The origins and expansion of the British Empire in Africa 1857 - 1890 Flashcards
(22 cards)
When did Britain by shares of the Suez Canal? How many?
- 1870s
- Bought 44% of shares of the Suez Canal for 4 million
What resources did Britain look to find in Egypt?
- Cotton
- 1861 - 65 the American Civil War starved British mills of cotton
How did Evelyn Baring help the Egyptian economy?
- Spent less on Egyptian military.
- Within 10 years of Consul-General exports of cotton and sugar had trebled.
- Population had risen to 10 mil from 7
What was the Caisse de la Dette?
Controlled Egyptian finances.
- Half of the country’s revenue went to paying European bond holders.
- Members could prevent the British Consul-General from spending Egypt’s money on unimportant matters.
How was George Goldie motivated by economics?
- Bought a palm oil Business in the Niger Basin 1875.
- Made the Central African Trading company in 1876.
- Collaborated with other trading firms to form the United African company in 1879.
- Britain were able to claim a protectorate over Nigeria at the Berlin conference giving Goldie’s firm royal charter becoming the Royal Niger company in 1886.
How was South African expansion motivated by economics?
- Diamonds were discovered in Griqualand West in 1867.
- Griqualand West annexed in 1871.
- Discovery of Gold in Witwatersrand in 1886 brought traders such as Cecil Rhodes into the area.
Give 3 strategic reasons for expansion
- Egypt: Suez Canal completed in 1869 which prompted Disrael to buy 44% of shares in 1875.
- Britain occupied Egypt in 1882 amidst a nationalist revolt which could have threatened Canal access.
- South Africa: Admiral Lord Fisher called it one of the “five strategic keys”
- Considered as outpost to protect East India.
Give the personal influences such as adventure and exploration.
- ## David Livingstone: Wanted to promote “Commerce and Christianity” in 1858. Lectured at Cambridge in 1857 and explored inland Zambezi.
Give moral factors – civilising and missionaries
David Livingstone - see above
- Sir Bartle Frere - high commissioner for south Africa 1877 to 1880 pushing for British control over African politics arguing that imperial rule would civilise them.
- Cecil Rhodes: believed in racial superiority and the ‘white man’s burden’
- Mary Slessor - Scottish Missionary
How was rivalry with other powers a reason for expansion? Northern Africa?
- ## France and Britain dual economic rule over Egypt. In 1882 France wanted sole rule and involved themselves with Pasha the Egyptian ruler. Pasha declared war and British defeated him.
How was rivalry with other powers a reason for expansion?
- Berlin Conference (1884 - 5)
How was rivalry with other powers a reason for expansion? Western Africa?
- France + Germany were rivals.
- France had Western Sudan and Senegal whereas Germany had Togo and Cameroon.
- French treaties with local chiefs.
How was rivalry with other powers a reason for expansion? East Africa?
- Br + Gr agree that offshore islands will remain with the Sultan of Zanzibar.
How was rivalry with other powers a reason for expansion? Southern Africa?
- Germans arrived in 1884, prompted British to annex Bechunaland in 1885 to stop unification.
Describe British power regarding indigenous societies?
- Alexandria 1882, political tension as 175 were killed.
- Capitulations and the mixed courts.
- Khartoum, General Gordon beheaded.
- Zulu war of 1879
How did Evelyn Baring help expansion?
- Helped with the 1882 “veiled protectorate”
- Moral mission to stop slavery
How did George Goldie help expansion?
- See card above about Goldie
- By 1879 he persuaded all GB traders to join forces to create the United African Company which controlled 30 trading posts.
- Secured over 450 local treaties by securing concessions from chiefs: forced them to only trade with the Company
- Rum, gin, weapons, ammunition, tobacco, salt, Manchester cotton offered to chiefs.
- Allowed Britain to claim a protectorate
How did Mackinnon help expansion?
- Funded Morton Stanley’s expedition in 1886
- Received a royal charter in 1888 for the Imperial British East Africa Company.
How did Sir Bartle Frere help expansion?
- Governor of Cape Colony in 1877 exaggerating the Zulu threat to justify annexing the Transvaal in 1877,
- Launched the Zulu wars in 1879 which secured the territory.
How did Cecil Rhodes help expansion?
- Utilised the wealth he had gained to fund the British South Africa Company.
- September 1890 established a fort in Mashonaland.
Describe the British government’s role in expansion?
Brussels and Berlin Conference
- Lord Carnavon: Colonial Secretary 1874 - 8, sent administrators such as Shepstone (annexed Transvaal) and Frere (led troops against the Xhosa, Zulu)
Role of native peoples in expansion?
- Divisons between Egyptians who supported the Khedive Tewfiq and those who supported nationalist Colonel Arabi Pasha led to clashes on the streets of Alexandria in June 1882.
- Gladstone sent British occupying forces to Egypt in 1882 partly to restore stability.
