Chapter2: Imperial And Colonail Policy Flashcards
(31 cards)
When was the colonial office established?
Established by William pitt the younger government in 1801.
How was the colonial office divided?
Five departments:
North America
Australia
West Indies
Africa
Mediterranean
How did democracy work in the 19th century?
1867, only around 2.5 million men could vote out of 30million and the right to vote depended upon the property ownership.
1884 this extended to encompass 2/3rds of British men
How was the colonial office organised?
It was headed by a cabinet minister called ‘Secretary of state for the conlonies’ or ‘Colonial Secretary’ , this office was know as a stepping stone into higher posts.
How did the colonial office bypass local administrations?
When dealing with new aquisitions the office, order where issued upon the advice of law officer in London therefore the office could administer to crown colonies without having to consult local leaders.
What’s rea did the colonial office not administer to?
- Protectorates such as Egypt nd treaty ports into china fell under the administrative jurisdiction of the Foreign office, administered by the foreign secretary.
- From 1858 a separate India office was established to handle Indian and East Asian affairs reflecting the importance of British involvement in India.
What is the system of responsible Government and where was it?
Responsible Government: Area have their own government ministers who answer to their own elected parliaments. British governors ruled with the support of the representative assemblies (voter mostly settlers).
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Cape colony.
Why did the Caribbean colonies not get a system of responsible government?
There was a low number of white voters to elect a British govenor, this system could not be manipulated to the British’s advantage. 2000 white people to 456,00 Jamaicans in 1864.
What was the brith east india company?
Granted a monopoly over India in the 1600s, and by 18thc had large bases at madras, Calcutta and Bombay. Robert Clive deafteated france at the battle of plaster and thus took dominant control over the region.
Their rule ended after their increasing expansionism prompted the Indian rebellion of 1857.
What was the government of India Act and when?
1858:
- EIC territory’s passed to queen and company dissolved
- Secretary of state for India post created received power formerly held by EIC directors
-council of 15 member with experience of Indian affair was appointed to assiste the Secretary of State
- Viceroy appointed to replace company governor general and administer of behalf of the queen
- Indian civil service placed under the control of the Secretary of State
When did the Raj last?
1858-1948
When was
Q
When was Queen Victoria made empress of India?
1877
How was India administered?
Viceroy ruled through a chain of white British command supported by the Indianan civil service placed under which barred Indians from high level posts.
A council; of five held responsibility for finance, law, economy and home affairs.
The viceroy was represented by a provincial governor in the Provences which had their own legislative councils.
How did the Indian administration gain loyalty of Princely states?
The removed the Doctrine of Lapse in 1858, this doctrine had assumed control over princely states when their was no appropriate heir or the heir was adopted. This caused much discontent among the leaders of the princely states.
How where the princely states administered to?
40% of India was made up of princely states which retained India ruler in treaty alliance with Britain, their where responsible for their external affairs and defence with some influence over policy.
In major princely states a resident was installed on behalf of the viceroy.
How did British administration differ from the EIC?
- Legal system developed and EIC court where merged with crown courts with English law prevailing
- years after the rebellion more attention was paid to Indian traditions and custom relating to marriages and family law.
- Christian missionaries where discouraged
- British leadership promoted the building of a railway to increase productivity and to transport British troops.
When was Indian national congress formed and what was it ?
1885:
A place that offered up a forum for debate on current affairs.
How where the British troops changed under the British administration?
- EIC armies brought under the crown and proportion of British troops to Indian is raised to 1:2, 70,000 brits to 125,000 by late 1880s.
- Indian troops where stationed in their own garrison very sperate from one another to emo e any sense of unity, they where also mixed by caste and religion.
- higher number of Gurkhas and Sikh employed who had been loyal.
- 62 o 74 bengali regiment disbanded
- all field artillery placed in bright hands
- Indians prevents from holding high ranks
How did Germany pose a threat to Britain’s position?
United as a single country in 1871, was central in Europe with plenty of resources, German merchant ships began to increase in the sea.
How did Russia pose threat to Britain’s imperial interest?
Bean to construct a railway network into Afghanistan where it control was already asserted, Britain feared it could veer into India.
Russia embed in expansion into the north of china working on the trans-Siberian railway.
How did France pose a threat to Britain imperial actions?
Rebuilt military and naval powers.
France had established a foot into Indo-china ( Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos)
How did the british Respond to french imperialism in south east Asia?
Expanded, annexing territory in malaya and extending influence beyond base in Singapore into Sarawak, north Borneo and Brunei with Thailand as a buffer between.
