Development of Imperialism Flashcards
(192 cards)
1
Q
When was the Suez Canal officially opened?
A
1869
2
Q
How many miles did the Suez Canal reduce the sea route from London to the Gulf of Arabia?
A
About 5,000 miles
3
Q
Who was granted the concession to build the Suez Canal, and in what year?
A
French architect Ferdinand de Lesseps in 1854
4
Q
When was forced labour in the canal’s construction outlawed, and by whom?
A
In 1864, by Napoleon III
5
Q
By how much did Egypt’s national debt increase from 1863 to 1875?
A
From approximately £7 million to £100 million
6
Q
What percentage of Suez Canal shares did Isma’il Pasha sell to Britain in 1875?
A
0.44
7
Q
How much did Britain pay for the Suez Canal shares in 1875, and who provided the loan?
A
£4 million, loaned by Lionel de Rothschild
8
Q
In what year was Isma’il Pasha deposed, and who succeeded him?
A
1879; succeeded by his son, Tewfiq Pasha
9
Q
When did the Anglo-Egyptian War occur?
A
1882
10
Q
What were the dates of the Bombardment of Alexandria?
A
11–13 July 1882
11
Q
When was the Battle of Tel El Kebir fought, and what was its significance?
A
13 September 1882; decisive British victory in the Anglo-Egyptian War (The Egyptian army was probably around 20,000 troops with 60 guns. The British and Indian force comprised 11,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 45 guns.)
12
Q
What were the British casualties at the Battle of Tel El Kebir?
A
57 killed, 380 wounded, 22 missing
13
Q
How many Egyptian troops were killed at Tel El Kebir?
A
Around 2,000
14
Q
What was the significance of the Convention of London in 1885?
A
It confirmed Britain’s rule in Egypt as a ‘veiled protectorate’
15
Q
What does ‘veiled protectorate’ mean in the context of British rule in Egypt?
A
Britain controlled Egypt without formal annexation or legal codification
16
Q
By 1914, what percentage of foreign capital investments in Egypt were non-productive?
A
0.79 (E210,000,000)
17
Q
How many Egyptians were conscripted for manual labour during WWI?
A
Over 300,000
18
Q
When did Britain issue the Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence?
A
28 February 1922
19
Q
What did the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936 stipulate about British troops?
A
British troops could remain in the Suez Canal zone until 1956
20
Q
When did the last British forces withdraw from Egypt?
A
18 June 1956
21
Q
When did Muhammad Ali Pasha’s forces take control of Sudan, establishing Turkish Sudan (Turkiyya)?
A
1820–1824
22
Q
What was the duration of Turkish Sudan under Egyptian control?
A
1820–1885
23
Q
What was a significant consequence of Muhammad Ali’s conquest of Sudan?
A
Enslavement of thousands of Sudanese for military and agricultural purposes
24
Q
In what year was Colonel Charles Gordon appointed Governor-General of Sudan by Disraeli?
A
1877
25
What was one of Gordon's main objectives in Sudan?
To end the slave trade
26
What economic impact did Gordon's anti-slavery policies have in Sudan?
Caused an economic crisis and angered slave traders
27
Who proclaimed himself the Mahdi and initiated a jihad against foreign powers in 1881?
Muhammad Ahmad
28
What was the significance of the Mahdi's proclamation in 1881?
Initiated the Mahdist War against Egyptian and British control
29
What major battle occurred in 1883 where Mahdist forces defeated Anglo-Egyptian troops?
Battle of Sheikan
30
What was the outcome of the Battle of Sheikan in 1883?
Mahdist victory; Colonel William Hicks was killed
31
What action did Gladstone order in 1884 regarding British troops in Sudan?
Evacuation of British troops
32
How did Colonel Gordon respond to the evacuation order in 1884?
Refused to retreat and decided to defend Khartoum
33
When did the Siege of Khartoum take place?
13 March 1884 – 26 January 1885
34
What was the outcome of the Siege of Khartoum in 1885?
Mahdist forces captured Khartoum; Gordon was killed
35
How long did Britain wait to re-engage in Sudan after the fall of Khartoum?
Until 1896
36
When did the Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan occur?
1896–1899
37
What was the result of the Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan by 1899?
Defeat of the Mahdist State and re-establishment of Anglo-Egyptian rule
38
What was the political status of Sudan under British and Egyptian control starting in 1899?
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, a condominium
39
When did Sudan gain independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule?
1 January 1956
40
What was the Government of India Act, 1858?
Transferred control from the East India Company to the British Crown; established the position of Secretary of State for India and the India Council of 15 members.
