Scramble for Africa · World History

What was the 'Principle of Effective Occupation' established in Berlin?

  1. A nation could claim land only by being the first to discover and map it
  2. A power had to establish treaties and physically occupy the territory
  3. Territory was divided based on existing maps from the 1500s
  4. Colonies could only be established on coastal areas
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Correct answer: A power had to establish treaties and physically occupy the territory

This principle prevented nations from claiming large swaths of land they did not actually control. It forced a 'scramble' as powers rushed to build outposts and sign lopsided treaties with local leaders.

Difficulty: Medium Question 12 of 20

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