Why Do Seven European Countries Rush To Claim Their Territory In Africa?

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Why would seven European countries rush to claim their territory in Africa? Resources new trade routes. Between the 1884 and the start of World War II, seven European countries took over the majority of Africa for natural resources and, more importantly, cheap labor. Europeans did not believe Africa was civilized and mature enough to govern and provide for itself. Europe saw this as an excuse to conquer Africa; however, the true motive for this invasion was for the natural resources (“Scramble”). Africa possessed resources like copper, gold, diamonds, cotton, and trees for making rubber. The foreign nations invaded Africa with hardly any resistance until the natives found the true intent of foreigner, and even then, African weapons were no match for the modern muskets of the Europeans (Iweriebor). Europe remained in control of Africa until World War I when war ravaged all of Europe and parts of Africa. …show more content…
They said “Let us pray.” We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land.” Tutu is saying that the white men tricked the Africans to gain the land; in the blink of an eye, the Europeans had the land with barely the slightest resistance. The Europeans even converted many of the Africans to Christianity even if it required force. Tutu calls the white people missionaries because they natives to Africa thought they came to help them and trade; the Africans did not expect the Europeans to stay and colonize Africa for their own