41
When was Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India?
1877, by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
42
How many members were in the India Council established by the 1858 Act?
15 members.
43
How many Bengali regiments were disbanded after the Mutiny?
62 out of 74 regiments.
44
When was the first passenger train launched in India?
1853, between Bombay and Thane.
45
What was the composition strategy for Indian regiments post-Mutiny?
Mixed by caste and religion; increased recruitment of Gurkhas and Sikhs.
46
What was the role of the Viceroy in India?
Ran the government through a legislative council of five people focusing on finance, law, army, economy, and home affairs.
47
How did British officials view Indian customs during the Raj?
Often looked down upon; Lord Curzon described his role as a "civilising mission."
48
What was the British attitude towards Indian political awareness?
Believed it was nonexistent; historian Martin Kitchen noted the lack of political awareness among locals.
49
Where were Indian troops deployed abroad by the British?
For example, to suppress Arabi Pasha’s 1882 rebellion in Egypt.
50
When was Germany unified, and what was its impact?
1871; began expanding its navy, threatening British naval dominance.
51
What industrial development did Germany undertake in 1904?
Creation of the Steel Works Association to export steel globally.
52
What territories did France add to French Indochina by 1893?
Cambodia (1863), Vietnam (1885), and Laos (1893).
53
How did Britain respond to French expansion in Southeast Asia?
Took control of Malaya in 1874 and Burma in 1885.
54
What was Russia's significant infrastructure project in 1891?
Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
55
What global economic event occurred between 1873 and 1896?
A worldwide economic depression.
56
How did the 1873–1896 depression affect British trade?
Led Britain to seek new markets in Asia and Africa due to falling domestic demand.
57
What was the impact of Germany's industrialization on Britain?
Increased competition in manufacturing industries.
58
Why were European powers increasingly suspicious of each other in the late 1800s?
Due to imperial expansions and conflicting interests abroad.
59
What was the significance of the City of Glasgow Bank's bankruptcy?
Highlighted the global financial instability during the 1873–1896 depression.
60
When was the Brussels Conference held, and who hosted it?
1876, hosted by King Leopold II of Belgium.
61
What atrocities occurred under Leopold II's rule in the Congo?
Approximately 10 million deaths due to forced labor and famine.
62
What justification was used for European intervention in Africa at the Brussels Conference?
Belief that Africans were incapable of developing their resources.
63
When was the Berlin Conference held, and who hosted it?
1884–1885, hosted by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
64
What was a key outcome of the Berlin Conference?
Establishment of rules for the partition of Africa among European powers.
65
How did European powers view African societies during the Scramble for Africa?
As inferior and in need of European governance.
66
What was the impact of European colonization on African economies?
Exploitation of natural resources and disruption of local economies.
67
How did the Scramble for Africa affect European relations?
Increased tensions and rivalries among European powers.
68
What was the role of the Royal Navy in Africa during this period?
To protect British interests and enforce colonial policies.
69
What was Leopold II's stated mission at the Brussels Conference?
To "open up to civilization the only part of our globe which it has not yet penetrated."
70
What is meant by Britain's 'informal empire'?
Areas where Britain had influence without formal colonial control, often through economic agreements.
71
Which theory did Gallagher and Robinson propose in 1953?
The 'Imperialism of Free Trade,' distinguishing between formal and informal empire.
72
What significant event occurred in Iran in 1891?
A British company acquired rights to the entire Iranian tobacco industry.
73
What was the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company's agreement in 1901?
Obtained all rights to Iran's oil for 60 years.
74
How much British public capital was invested in Latin America by 1865?
£80 million.
75
What did economists Bordo & Rockoff find about investment patterns?
More money was invested in formal colonies like India than informal ones like Argentina.
76
How did Britain enforce 'free trade' agreements in Latin America?
Through military interventions by the Royal Navy in countries like Peru and Chile.
77
What was the significance of the 'invisible flag' of informal empire?
Symbolized British economic influence without formal governance.
78
How did British informal empire strategies affect local economies?
Led to economic dependency and limited local industrial development.
79
What was a common method for Britain to maintain its informal empire?
Establishing economic dominance through trade agreements and financial investments.
80
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81
When did Britain consolidate its control over the Cape Colony?
After the Napoleonic Wars
82
What was the significance of the Berlin Conference (1884-85)?
It regulated European colonization of Africa and formalized British claims to territories
83
What British colony was created in 1885 in Africa?
British East Africa Protectorate (later Kenya)
84
When was the British South Africa Company formed?
