For the better part of 3,000 yrs., Europeans
only
knew of the extreme North of the continent.
Then in the 1400s, the Portuguese began to send explorers
down the West coast in an effort to find a route to Asia.
They were trying to break the Italian
monopoly on spices brought to preserve food.
It wasn't until the 1800s that Europeans became
serious about colonizing the continent.
Napoleon sent an army to Egypt to sever Britain's access to
India.
Dutch settlers took control of most of what is now S. Africa.
Britain became interested in S. Africa when gold,
silver and diamonds were found there.
England fought 2 wars against the Dutch Boers, and
slaughtered thousands of Zulus to gain control of the region.
W.W. I
German efforts to colonize East Africa became one of the sources
of friction between Britain and Germany that led to W.W.I
During W.W.I, Britain kept 30,000 soldiers in Africa to
protect it's possessions from German forces in East Africa,
while over 100,000 U.S. soldiers were dying in Europe for 'freedom'.
Britain used S. African gold to buy the U.S. weapons
that dragged the war out to a pathetic stalemate.
Inter-War Years
Prior to W.W.II, the Italians invaded Ethiopia creating much tension,
but the U.S. continued to trade w/ and finance the Italian Fascists.
The Pope gave his blessing to the slaughter.
The League of Nations did nothing, thus showing
Hitler that none would oppose his future acquisitions.
W.W.
II
During W.W.II, the British kept major naval and
ground forces in Egypt to protect the Suez canal.
Nazi forces fought w/ the the U.S. and Britain
for control of the continent's North coast.
Vichy French forces fought for Hitler at one point.
They used U.S. war planes delivered before the war,
to oppose U.S. landings during Operation Torch.
America suffered a humiliating defeat at the Kasserine Pass.
Britain used bases in Egypt to strike into Ethiopia.
W.W.
III
After W.W.II, the Truman Admin. gave weapons to the French for
them to use in reestablishing control of their pre-war colonies.
This lead to the Algerian civil war that continues to this day.
The Soviets used African dissatisfaction w/ the Europeans
to secure control of the continent's vast natural resources,
and began pouring weapons into the region.
America decided to get involved, and started to support
pro-West dictators, like Mobuto Sese-Seko of Zaire
(now The Democratic Republic Of Congo).
Thus began one of the great slaughters in world history,
as over 50 million Africans have died from war or famine.
1990s.
America suffered a humiliating defeat in Somalia.
"Terrorists" Bomb U.S.
Embassies In Tanzania And Kenya. |