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European trade with Africa becomes well established
Europeans came to Africa as early as the 1450s. They couldn't travel on the rivers since they were filled with rapids, cataracks and changing flows. But, the introduction to steam powered river boats of the 1800s helped explorers travel into the center of the continent using rivers. The perfection of the drug quinine in 1829 protected Europeans from malaria. The discoveries of gold and diamonds in 1867 increased European interest in the continent. -
East India Company collapses due to Sepoy Rebellion, British Raj begins
Many sepoy solders refused to accept guns that were the center of a rumor regarding their faith. Those solders who disobeyed were jailed and then many sepoy's rebelled. This was called the Sepoy Mutiny but the British East Indies Company won. As a result of the mutiny, the British government took direct control of India. This was called the Raj and refers to British rule after India came under the British crown during the reign of Queen Victoria. -
Suez Canal links the Mediterranean and Red Seas
Muhammad Ali's efforts to modernize Egypt were continued by Isma'il, his grandson. He supported the construction of the Suex Canal which is a human-made waterway that cut through the Isthmus of Suez. He was built mainly with French money using Egyptian labor. It was extremely expensive and Isma'il went into debt. The British insisted on overseeing financial control of the canal and in 1882, occupied it. -
Berlin Conference convenes to discuss terms for African colonization
The competition amoung European countries for Africa was so intense that they feared war amoungst themselves. To prevent this, 14 European nations met at the Berlin Conference to lay down rules for the division of Africa. They divided the continent with no thought of how African ethnic groups were distributed. No African ruler was ivited to attend this meeting. -
Queen Liliuokalani takes the throne of Hawaii
The US wanted to to take control of Hawaii brecause it was a major port on the way to China and East India. In 1890, the McKinley Tariff Act passed by the US government eliminated the tariffs Now sugar from Hawaii was the same price as everywhere else. Then, people pushed for annexation. At that time, Queen Liliuokalani took the throne and added a new constitiution that made her more powerful but was soon overthrown. Then, Sandford B. Dole was named president of the New Republic of Hawaii,. -
Ethiopians defeat the invading Italians at the Battle of Adwa
Menelik II heloed Ethiopia stay independent. He played theItalians, French, and British against each other who were all striving to bring Ethiopia into their spheres of influence. In 1889, Menelik had a treaty with Italy and discovered there were differences in the treaty in the Ethiopian language and Italian language. Then Menelik declared war and he successfully defeated the Italians. -
Spanish-American War breaks out; Puerto Rico, Spain, and the Philippines taken from Spain
The US took control of the Phillippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam because of the Spanish- American war. Filipino weren't happy to trade one colonizer for another. The US fought against the Filipinos and won and took over the Phillipines in order to get them prepared for self rule. -
Boer War in South Africa
When gold and diamonds were discovered in South Africa people from all over the world rushed to make fortunes. The Boers were Dutch farmers who settled there long before any of Europeans so when the British took over a war started regarding land and slaves. The British finally won the war. -
Most of Africa is under European control
By the 1900s, most of Africa besides Ethiopia and Liberia is under European control. The negative effects were that Africans lost control of their land and independence. Also, many died of new diseases from the Europeans and famine. Also, long term rival tribes were sometimes united and allies were divided. The positive effects were that humanitarian efforts improved sanitation and hospitals. They built railroads, dams, and telephone lines and modernized.