1889 by Cecil Rhodes
85
How many miles of railway did the British build in East Africa by 1900?
Over 500 miles of railway
86
What was the role of Cecil Rhodes in British expansion?
He was key in expanding British territory through the British South Africa Company and mining enterprises
87
When did the Anglo-Zulu War take place?
1879
88
What was the outcome of the Anglo-Zulu War?
British victory and annexation of Zululand
89
When did the First Boer War occur?
1880-1881
90
What was the result of the First Boer War?
Boer victory
91
When was the Second Boer War?
1899-1902
92
How many British troops were deployed in the Second Boer War?
Over 400
93
What was the civilian impact of the Second Boer War?
Over 100,000 Boer civilians, mostly women and children, were forcibly relocated into concentration camps, where 26,000 died, mostly by starvation and disease. Black Africans were interned in concentration camps to prevent them from supplying the Boers; 20,000 died.
94
When was the Union of South Africa formed?
1910
95
What was the significance of the Union of South Africa?
It unified British colonies and Boer republics under one government controlled by white settlers
96
What was the impact of the South African War (Second Boer War) on British imperial policy?
Led to reforms in colonial governance and military
97
Who was Joseph Chamberlain?
British Colonial Secretary (1895-1903) who promoted imperial expansion and consolidation in Africa
98
What economic resource was central to British interests in South Africa?
Gold and diamonds in the Witwatersrand and Kimberley regions
99
How did British policy affect indigenous Africans during consolidation?
Dispossession of land
100
What were some historical interpretations of British expansion into Africa?
Debates include views of imperialism as civilizing mission vs. economic exploitation and political domination
101
What was the impact of the Scramble for Africa on British imperial strategy?
Increased competition
102
When was Northern Rhodesia established?
1911 under British South Africa Company control
103
What was the role of missionary societies in British expansion?
They promoted British culture
104
How did the British government control the economy in African colonies?
Through monopolies
105
What was the significance of the Cape to Cairo railway scheme?
An imperial vision to connect British territories across Africa for trade and control
106
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107
How many British and colonial troops fought in WWI?
Over 8 million
108
What percentage of British manpower in WWI came from the colonies?
About 20%
109
How many Indian soldiers served in WWI?
Approximately 1.3 million
110
What was the significance of the Balfour Declaration (1917)?
Promised British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine
111
When did Britain receive the League of Nations mandate over Palestine?
1920
112
What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement?
1916 secret agreement dividing Ottoman territories between Britain and France
113
How many casualties did Britain suffer in WWI?
Around 900
114
How did WWI affect nationalist movements in the British Empire?
It stimulated demands for self-government
115
When was the Easter Rising in Ireland?
1916
116
What was the result of the Easter Rising?
It led to increased support for Irish independence and eventual partition
117
When was the Government of Ireland Act passed?
1920
118
How did WWI impact the Irish economy?
Severe disruption with increased unemployment and economic hardship
119
How did WWI affect Palestine?
Increased Jewish immigration and tensions between Jews and Arabs
120
When did WWII begin and end?
1939-1945
121
How many troops did Britain mobilize in WWII?
Around 5.9 million from Britain and its empire
122
What was the economic impact of WWII on Britain?
Huge debt (£22
123
How did WWII affect decolonization?
Accelerated independence movements and weakened British control over colonies
124
What role did colonial troops play in WWII?
Over 2.5 million from India and many others from Africa and the Caribbean served in various theatres
125
When was the Jewish Agency established in Palestine?
1929
126
What was the Peel Commission Report?
1937 report proposing partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states
127
How did WWII impact Ireland?
Neutrality maintained but economic difficulties worsened
128
What was the Blitz?
1940-41 German bombing campaign against British cities during WWII
129
How did WWII affect Palestine’s political situation?
Heightened tensions
130
What was the Atlantic Charter?
1941 agreement between Churchill and Roosevelt supporting self-determination post-WWII
131
What happened in the 1936-39 Arab Revolt in Palestine?
Major uprising against British rule and Jewish immigration
132
How many people were killed in the Arab Revolt?
Approximately 5
133
What was the impact of the 1922 Churchill White Paper on Palestine?
Limited Jewish immigration but reaffirmed British commitment to Balfour Declaration
134
How many Irish soldiers fought in WWI?
About 200
135
What was the Irish War of Independence?
1919-1921 guerrilla war leading to the Anglo-Irish Treaty and creation of the Irish Free State
136
When was the Irish Free State established?
1922
137
What was the economic condition of Britain post-WWII?
Severe austerity
138
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139
What year did India gain independence from Britain?
