England in the race for empire expansion
As a result of this action of Belgium, France, Portugal, Italy, Britain and Germany also joined the snatch of different parts of Africa. In fact, the process of partition of Africa started with Leopold's attempt to establish his sphere of influence in the Congo Valley. France also began to establish its influence on the southern side of the Congo. At the same time, Portugal also laid claim to some territories of the Congo and also sought assistance from Britain. In 1884, an agreement was reached between England and Portugal, according to which Britain accepted Portugal's right to the territory of the mouth of the Congo River, and the mannequin assured all countries to trade in the Congo River. Leopold opposed the deal, Because it would break the contact of their territory with the beach. France also rejected the agreement, calling it harmful to the interests of the French-Congo region. Bismarck also supported Belgium and France, and in July 1884 demanded an international conference to discuss the problem.
Berlin Conference (1884-85) -
The purpose of this conference was to consider the freedom of trade and navigation on the Congo and Niger rivers and other colonial problems. The conference ran from November 1884 to February 1885. Representatives of all nations of Europe and the United States, except Switzerland, attended it. The United States, Japan and France had accepted the claims of the international institution on the Congo region even before the conference started. After three months of discussion, a common law was prepared and it was signed by the representatives of all the states. This law became known as the Berlin Act. The following points were fixed in this
1. The Congo Free State, which comprised the majority of the Congo River Valley, was accepted as the authority of the International African Assembly.
2. Freedom of trade and navigation was granted to all the states in the Congo River Valley.
3. An international commission was set up to ensure that the Congo River has traffic and trade regulations.
4. With regard to the Niger River, it was decided that Britain would be controlled on the upper part and France on the lower part.
Concerns were also expressed for the moral and material welfare of the inhabitants of Africa and its main objective was to stop slavery and slave trade and to promote the educational and material progress of its inhabitants, but these pious wishes soon It ended and European nations began exploiting the inhabitants of Africa with great inhuman cruelty. Looting took place in Africa, and by 1914, Europeans had divided all of Africa except Abyssinia and Liberia.
Congo Independent State -
In 1885, Belgium took control of the Congo regardless of the Berlin Act. The Parliament of Belgium also supported it. Congo was an international state for its name, but in fact it remained Leopold's personal state until 1908. But when there were complaints in Europe about the terrible atrocities on Africans by traders, he handed over his kingdom to the government of Belgium. Thus the territory of the Congo Free State which was ten times larger than the size of Belgium itself and the best part of the Congo in terms of rubber became a colony of Belgium.
France -
France already owned some territories on the northern coast of Africa, yet he wanted to establish his colonies in Africa. He wanted authority over important territories of Miss, Algeria, Tunis and Morocco etc. The selfishness of England and France collided with Miss. If the Egypt had the right to any foreign power, then the Indian Empire of Britain could be threatened, yet France took control of many territories of Africa. In 1847, France established its authority over Algeria. To the east of Algeria was the territory of Tunis. France wanted to seize it and reunite it with Algeria. Italy also had its eyes on Tunis. Finally, with the encouragement of Bismarck, France annexed Tunis in 1881 AD. In western Africa, he also expanded into the valley of the Senegal and Niger rivers. France, Guyana, Ivory Coast, The French also established their patronage over the oasis of Congo and Sahara. In 1904, France also signed an agreement with Britain regarding Miss and Morocco. In 1912, he also got the whole Moroccan province. Thus, France established a vast empire in the North-West region of Africa.
Britain -
England placed at the forefront of the empire expansion. He had authority over the land from Cadiro to Asha Antip. Among these, mainly Miss, Sudan, South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya in East Africa, Uganda, Nigeria in West Africa, Gold Coast etc. were the main regions. Even it had the territories of Best Hope, Natal, Transvaal etc., which in 1810 AD was called the Union of South Africa. But Britain's colonial policy was very different from other imperialists' policy. Britain had given the right to self-rule to those living in the colonies.
Britain's own parliamentary and law systems, partly the British colonies.
Bobber problem
In 1814, Britain had got the territory of Cape Colony from Holland. At the time when Britain got this territory, Dutch farmers used to live here in large numbers, these people were called Boer. The Boers were traditionalists in following their language, customs etc. When Cape Colony became under the English Empire, there was an attempt to establish English culture by eradicating Dutch tradition, culture, language etc. The Boer people were opposed to this policy of the British government.
