What was the importance of the acquisition and retention of key strategic bases around the globe?

Question 1

Why was Gibraltar key?

Answer 1

It is situated between Europe and Africa
Separated French Atlantic and mediterranean
Was a major obstacle for France’s ability to move warships and supplies

Question 2

When did Britain gain Gibraltar?

Answer 2

1704

Question 3

When did Britain gain Minorca?

Answer 3

1708 after the spanish war of succession

Question 4

When was Minorca officially given to the British?

Answer 4

Ceded in 1718 to secure British withdrawal

Question 5

When did France occupy Minorca?

Answer 5

During the 7 years war from 1756 to 1763

Question 6

Why were there tensions in the Navy?

Answer 6

Funding had been cut and ships were poorly built

Question 7

Why was France becoming a threat?

Answer 7

In 1778 they entered a war with Britain to regain territory in the West Indies

Question 8

What happened at Toulon?

Answer 8

The French slipped through the straits of Gibraltar before war was declared
The British did the same and undermined its position in America

Question 9

How did France secure Spain involvement?

Answer 9

Secured Spain to by promising to help them reconquer the Mediterranean

Question 10

When did France land in Minorca?

Answer 10

In 1781

Question 11

How did garrisons at Minorca and Gibraltar stay in contact?

Answer 11

Through small fats ships

Question 12

Failures of the Franco-Spanish

Answer 12

Unable to prevent a resupply due to the poor sailing skills and adverse winds

Question 13

How did Britain win?

Answer 13

Admirality made Gibraltar a priority

Question 14

What happened to the British in Minorca?

Answer 14

Garrison had blockaded itself with the fortress of St Phillip’s castle
Lack of food and supplies led to scurvy
Surrendered after 5 months in February 1782

Question 15

What was the attempted attack on Gibraltar?

Answer 15

5000 Franco-Spanish sent 18 ships of the line over
Accurate canon fire from the British garrison sunk 3 ships
Held out until the end of the war in 1783

Question 16

Significance of the retention of Gibraltar?

Answer 16

Showed the importance of strategically placed port
Line of defence which the enemy failed to subdue

Question 17

Who did Ceylon belong to?

Answer 17

Dutch colony, after multiple wars with Portugal, France and the Natives

Question 18

Who was the interior of Ceylon controlled by?

Answer 18

The independent kingdom of Kandy, cut off after 1765

Question 19

Why was Ceylon valuable?

Answer 19

One of the few sources of cinnamon in the world
EIC began to cultivate it in 1767 but Ceylon remained the main producer

Question 20

How did Britain gain Ceylon?

Answer 20

In 1794 the Netherlands were conquered by the French and Dutch royals fled to England
They surrendered their colonies in return for protection

Question 21

What happened with the British and the interior kingdom of Kandy?

Answer 21

The people of Kandy hoped that the British would restore some coastline to them but this didn’t happen and sporadic warfare broke out

Question 22

How did Britain take control of Kandy?

Answer 22

There was fragile peace until governor Brownigg took advantage of a situation within the Kandyan court and supported the nobles.

Question 23

When did the British occupy Kandy?

Answer 23

1815

Question 24

What was the rebellion in Ceylon?

Answer 24

It was brutally suppressed
Confiscation of land
Burning of villages
Destruction of rice paddles
Ceylon was annexed as a British colony

Question 25

When were the rebellions in Ceylon?

Answer 25

1817-1818

Question 26

Why did we want the Cape?

Answer 26

It was a stopping point for shipping between Europe and the East Indies Valuable as a naval fleet as there could be a major trade route cut

Question 27

When did we try to capture the Cape?

Answer 27

In 1781 but were prevented by the French

Question 28

How did we capture the Cape?

Answer 28

1795: navy was in ascendency and seized strategic colonies Demanded surrender for "safekeeping"

Question 29

How long did we occupy the Cape for?

Answer 29

Occupied until the peace of Amiens in 18-2

Question 30

What happened after 1802 in regards to the Cape?

