Cameroon
At the end of the nineteenth century, the European Scramble for Africa radically changed power structures in Cameroon. The southern coastal tribes developed a fear that the interior ethnic groups would start trading directly with the Europeans, thus undercutting their powerful intermediary status. To avoid this, the Douala-centered chiefs sought a British protectorate that would cement their power; yet British delays in sending an envoy to meet with the chiefs forced the African leaders to turn to Germany instead. In 1884, Germany assumed sovereignty of the territory and, in exchange, conferred special trade privileges upon the chiefs of Douala and Bamiléké.
From 1884 to 1919, all of present-day Cameroon was consolidated and administered as the German colony Kamerun, despite the multitude of ethnic groups with their individual histories, cultures, traditions, and governments. The Germans administered Kamerun intent on building the colony’s infrastructure and consolidating its rule by expanding into the interior and conquering tribal strongholds. Yet, Germany’s defeat in World War I halted any grand plans it might have had for the colony, for as a stipulation in the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to surrender its overseas colonies to the victorious European powers. Under a mandate from the League of Nations, France assumed control of 80% of the colony, excepting a small sliver of territory in the west which Britain administered as North Cameroon and South Cameroon from Nigeria’s colonial capital in Lagos.
British and French colonial rule of Cameroon lasted past World War II, yet the war left the two imperialist nations economically and militarily crippled. Across Africa and the rest of the colonial world, movements for independence charged against the European powers, and Cameroon was no exception. In French Cameroon, rage at the French-imposed taxes and forced labor systems coalesced into anti-colonial political parties that advocated for independence and reunification. However, French Cameroon enjoys more rapid economic and political development than the British Cameroons, but it aslos feels sooner the effects of the independence movements sweeping through the continent after World War II. From 1956 the French are confronted by a powerful uprising orchestrated by a nationalist party, the UPC (Union des Populations du Cameroun), demanding immediate independence.
From 1884 to 1919, all of present-day Cameroon was consolidated and administered as the German colony Kamerun, despite the multitude of ethnic groups with their individual histories, cultures, traditions, and governments. The Germans administered Kamerun intent on building the colony’s infrastructure and consolidating its rule by expanding into the interior and conquering tribal strongholds. Yet, Germany’s defeat in World War I halted any grand plans it might have had for the colony, for as a stipulation in the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to surrender its overseas colonies to the victorious European powers. Under a mandate from the League of Nations, France assumed control of 80% of the colony, excepting a small sliver of territory in the west which Britain administered as North Cameroon and South Cameroon from Nigeria’s colonial capital in Lagos.
British and French colonial rule of Cameroon lasted past World War II, yet the war left the two imperialist nations economically and militarily crippled. Across Africa and the rest of the colonial world, movements for independence charged against the European powers, and Cameroon was no exception. In French Cameroon, rage at the French-imposed taxes and forced labor systems coalesced into anti-colonial political parties that advocated for independence and reunification. However, French Cameroon enjoys more rapid economic and political development than the British Cameroons, but it aslos feels sooner the effects of the independence movements sweeping through the continent after World War II. From 1956 the French are confronted by a powerful uprising orchestrated by a nationalist party, the UPC (Union des Populations du Cameroun), demanding immediate independence.
Congo
Until the later part of the 19th century, few Europeans had ventured into the Congo basin. The rainforest, swamps and accompanying malaria and other tropical diseases, such as sleeping sickness, made it a difficult environment for European exploration and exploitation. In 1876, King Leopold II of the Belgians organized the International African Association with the cooperation of the leading African explorers and the support of several European governments for the promotion of African exploration and colonization. By 1908, Belgian formally annexed this area of Africa to be its own colony.
When King Leopold II came to power in 1865, he hoped to gain more land to control in order to exercise Belgium’s power and how its wealth and prestige. At the Berlin Conference in 1884-5, most other European countries were not interested in colonizing the Congo River Region because of its climate and the high costs associated with maintaining it. Belgium colonized the Congo River Region, an area more than 80 times the size of Belgium itself. It named the region and took political and economic control, as well.
Because of Congo’s climate, it was an area difficult for Europeans to inhabit, but it was also rich in natural resources. King Leopold quickly realized this and began exploiting the natives to produce rubber for tires and ivory, a valuable substance. They also mined for gold, copper and diamonds. Leopold's army mutilated or killed any African who didn't produce enough of these coveted, profitable resources. The Europeans burned African villages, farmland, and rainforest, and kept women as hostages until rubber and mineral quotas were met. Due to this brutality and European diseases, the native population dwindled by approximately ten million people. Leopold II took the enormous profits and built lavish buildings in Belgium.
Belgium had other goals in its holding of Congo in converting Africans to Christianity. Though some missionaries tried to help improve the lives and situations for the Africans in the Congo River Region by building schools, it was unsuccessful as a whole.
After more than 75 years of Belgium colonization in the Congo Region, the country fought for its freedom from Belgium, and at the urging of the newly formed United Nations, Belgium decolonized. Though Congo is now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has been free from outside control for more than 60 years, it faces a lot of repercussions from its period under Belgian rule. It has experienced corruption, inflation, several regime changes, as well as civil war.
When King Leopold II came to power in 1865, he hoped to gain more land to control in order to exercise Belgium’s power and how its wealth and prestige. At the Berlin Conference in 1884-5, most other European countries were not interested in colonizing the Congo River Region because of its climate and the high costs associated with maintaining it. Belgium colonized the Congo River Region, an area more than 80 times the size of Belgium itself. It named the region and took political and economic control, as well.
Because of Congo’s climate, it was an area difficult for Europeans to inhabit, but it was also rich in natural resources. King Leopold quickly realized this and began exploiting the natives to produce rubber for tires and ivory, a valuable substance. They also mined for gold, copper and diamonds. Leopold's army mutilated or killed any African who didn't produce enough of these coveted, profitable resources. The Europeans burned African villages, farmland, and rainforest, and kept women as hostages until rubber and mineral quotas were met. Due to this brutality and European diseases, the native population dwindled by approximately ten million people. Leopold II took the enormous profits and built lavish buildings in Belgium.
Belgium had other goals in its holding of Congo in converting Africans to Christianity. Though some missionaries tried to help improve the lives and situations for the Africans in the Congo River Region by building schools, it was unsuccessful as a whole.
After more than 75 years of Belgium colonization in the Congo Region, the country fought for its freedom from Belgium, and at the urging of the newly formed United Nations, Belgium decolonized. Though Congo is now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has been free from outside control for more than 60 years, it faces a lot of repercussions from its period under Belgian rule. It has experienced corruption, inflation, several regime changes, as well as civil war.