British Expansion in Africa 1857-90

Question 1

When did Britain lose her American colonies?

Answer 1

1783.

Question 2

What was the ‘Swing to the East’?

Answer 2

A concept which attempts to explain the shift of British interests away from the Western hemisphere and towards Africa and Asia, by the end of the 19th century.

Question 3

When did Britain outlaw the slave trade?

Answer 3

1807.

Question 4

What are the 5 key reasons for British expansion in Africa 1857-1890?

Answer 4

1) Trade/economic factors.
2) Personal influence.
3) Strategic factors.
4) Moral factors.
5) Exploration.

Question 5

How did economic prospects encourage British expansion in Africa 1857-1890?

Answer 5

Britain was encouraged to expand in Africa due to the prospect of further trade, upon the opening up of new inland routes and the discovery of minerals and resources. Once acquired, investment opportunities emerged.

Question 6

What was the ‘cycle of dependency’?

Answer 6

The cycle of Britain exploiting African resources to manufacture goods, e.g. textiles, before selling them back at a higher rate to Africa. This was useful for the British economy during the Long Depression 1873-1896.

Question 7

How did personal influence result in British expansion in Africa 1857-1890?

Answer 7

An increase in trade led to many merchant-imperialists recognising and capitalising on the new commodities, in order to generate wealth. Examples include Cecil Rhodes and George Goldie.

Question 8

What were the three main strategic factors in British expansion in Africa 1857-1890?

Answer 8

1) Coastal interests in West Africa resulted in a string of forts being built along the Gold Coast, with further coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia.
2) The climate and deep waters of the Cape gave it advantages over other ports, whilst also protecting the sea routes to the East.
3) Protection of the Suez Canal.

Question 9

How did ‘morality’ influence British expansion in Africa 1857-1890?

Answer 9

Many of the British in the Victorian era believed themselves to have ‘strong moral principles’. From the 1860s onwards, Christian missionaries saw it as their duty to spread their religion and civilisation to ‘heathen’ peoples.

Question 10

How did exploration result in British expansion in Africa 1857-1890?

Answer 10

By 1857, most of Africa was chartered on European maps, leading to explorers locating vast reserves of raw materials, which European merchants sought to exploit and trade.

Question 11

When was the Berlin Conference?

Answer 11

1884-1885.

Question 12

What was the Berlin Conference 1884-85?

Answer 12

Fearing a war between European nations over colonial territory, European leaders met in Berlin. Hosted by Otto von Bismarck, the nations agreed claims to African territories (1884-1885).

Question 13

What is a protectorate?

Answer 13

An area with its own ruler, but placed under the protection of the British Crown, who controlled its military and influenced domestic policy through advisors.

Question 14

What is a settlement?

Answer 14

An area containing British settlers with various level of government control.

Question 15

What is a client state?

Answer 15

An area with its own ruler, but with strong British influence which restricted the ruler’s political, military and economic independence.

Question 16

What is chartered company rule?

Answer 16

An area run by a trading company with a charter from the British government giving them political and economic rights.

Question 17

What is an occupied area?

Answer 17

An area containing British military forces/settlers, but not under British control.

Question 18

What 4 African territories were protectorates, and when did each become one 1857-1890?

Answer 18

1) Basutoland (1868).
2) Zululand (1879).
3) British Somaliland (1884).
4) Bechuanaland (1885).

Question 19

What 2 African territories were settlements, and when did each become one 1857-1890?

Answer 19

1) Griqualand West (1873).
2) Gambia (1888).

Question 20

Which African territory was occupied, and when was it occupied 1857-1890?

Answer 20

Transvaal (1877).

Question 21

What 4 African territories were under chartered company rule 1857-1890?

Answer 21

1) Southern Nigeria (1884).
2) Northern Nigeria (1885).
3) British East Africa (1888).
4) Uganda (1888).

Question 22

Which African territory was a client state/veiled protectorate, and when did it become one 1857-1890?

Answer 22

Egypt (and the Sudan) (1882).

Question 23

What was a Khedive?

Answer 23

The ruler of Egypt, exercising authority on behalf of the Ottoman Sultan.

Question 24

Who was Isma’il Pasha?

Answer 24

The Khedive of Egypt and the Sudan from 1863-1879, helping to modernise Egypt and Sudan through industrial and economic development. However, this placed Egypt in huge debt.

Question 25

When, how, and why was British interest in Egypt revived in the 1860s?

Answer 25

When British cotton mills were starved of raw cotton during the American Civil War of 1861-65, Britain turned to Egypt, investing heavily in cotton production and Isma’il Pasha’s modernising programme.

Question 26

What is the Suez Canal and what was its significance 1857-90?

Answer 26

A canal in Egypt, connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean. This new route to India was 6000 miles shorter than via the Cape.

