European Scramble for Africa

After The Benin Conference in Africa from 1884-1885 the scramble for Africa occurred. According to the documents, Africa’s reactions were based off three things: Harmony and Unity, Retaliation against enemies, and their actions to gain Self confidence in themselves to stand up for justice for Africa and relying and focusing on their religion . Many people reacted differently because of the scramble for Africa whether it was working together in harmony or while others retaliate against one another. The scramble for Africa caused a huge impact on Africans.

One reaction to the Africans enforced was harmony and unity. The Africans wanted to create unity whether it was between one another or the. The Royal Niger Company wanted to make peace by not binding themselves to interfere with the native laws so they could maintain a good order of government and society. Also they wanted to make unity with the natives by paying a reasonable amount that required (doc 1). This shows how the Africans wanted to regain unity and come to agreement with others in order for them to better the people and their country. This document was filled out by African rulers so this shows the perspective of Africans wanting to better their country and one another. This shows how he wanted to keep the unity in Africa and be able to recover their bond for the sake of the country. for Africa. Prempeh I, Ashanti leader, wrote a response to a british offer of protectorate status telling them they wouldn’t want protection because they wouldn’t want to upset the white men but remain friendly with them to not cause in controversy. (doc2). This shows how they wanted to be in harmony with the white men and be in unity with them so there wouldn’t be any problems and so Africa can still be in unity rather than in rage with the white men. This document was written by prempeh I, Ashanti leader giving a perspective from an African leader in how he wanted to go about things in a calm manner in be in peace with the white men. An additional document would be a document from a ruler in Africa that talks about their gestures in order to gain peace to recreate and renew Africa after the scramble

Another reaction of the Africans was retaliation against their “enemies” because of some of the disputes that the Africans had faced gave them no choice but to retaliate and stick up for themselves and their country. “They harmed our wives and our daughters… They the white men fought us with big guns, machine guns and rifles, many of our people were killed in this fight: I saw four of my cousins shot. We made charges but each time we were defeated.”(doc4). This shows how the Africans had to retaliate because of the way they their people were being treated so they had to stand up for themselves and take actions because they couldn’t go down without a fight for the way the white people were giving them such mal treatment so they had to rebel against the white men. This document