Germany-SouthWest+Africa

=**Germany-SouthWest Africa**= =**By: Danielle Cuaderes Year colonized: 1884 Site: http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/imperialism/schuller.htm:**=
 * German imperialism in Africa was not expected to France or Britain (who were rivals and competing for the land and power). In addition of unified Germany broke the rules, giving France and Britain something to be scared therefore, making them fear to colonize. Germany's desire to establish and protectorats came from two schools of thought, both of which upset the balance of Europe. Almost no imperialistic activity for nearly a year, Germany established the cameroons, German SouthWest Africa, and New Guinea. After, Germany made these intial claims, they catalyzed the mass acquisition of protectorats that flourished from other cities. Terrified that Germay was going to take over Africa, and New Guinea, and in that sense the rest of Europe, Britian, and French nationalist demanded more aggressive imperialism by their mother countries. By careful conservative imperialism, Bismarch's Germany caused the emotionally driven scramble of Africa. While Germany's decision to colonize in Africa was not expected, it certainly was not carried out in an irrational or haphazard way. No other country had taken much interest in Cameroon and Togo, the two earliest of German protectorates. Britain and France were obsessed with Eygpt, the Congo, and Nigeria River areas. It's been said that the scramble of Africa wouldn't of happened had Eygpt not been involved with the conflict between France and Britain. It was Germany's unexpected imperialism, while Britain and France were haggling over the Eygption crisis that caused the scramble, not just Eygpt as a seperate problem. While looking at the scramble, and what initially cause teh chaos, one must look at this as a whole. The desire to imperialize and political practices built years of hatred and tradition were all woven into the mosiac. It's an accepted fact that Frace and Britain will complete in power and revenge. This was not a set up for Germany as a force. Germany, herself, was a product of imperialism. So when out of nowhere, a unified Germany starts breaking all the rules of foreign policy and tradition, Europe panicked. Germany had two main, fairly simple, reasons for imperiling. In a more general sense, Britain and France had only themselves to blame, for many of Germany's ideas of imperialism was flourishing. Wars were costly, Europe was pretty much claimed and divided, there seemed to be few other places to go. Germany was made for imperialism, a new state, devoid of tradition of any kind. There only example of how to be a country came from France and Britain, both whom had empires in Africa.On the surface, it seems like having colonies is a good thing, because these to poweres had them, and France and Britain would not was there time, resources, and energy on something that would not be profitable. A simple thought resulted, if Germany has Colonies, it to will be as dominant as France and England. While this idea of "cause and effect" ,might have worked for the general pucblic, but it is unlikely that Bismarck endorsed this argument, that he was trying to be like France and Britain. Lord Sanderson felt that Bismarck colonized Africa slightly against Bismark's will. " Prince Bismarck was personally opposed to German colonization... He therefore encourged us to make fresh annexations on the west coast of Africa, to which we had been previously indiposed: hoping that the clamor for such annexations by Germany would subside. Suddenly he found the movement was too strong for him, and that his only expedient, in order to avoid a crushing parliamentary defeat was to make friends with a party that urged the acquisition of colonies." Bismarck was influenced by the opinions of his party in government, but not necessary of those by the public at large. Free press and the fear of a "crushing parliamentary defeat" were two things commonly associated with France and Britain, not Germany. Germany did not have any traditions with foreign policy. Bismarck might not have been the best at foreign policy, for Kaiser Wilhelm dismissed him due in part to that**. **Bismarck's, and Germany's desire for imperialism, was not completely irrational, nor was it designed to upset the whole balance of Europe and turn Africa into a battle ground, with every country larger than a bug wanting in on the action. Germany simply wanted to get ahead. The bonus of being in trouble with England was improved relationship with France. Germany had no real loyalty, they were free agents in the whole scheme of African imperialism. Germany wanted to play the game, and they knew how. Colonization in Africa would prove Germany and force to be reckoned with, and in the eyes of the rest of Europe was terrifying enough to cause massive panic.**