Section 2 - Imperial consolidation and Liberal Rule Flashcards
(15 cards)
How did British policy in Africa change after 1890?
- Until the 1880’s, the British had established bases for strategic value or for trade, like reacting to other powers, and claiming areas where traders had already established themselves. British policy had been cautious.
- This changed as Imperial attitudes in Britain had an affect.
- The conservative government (elected 1895) wanted to uphold Britain’s position in every part of the world
- Imperialism became more organised. British protectorates expanded to protect pre-existing territories while new territories were taken to limit advance of Europeans.
How did Britain expand Africa from 1890-14?
British occupied territory was converted into British protectorates or colonies in the years 1890-1914. The occupation of territories by chartered companies (which produced evidence of effective occupation) gave way to formal control from the 1890s.
The British expanded through treaties, intimidation and aggression. If investments were threatened by local crises or resistance, the British felt they had a right to take action, using force and coercion.
How did the British expand into Zanzibar (British East Africa)?
ZANZIBAR:
- Zanzibar was ceded to British influence through a treaty and it was declared a protectorate
- Puppet Sultan installed, he died and his cousin Khalid took his role without Britain’s blessing
- Khalid refused to stand down, naval bombardment from Britain. Khalid overthrown and pro British sultan placed on the throne, where he ruled under British protection.
How did the British expand into Uganda (British East Africa)?
- Missionaries paved the way through Buganda throughout the 19th century
- Treaty between King Mwanga and British East Africa Company which gave power to the company. Later transferred to the crown in 1894, Buganda became a protectorate as part of Uganda.
- The British construction of the Uganda railway consolidated British formal takeover, it linked colonies and with the Indian ocean.
- The Railway workers worked in appalling conditions. The railway was justified as it enabled access to new markets, it encouraged colonial settlement, facilitated exports and promoted British tourism.
How did the British expand into Kenya (British East Africa)?
- Kenya was partitioned into British sphere of influence at the Berlin Conference. It offered a route from the Coast to Uganda.
- British used a succession dispute to try to force their way into control.
- Arms were taken up against the British, took them months to crush. The leader fled and Kenya became part of Britain’s East Africa’s protectorate.
How did the British expand into Sudan? (British East Africa)
- The Fashoda Incident
- Gladstone wanted troops to be withdrawn from Egypt when it was safe to do so, but Salisbury, the prime minister, believed Egypt was vital to the security of Britain’s sea route to India and so he wanted to reconquer parts of the Sudan. He was also worried about interest from other powers in Sudan, like the French and German trying to take the Nile headwaters.`
- There were Italian forces defeated at Adowa, which gave Salisbury the excuse he needed for a British campaign in Sudan.
- General sir Herbert Kitchener was given orders to penetrate Sudanese territory, but he wanted to go further than instructed and conquer the whole region. His army won a victory at the battle of Omdurman in 1898.
- Kitchener was then given sealed orders by Salisbury to go to Fashoda on the Nile, where a French expedition had arrived. Both Kitchener and the French pressed their claims to the area. The British press reacted strongly to the incident, suggesting Britain and France were on the brink of war. The French government backed down as they were facing internal problems. 1899 agreement that the French would stay out of the Nile for territory further West.
- 1899, Agreement between Britain and Egypt’s veiled protectorate, where Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established. Arrangement known as a condominium, where the Sudan would be ran by the British with Egyptian support. Lord Kitchener appointed as first governor- general.
How did the British expand into Somaliland (British East Africa)?
Used administrative and military personnel to limit French and Italians in the area. Its location was important since it had access to the Indian Ocean for colonies in the East.
How did the British expand into Rhodesia (British South Africa)?
- ‘South Zambesia’, home to the Ndebele
- European discovery that there was gold in the region.
- Cecil Rhodes British South Africa Company established mining concessions, and was followed by white settlers with permission to create a British protectorate.
- First Ndebele war as they resisted, the king escaped and resistance continued , even though Rhodes named the area after himself.
