examples of imperialism throughout European history. When many European countries “scrambled” for Africa, it seemed as though Africans had no say in anything that was happening to their country. Africans worked for their new colonial masters growing cotton, coconuts, palm oil, or cocoa for export. Forced to pay taxes to their imperial overlords, …show more content…
Before European domination, the people of Africa were divided into hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups. Most followed traditional beliefs, while others converted to Islam or Christianity. Europeans divided Africa and ignored the tribal, ethnic, and cultural boundaries of the African people. This has led to tribal conflicts in many African nations that continue to this day. In South Africa, for example, natives suffered from apartheid. Apartheid is segregation of political and economic discrimination against non-europeans in South Africa. Cultural groups were also split apart during imperialism. European leaders picked favorite culture groups, resulting in rivalries. There was a division of African culture. Rivals were united while kinship and family members were split because of the artificial boundaries instated by the British. This caused a great amount of tension within regions. The East African states lost their independence and were subjected to european rule and administration and many African chiefs and kings either were killed or sent to exile. Within twenty years, nearly the entire African continent was possessed by European powers. As they stole, killed and destroyed to get a hold of more than their neighbors back home, these powers gave little thought and consideration to the varieties of peoples who already inhabited the land. The Africans were seen as an inferior group and were forced to labor for European plantations. With the increase in Europeans moving to East Africa, natives lost their land and were put into reserved camps. New boundaries were drawn and defined in East Africa without respect of the tribes which led to disunity of Africans. The colonies doing the mother country's hard work did not civilize the smaller colonies. They were put to work as cheap labor. They had no freedom, had to do what the mother country said since it had so much towering power over them, they were
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