1947
140
What was the average annual cost of maintaining the British Empire post-WWII?
Around £200 million by the 1950s
141
Which war highlighted the limits of British military power and influenced decolonisation?
The Suez Crisis
142
How many British troops were deployed in Kenya during the Mau Mau Uprising?
Around 12
143
When did the Mau Mau Uprising occur?
1952–1960
144
What was the estimated number of deaths during the Mau Mau Uprising?
Approximately 12
145
When was Ghana the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence?
1957
146
How many African colonies gained independence between 1957 and 1967?
Over 20
147
When did Malaya gain independence?
1957
148
What economic challenge did Britain face that accelerated decolonisation?
Post-war debt and declining industrial competitiveness
149
When was the Central African Federation created?
1953
150
Which countries made up the Central African Federation?
Northern Rhodesia
151
When did Nyasaland gain independence (now Malawi)?
1964
152
When did Northern Rhodesia become Zambia?
1964
153
When did Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declare independence?
1965 (Unilateral Declaration of Independence)
154
What were key reasons for British decolonisation after WWII?
Economic strain
155
How did the Labour government influence decolonisation?
Accelerated process with reforms and granting independence to colonies
156
When did Ceylon (Sri Lanka) gain independence?
1948
157
When did Burma (Myanmar) gain independence?
1948
158
What was the impact of the 1947 Indian Partition?
Creation of India and Pakistan
159
When did Malaya face the Emergency War?
1948–1960
160
What role did the United Nations play in decolonisation?
Provided a platform for colonies to seek independence and put pressure on colonial powers
161
How did the Cold War affect British decolonisation?
Britain aimed to retain influence and prevent communist expansion in former colonies
162
What percentage of Britain's foreign investment was in the empire in 1950?
Around 30%
163
When did Tanganyika gain independence?
1961
164
When did Nigeria gain independence?
1960
165
What was the policy of ‘Independence within the Commonwealth’?
Granting self-government while keeping countries linked to Britain
166
How did the economy of the British Empire change after WWII?
Shift from trade dominance to reliance on Commonwealth and the US
167
Which African country was the last to gain independence before 1967?
Botswana in 1966
168
What was the ‘Wind of Change’ speech?
1960 speech by Harold Macmillan acknowledging the irreversible tide of African nationalism
169
When did South Africa become a republic and leave the Commonwealth?
1961
170
What was the impact of nationalist movements on British colonies?
They pressured Britain to grant independence and reform colonial governance
171
What was the main reason for British retention of some colonies post-1945?
Strategic and economic importance (e.g.
172
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173
When did the Windrush ship arrive in Britain?
1948
174
Approximately how many Caribbean immigrants arrived in Britain on the Windrush and shortly after?
Around 492 passengers on the Windrush; tens of thousands more followed in the 1950s
175
What was the purpose of the British Nationality Act 1948?
Granted citizenship and right of abode to Commonwealth citizens
176
When was the Commonwealth Immigrants Act introduced?
1962
177
What did the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 do?
Introduced immigration controls restricting entry of Commonwealth citizens to Britain
178
How many immigrants were estimated to have arrived in Britain from the Commonwealth between 1948 and 1962?
Approximately 500
179
What social issues arose from Windrush and post-war Commonwealth immigration?
Racial tensions
180
What was the significance of the Notting Hill riots?
Race riots in 1958 highlighting racial tensions in Britain
181
What was the main reason behind the introduction of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act?
To reduce the number of immigrants from former colonies due to public and political pressure
182
When was the Immigration Act passed that further tightened controls?
1968
183
What was the residual impact of the British Empire on Britain?
Cultural diversity
184
How many Commonwealth countries were there by 1967?
Over 30 member countries
185
How did Windrush immigrants contribute to Britain?
Rebuilding the economy post-WWII
186
What role did the British Empire legacy play in Britain's multicultural society?
It created a diverse population with cultural influences from across the Commonwealth
187
What were some challenges faced by Commonwealth immigrants in Britain?
Discrimination in employment
188
How did British attitudes towards immigration change in the 1950s and 60s?
Shifted from welcoming to more restrictive and hostile
189
What did the 1968 Immigration Act specifically target?
Restrictions on Kenyan Asians and other specific Commonwealth immigrant groups
190
When did Britain experience its first major race riots related to Commonwealth immigration?
1958 Notting Hill riots
191
What was the effect of the Empire Windrush generation on British culture?
Introduction of Caribbean music
192
How did the British government justify restricting immigration from the Commonwealth?
Economic concerns and rising public pressure over social cohesion
