Which principle was established at the Berlin Conference to justify European claims to African territories?

Effective occupation meant Europeans had to physically control territory to claim it. Simply planting a flag wasn’t enough anymore. Powers had to station troops and administrators to validate claims.

The Monroe Doctrine applied to the Americas, not Africa. Terra nullius (empty land) was used in Australia. The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal in 1494.

This principle sparked the “Scramble for Africa” as powers rushed to occupy land. It accelerated colonization dramatically after 1884.