The German Creation of Colonies in Africa and the British Expansion of Term Paper

The German Creation of Colonies in Africa and the British Expansion of Its Colonial Empire in India and South Asia - Term Paper Example Nevertheless, it was involved in hard campaigns against the countries it was trying to possess. The Chancellor of Germany of that period Otto von Bismarck was not interested in the colonial expansion, but under the influence of German society and leadership that claimed that Germany needed colonies to maintain its economic domination in Europe, he agreed to take this step. After the unification of Germany in 1871 it was obvious that this action should happen because the pressure was too great. The main groups that were lobbying for the colonial expansion were the West German Society for Colonization and Export (1881) and the Central Association for Commercial Geography and the Promotion of German Interests Abroad (1878). Bismarck thought that the future German colonies would be stabilizing power that will influence domestic politics of the country. The colonies were to emphasize nationalism and to raise the prestige and greatness of Germany on the international level. In 1884-1885 Ge rmany was the host of the international Berlin Conference, where European claims in Africa were sanctioned. The requirement was that the claims of possession in Africa must be manifested by the physical occupation of the territories. In 1873 African Society in Germany (Afrikanische Gesellschaft in Deutschland) was organized. The goal of the society was geographical exploration of Africa. In 1882 German Colonial Society (Deutscher Kolonialverein) appeared. More than 15000 supporters of the colonial politics united in this society. In 1887 it joined the Society for German Colonization (Gesellschaft fur Deutsche Kolonisation), which goal was the practical realization of the colonial plans.2 Desiring to strengthen his political position, and counting upon the support of the National Liberal Party at the elections to Reichstag in 1884, Bismarck announced that the German government will take under its guardianship all the international possessions of the German businessmen. Besides that, he thought that this action will weaken the flow of German emigrants to America and will direct this flow to the German colonies. During that period of time the following territories were moved under the protection of the German government: The land purchased by the Bremen businessman Adolf Luderitz at the territory of the modern Namibia. In April 1884 German Southwest Africa was formed here. The lands of Adolph Woermann – German Cameroon in July of 1884. German Togo in July of 1884 German East Africa (Tanzania) that previously belonged to Carl Peters and The Society for German Colonization, in February of 1885. Protectorate of Witu (modern Kenia) that belonged to brothers Denhardt. German New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago In 1885 Bismarck abandoned the idea of the consistent colonial politics, and concentrated his efforts on the relationship with England and France. Colonies were used only as a bargaining chip in negotiations. At the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 years, A frica was divided among the European powers, and according to Helgoland-Zanzibar agreement of 1890 African protectorate Witu was traded for the strategically important for Germany island of Helgoland in the North Sea. Under Wilhelm II Germany tried to enlarge the sphere of its colonial influence by increasing the number of commercial representatives.