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Difficulty: HardState Expansion in Africa

Source: French military report on the campaigns against Samori Touré in West Africa, 1893

'Samori's forces are not a disorganized horde; they are a disciplined army equipped with modern repeating rifles, which they obtain through trade with British merchants on the coast or manufacture in their own workshops. When pursued, Samori retreats systematically, destroying everything in his path—burning crops, dismantling villages, and moving entire populations. This scorched-earth strategy deprives our troops of supplies and carriers, rendering our advance slow, costly, and exhausting.'

Which of the following historical developments in nineteenth-century Africa is best illustrated by the passage?

  1. A
    European powers established direct political control in West Africa primarily through joint-stock mercantilist monopolies.
  2. B
    The adoption of Social Darwinism by African leaders allowed them to justify their territorial expansion.
  3. African states utilized military innovation and global trade networks to actively resist European imperial expansion.Answer
  4. D
    European victory in West Africa was swift and uncontested due to the technological gap between industrializing nations and non-industrial societies.

Answer

African states utilized military innovation and global trade networks to actively resist European imperial expansion.
The correct answer is correct because Samori Touré's Wassoulou Empire engaged in prolonged military resistance by adapting tactics (such as scorched-earth warfare) and utilizing trade with British merchants to acquire modern repeating rifles, alongside establishing domestic workshops to manufacture and repair firearms.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus passage for details regarding the military capacity and strategy of Samori Touré's forces.
The text states that Samori's forces are a 'disciplined army equipped with modern repeating rifles' and use a systematic 'scorched-earth' retreat strategy.
This establishes that the Wassoulou Empire adapted militarily rather than relying on outdated warfare techniques.
2
Analyze the stimulus passage for details regarding how Samori Touré's forces obtained resources.
The text notes that they obtained rifles through 'trade with British merchants on the coast' and by manufacturing them in 'their own workshops.'
This demonstrates the use of global trade networks and domestic adaptation/industrial-like efforts to sustain resistance.
3
Connect these findings to the broader context of nineteenth-century European state expansion in Africa.
It illustrates that African states did not passively accept colonization but actively resisted it using a mix of modern military adaptation, diplomacy, and global trade.
This directly matches the learning objective of understanding State Expansion in Africa and the nature of indigenous resistance.

Key Concept

African resistance to European imperialism involved significant military adaptation, state building, and strategic engagement with global trade networks.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

State Expansion in Africa

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