Question 27

What is a tariff?

Answer 27

A duty or tax paid on imported goods.

Question 28

What was the Suez Canal Company?

Answer 28

A French company (est. 1858) to run the Suez Canal for 99 years. They began work in 1959, and finished 10 years later, making shares available to the public.

Question 29

How did Britain establish control of the Suez Canal?

Answer 29

Facing increasing debts, Isma’il Pasha sold Egypt’s shares in 1875 for £4 million to Disraeli, who did so without parliamentary consent.

Question 30

When did Britain establish control of the Suez Canal?

Answer 30

1875.

Question 31

What is a puppet ruler?

Answer 31

A ruler who has to act as directed by their master.

Question 32

What was a Consul-General?

Answer 32

Britain’s highest governmental representative in overseas territory.

Question 33

What is a veiled protectorate?

Answer 33

A state controlled by another in an indirect manner.

Question 34

When and why did Tewfiq Pasha become the Khedive?

Answer 34

The Ottoman Sultan deposed Isma’il Pasha as Khedive in 1879, due to domestic and Anglo-French pressure. He was replaced by Tewfiq Pasha.

Question 35

What caused Arabi Pasha’s nationalist rebellion in Egypt (2)?

Answer 35

Holding influence due to British money keeping Egypt afloat, Lord Dufferin (British Commissioner) imposed taxes on Egyptian goods and reduced the army by 2/3 to prop up the economy. This resulted in unemployment, causing a nationalist rebellion led by Colonel Arabi Pasha and other army officers.

Question 36

What were the 2 main consequences of Arabi Pasha’s nationalist rebellion in Egypt?

Answer 36

1) Tewfiq was forced to appoint Arabi’s allies to government positions.
2) British concerns over trade, investment, the Suez Canal, and the 100,000 Europeans living in Egypt grew, as Arabi was firmly anti-European.

Question 37

Why did Arabi Pasha declare war against the British?

Answer 37

In June 1882, an uprising in Alexandra led to 50 European and 125 Egyptian deaths. Further revolts across Egypt led to Gladstone sending the British Navy to bombard Alexandra, killing civilians, destroying residential areas, and reducing defensive forts. Arabi Pasha declared war.

Question 38

Who was the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in Egypt in 1882?

Answer 38

Sir Garnet Wolseley.

Question 39

At what battle did the British defeat Arabi Pasha’s forces?

Answer 39

The Battle of Tel el-Kebir (September 1882).

Question 40

What were the 4 consequences of the British victory against Arabi Pasha in Egypt?

Answer 40

1) Enabled the British occupation of Egypt.
2) Tewfiq restored as a puppet ruler.
3) Evelyn Baring appointed as Consul-General to Egypt.
4) Tewfiq forced to create a government amendable to Britain, employ British military personnel to supervise his army, and rely on British advisors.

Question 41

What was the 1885 Convention of London?

Answer 41

A convention providing Egypt with an international loan, confirming British influence over Egypt.

Question 42

What is the Mahdi?

Answer 42

An Islamic saviour, who Muslims believe will rise at the end of time to bring justice to the world.

Question 43

What is a jihadist?

Answer 43

Someone who struggles against evil - can be an inward or outward struggle.

Question 44

Who was Muhammad Ahmad?

Answer 44

A Sudanese Islamic cleric, who opposed British influence in Sudan. In June 1881, he proclaimed himself the Mahdi, before transforming a pro-independence movement into a ‘jihadist army’.

Question 45

What did Muhammad Ahmad want?

Answer 45

He wanted to liberate Sudan from outside rule, whether British or Egyptian.

Question 46

Who was Charles Gordon (2)?

Answer 46

The Governor-General of Egyptian-administered Sudan, sent by the British on behalf of their ‘puppet’ Isma’il Pasha 1877-1880. He was sent back to Sudan to oversee the evacuation of Khartoum in 1884. Besieged in Khartoum by the jihadist forces, Gordon was killed in January 1885.

Question 47

What was the cause and result of Colonel Hicks’ counter-attack (1883)?

Answer 47

By 1882, the ‘jihadist army’ had taken complete control of the area surrounding Khartoum. In 1883, Colonel William Hicks launched a British-Egyptian counter-attack. This failed and resulted in Hicks’ death.

Question 48

What did Gladstone order after Hicks’ failed attack against the jihadist army?

Answer 48

Reluctant to enter further conflict, Gladstone ordered Gordon to oversee the British and Egyptian evacuation of Khartoum in 1884.

Question 49

What and when was the siege of Khartoum?

Answer 49

Mahdist forces took Khartoum in January 1885, killing nearly the entire garrison and beheading General Gordon. Gladstone did not retaliate, not wanting a further loss of life and money for no obvious gain.