- Second Ndebele War , unsuccessful rising against colonial rule - British control
How did the British expand control into Nyasaland (British South Africa)?
- Had been opened up by Livingstone and settled by Scottish missionaries. They however faced Portuguese backed Arab attacks.
- The protectorate was formally ratified by the British government in 1891
- Indigenous resistance continued
- Became a protectorate in 1907
How did the British expand control into the Cape Colony (British South Africa)?
- In 1895, gold seeking Uitlanders of the Transvaal were being denied citizenship and voting rights by the Boer government under Paul Kruger, sought the help of Cecil Rhodes.
- A raid was launched on the Transvaal from British Rhodesia by Dr Jameson. The raid brought discredit to the British and made the Boers want to resist British intrusions. Kruger became a hero and the Boers in the Cape formed an anti-British ‘Afrikaner Bond’ to show solidarity with Transvaal Boers,
- Joseph Chamberlain didn’t want British influence to be weakened. There were negotiations with the Boers but these broke down in 1899 when…
- the Boers invaded British territory. Began the Second Boer War. Boers had success at first but British brought troops from the Empire and took the power from the Boers in 1900. British ‘scorched earth’ policies were designed to remove civilian support for the Boers by burning farms, to decimate supplies of food and shelter for soldiers and civillians. Many people were put into concentration camps where thousands died from hunger and disease. Boers were defeated in 1902.
- Peace of Vereeniging of May 1902 ended the war. Boer republics became british colonies. Self government was granted in 1905.
- 1908, Orange free state, transvaal, cape colony, natal became the ‘union of south Africa’ and so it became a single British territory.
What was the Jameson Raid?
- A raid launched by Dr Jameson on the Transvaal from British Rhodesia. The Uitlanders pulled away from their planned rising against the Boer government, but Rhodes still instructed Dr Jameson to invade the Transvaal. The raid was easily defeated and he was forced to surrender. Jameson was sentenced to imprisonment and Rhodes was forced to resign.
How was British administration In India 1890-1914?
- Self rule was denied, though the British did seek to work with some local people. Wanted overall British control, partly as of a desire to uphold social Darwinist ideas
- 1909: representative government introduced.
- Viceroy was head backed by the Indian civil service(almost all white British). They ensured the regime was secure, the Indian’s compliant and India profitable.
- Rule required collaboration of Indian population - India modernised(railways, education)
- More intervention in Indian life as there was economic and social development (economy developed as cities grew - more taxation). Indian Civil service ‘divide and rule’, emphasising divisions in India by race, religion, caste, etc, to maintain power as they couldn’t group together against British authority.
- some educated Indians in some provincial councils, but created division between educated and illiterate masses to create Anglo-Indian elite.
- Viceroy Curzon was mindful to reform India and listen partly to their demands. Curzon improved the civil service and founded the Imperial Cadet Corps to appease elite figures with military training. He reformed universities, police, reduced taxes and introduced the gold standard for a stable currency. He helped in railway exapnsion, irrigation, agricultural development.
What was the partition of Bengal?
October 1905 - Curzon divided Bengal into two separate provinces, a Muslim majority (East Bengal and Assam) and a Hindu majority (West Bengal)
- This produced uproar among the Hindu elite of West Bengal as many of them owned land in East Bengal.
- There were strikes, protests and boycotts of British made goods.
- Surendranath Banerjee led campaigns and a new strand of nationalism developed(like the Swadeshi movement), which Curzon tried to stop by imposing strict censorship on the Indian press
- Curzon resigned 1905
What were the Morley-Minto reforms?
- Viceroy Minto came after Curzon.
- With the help of John Morley, Secretary of state for India, he introduced a programme of reforms in 1909 to appease the Bengalis….
How was British administration in Egypt?
- Self rule was denied, though the British did seek to work with some local people. Wanted overall British control, partly as of a desire to uphold social Darwinist ideas
