Justine Cheng, Alyssa Paul

Berlin Conference 1884-1885

Effects (General Act of the
Causes:
Berlin Conference):
•Organized by Otto von Bismarck.
•Congo River Basin is neutral.
•Portugal: wanted to assert claim over Congo River
•Freedom of trade and shipping for all states in CRB,
Basin.
•Jealousy and suspicion between European countries Lake Niassa, Niger River.
•Forbade slave trading, sale of alcoholic beverages,
about each others’ expansion in Africa.
firearms.
•Rejected Portugal’s claim to CRB.
•Founding of independent Congo Free State under
Belgian rule (Leopold).

•Any power taking control of a colony or establishing a protectorate had to notify the other powers of their
actions.
•Principle of Effectivity: powers could only claim hold on a territory if it raised its flag there, had treaties
with the local leaders, established local administration and police force, and used the colony for economic
purposes. Otherwise, another country could invade it and establish ownership of the colony.
•Europeans disregarded linguistic and cultural borders already existing in Africa.

Impact on the Scramble for Africa

•Did not weaken imperial rivalry, but instead sped up the competitive colonization process
significantly.
•Due to Principle of Effectivity, Europeans often utilized force to coerce local rulers into signing
treaties with them.
•Free States by 1895: Liberia (emancipated American slaves) and Ethiopia.
•By 1902, about 90% of Africa was under European control.