Imperial And Colonial Policy (1857-1890) Flashcards
What were the political reasons for Britain’s change in policy in North Africa?
. Threat that Egyptian nationalism would have freed Egypt from Turkish control and allowed it to form alliances with other powers
What were the economic reasons for Britain’s change in policy in North Africa?
. Significant financial investments had been made in Egypt
. Trade with Egypt was vital
. Needed to protect revenue of the trade routes to India
What were the imperial reasons for Britain’s change in policy in North Africa?
. Suez Canal was the easiest route to India
. Vital strategically to protect trade routes
What were the reasons for Britain feeling more concerned with European rivals in late C.19?
. Germany became a united country in 1871 and had a favourable location in Central Europe
. German merchant ships made an increasing appearance on the High Seas
. France determined to assert ‘rightful place’ in the world after being defeated by Germany in 1871 in the Franco-Prussian War
. By 1884, Russia had taken its empire to the borders of Afghanistan
. Russia began constructing a railway network
. Naval building programmes of France and Russia became a threat from 1880s
. French established foothold in Indo-China in 1860s and began to push north
. Russia seemed to want to expand empire into North China
. Impact on industrialising countries from the Long Depression encouraged new interest into African expansion
When was the Brussels conference?
1876
Why did the Brussels conference take place?
Due to a desire to protect King Leopold II of Belgiums’s personal interests and holdings in Congo.
. To find out others intentions in Africa
. To organise how to split Africa
What was decided at the Brussels conference?
. Africans were incapable of developing natural resources to be found in Central Africa so Europeans had to intervene
. Routes to Africa’s Great Lakes needed to be developed by building roads or railways
. An International African Association should be established to coordinate the European efforts and interventions
What were the consequences of the Brussels conference?
. Co-operation supposedly promoted and there was heightened competition as European governments became suspicious of Leopold’s intentions
. Became apparent that Leopold wanted his own Congo Empire
. IAA hired Morton Stanley to advise what happened in the Congo region
. French hired Italian-born explorer to stake their claims over Africa
. German government hired explorer Gustavia Nachtigal to assert influence
. France extended control from Senegal to Western Sudan in 1879
. Portugal asserted its claims to control the mouth of the Congo River in 1884
When was the Berlin Conference?
1884-85
Why did the Berlin Conference occur?
There was a need for some regulation of European expansion
Who hosted the Berlin Conference?
Otto Van Bismarck (German Chancellor)
How much of Africa was under European control before and after Berlin Conference?
1884: 80% under local control, European powers largely restricted to coastal Africa
1900: 90%
What was the initial task of the Berlin conference?
Secure agreement that both the basins and mouths of the Congo and Niger River’s were to remain neutral and open to trade
What was included in the signing of the General Act?
. all nations should be allowed to trade in the basin of Congo and its outlets
- Free trade in these regions
. Powers with influence in a taken area should protect indigenous people and suppress slave trade
. Powers should support and protect religious, scientific or charitable undertakings, Christian’s missionaries, scientists and explorers
. If any power takes possession of further land on the coast of Africa, they should notify signatories of the Act
What were the consequences of the signing of the General Act?
. Established ‘effective occupation’: European powers could assert a claim to land that is ‘effectively’ occupied and should notify other powers of this
. Triggered further scramble for Africa
Who took part in the Berlin Conference?
Foreign ministers of 14 different European states and USA
Main players: France, Germany, GB, Portugal who all had most territory in Africa at the time
What were the successes of the Berlin conference?
. Enabled European countries to expand their empire orderly and without conflicting each other
. Africa became a ‘safe-arena’ for competing countries as they wouldn’t tread on each others toes due to the size of Africa
What were the failures of the Berlin conference?
. Violence was perpetrated by Europeans on African communities to take over
. General Act did little for indigenous populations
. No African representation/say
. Spheres of influence were mapped out without care for: natural borders, ethnics, linguistic or religious divisions
What were the consequences of the Berlin conference?
. Established legal claim by Europeans that all of Africa could be occupied by whoever
. Established a process for Europeans to cooperate rather than fight with each other
. Legitimised colonisation of Africa
. Africa became firmly under European control
. Boost to resources/industry of European powers
. More rivalry between European powers over territories
. Impact on indigenous peoples and conflict led to future conflicts
What did Lord Rosebery’s speech in 1893 say about the Empire’s duty to colonise?
. ‘Part of our heritage’
. ‘Must be English-speaking’
How did the British empire feel they were doing good by expanding into Africa?
. The work was ‘ordained by God’
. Africa had been a ‘dark continent’ before Britain came in
. David Livingstone and his companions wanted a ‘new world’ based on Christianity and Free trade (two Victorian obsessions)
. Empire had a ‘civilising’ mission
. Life for missionaries was difficult as there was hostility and disease
What is the negative view and reality of why Britain wanted to expand its empire?
. European hunger for resources
. Persecution of African people
. Civilising/education of indigenous people was just an excuse/justification
. Imposed boundaries around ethnic groups
. ‘Divide and rule’ - exploited ethnic and religious differences to increase control
What was the phrase to show the importance of India to empire?
‘Jewel in the crown’ - oldest part of the British empire
When was the EIC set up?
Start of C.17, gave Indians a huge amount of wealth and historic foothold
How did Jeremy Paxton say British gained control of India?
. First Brits arrived as traders and embraced the Indian way of life
. Charles Stuart worked for EIC, joined Indian’s in bathing at Calcutta River
. Charles Stuart became known as ‘Hindu Stuart’ - encouraged fellow Europeans to embrace Indian culture
. Many British men had interracial sex = Anglo-Indians
. Estimated 150k Anglo-Indians in India today
How did Britain’s attitudes towards India change in the Victorian era?
. Religious revival meant Christianity spread
. Victorian values such as missionaries arrived in India
. Many Victorian’s found India hard to live in so set up Hillside communities (bungalows) which separated British from India - less embracing of culture
. British disliked the ‘natives capacity for uncleanliness’ - saw natives as inferior
. Many lived ‘in fear’ of India
What are Princely states?
States with native rulers which had entered into treaty relations with British
Why was the Colonial Office made?
To deal with the policies for Britain’s overseas territories which the elected government were in charge of
How did the Colonial Office initially come about?
1801 - William Pit the Younger’s government established the colonial office, initially combined with the War Office
When was the colonial office divided into departments?
1854:
. N. America
. Australia
. West Indies (British colonies in Carribean)
. Africa
. Mediterranean
1870 - General department added
How many men could vote from 1867?
Around 2.5 million out of 30 million British men
