Chapter One Flashcards
(17 cards)
When and what was the Berlin Conference?
The Berlin Conference: 1884-85
European leaders mer due to fear of skirmishes leading into a full blown war in Europe.
The conference was held to agree claims to African colonies however no representative from africa were invited nor were cultural practices or wishes of native taken into consideration. Europeans simply grabbed at any land they could leading it to be called the ‘scramble for Africa’
What is the Swing to the East?
Vincent Harlow recognised a shift in British Imperial priorities by the 19th century and recognised the shift in focus to africa and Asia marking and desire for control and economic dominance. The phrase was introduced to encompass this.
How was Trade and economy a reason for British expansion in africa .
- British wanted to open up more trade routes and find minerals
- Investment opportunities and strategic interests
- Coal iron and timber sought for industrial demands in Britain
- Cycle dependant established as Britain exploited African resources to make goods which where then sold back to africa
How was personal interest/influence a motivating factor for British expansion into Africa?
- Merchant-Imperialists such as George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes capitalised on new commodities and gained fame in return.
- Victorian explorers sought and traced the continents waterways and published their findings and produced maps
How was strategic factors a motivating factor in British expansion into africa?
- British costal endeavours in west africa needed protection so a string of forts along the gold coats, Sierra Leone and Gambia
- establishment of the cape strategic as temperate climate and deep sea port had advantages
- cape colony protected the sea route to the Middle East, china, Australia, and india giving Britain large power over sea routes to the east.
How were moral factors a motivating factor in British expansion into africa?
- Victorian’s had ‘Strong moral principles’ leading missionaries to believe it was their moral duty to spread faith to ‘heathen’ peoples
- Missionaries saw the empire as a force for civilisation
- People believed in a system of dividing ‘good’ from ‘evil’ and applied this to the empire dividing ‘civilised from ‘uncivilised’
How was exploration a motivating factor in British expansion into africa?
- 1857 most of africa had been added to the European maps beside the Congo river
- Explorers located vast reserves of raw materials such as gold, palm oil and diamonds which where later exploited
When and Why was British interests in Africa revived?
1861-1865:
The American civil war British mills became starved of cotton, of which Egypt had lots of good quality cotton. This drew those who were eager to find new sources of cotton leading Britain to invest heavily in the production of Egyptian cotton.
By 1870 how much of Egypt’s import came from Britain?
40% of imports
Who was the leader of Egypt and his successor?
Khedive Is’mail Pasha and he was succeed by his son Tewfiq who became a puppet ruler.
Why was the Suez Canal significant?
It connected the Mediterranean with the Red Sea and the Arab peninsula and made the route to india 6000 miles shorter than via the cape.
When did Britain buy shares to the Suez Canal?
1875 Khedvie is’mail pasha had to sell his shares due to debt and they were bought by Prime minister Benjamin Disraeli for £4million.
Why was there an uprising under arabi pasha?
To combat the ailing economy of Egypt taxes where imposed on Egyptian goods and it army was reduced to 2/3 it size causing unemployment and discontent.
How did Britain occupy Egypt?
After the defeat of Arabi Pasha at Tel el-Kebir Britain re took Cairo and installed Tewfiq as a puppet ruler with Evelyn Baring as the Consul-General, requiring him to employ British military personnel and Britain secured them a loan.
What position did Egypt hold?
Egypt was known as a veiled protectorate.
Why was their unrest in Sudan?
Colonel Gordon was governor general of Egypt administered Sudan and from 1877-1880 they faced opposition from Sudanese’s cleric Muhammad Ahmad who proclaimed himself Mahdi. There was long term hostility with Egyptian rule and resentment of British administration led to an unprinted resulting in the death of generals Hicks and Gordon.
How were moral factors a motivating factor into British expansion in Africa?
Victorians had strong moral principles leading missionaries to believe it was their moral duty to spread faith to the empire
Missionaries saw the empire as a force for civilisation
People believed in a system of dividing ‘good’ from ‘evil’ and used this principle to divide ‘civilised’ from ‘uncivilised’ .