Answer 30

It was returned to the Dutch and war broke out Britain reoccupied it to prevent France in 1806 Maintained a permanent presence there

Question 31

Who inhabited Malta?

Answer 31

Napoleon had captured from the Knights Hospitaller 1798 after they refused to supply his ships on the way to Egypt

Question 32

How did Britain get involved in Malta?

Answer 32

Local population rebelled and asked the British for help

Question 33

How did Britain gain Malta?

Answer 33

Nelson blockaded Valletta in 1799 and the French surrendered in 18000

Question 34

What was the significance of Malta?

Answer 34

Had a deep water port so was useful to obtain Became a naval base after the opening of the Suez Canal

Question 35

When did the British leave Malta?

Answer 35

1802 but maintained a presence

Question 36

What were the Falklands useful for?

Answer 36

South Atlantic sealing ships Britain had 70+ sealing ships

Question 37

What was the nature of involvement in the Falklands?

Answer 37

There was a settlement in 1766 but it was abandoned in the American war of independence British and US claimed sovereignty Struggled to make it a financial success

Question 38

What did Vernet want to do in the Falklands?

Answer 38

Difficult position diplomatically Wanted to preserve seals for his own use Confiscated 3 American ships

Question 39

How did Britain deal with Vernet?

Answer 39

A single ship was sent in 1833 and Vernet surrendered without a fight as he was occupied in Buenos Aires.

Question 40

How was the Falklands developed?

Answer 40

Developed for ship repair and provisioning from 1843 Loading station from 1855 Port Stanley opened up as the capital in 1843 Deep water and supply of fresh drinking water Sheep farming in 1852

Question 41

The growing importance of Aden?

Answer 41

The red sea increased in importance as steamships stopped at Aden to refuel A steam route via the Suez Canal would be faster for transportation and communications Help secure British interests in the reigon

Question 42

How did the EIC get the government on board?

Answer 42

The government had to pay half of the costs of 6 voyages per year with 2 steamers in 1837

Question 43

What happened in 1829 in regards to Aden?

Answer 43

Surveying of Arabian coast, Lord Auckland said that any involvement should be peaceful and legal

Question 44

What happened with Socotra?

Answer 44

The British occupied it in 1835 but negotiations feel through with the local ruler

Question 45

How did they justify the occupation of Aden?

Answer 45

They argued that the sultan as no better than a pirate

Question 46

What happened with the Duria Dowlat?

Answer 46

Sultans forced plundered the merchantman Duria Dowlat after it ran aground Put pressure on Lord Auckland to allow commander Stafford Haines to act

Question 47

How did the British invade Aden?

Answer 47

Haines arrived in Aden in 1837 with a mandate to secure satisfaction for the outrage over the Duria Dowlat and to use it as a coal depot

Question 48

What did the Sultan say about British involvement in Aden?

Answer 48

"You can then make houses or forts or do what you like: the town will then be yours"

Question 49

How did negotiations deteriorate?

Answer 49

Sultans son was rumoured to be planning on kidnapping Haines Letter were sent between Bombay, Calcutta and London John Hobhouse and Lord Palmerston encouraged grant to seize Aden Lord Auckland was reluctant

Question 50

Seizing of Aden

Answer 50

Grant died and his deputy Farish sent 2 frigates and 700 men He didn't get approval from the government or general in Calcutta but through private letters from Hobhouse Haines presented a fait accompli EIC had no choice but to accept their new territory

Question 51

Aden under the British

Answer 51

It was ran on a budget and bribes with local people kept the peace Did not sit on the crossroads of trade of have the Royal Navy Coaling of mail steamers did not produce enough to be financially viable

Question 52

Outcome for Haines

Answer 52

Worked for 15 years without holiday Ran up a deficit of £28,000 and was sent to jail for 6 years for fraud and embezzlement

Question 53

Why did Britain want to extend their influence?

Answer 53

In order to protect territory Imperialism had become pooler in the conservative party Fear of Russia

Question 54

What were the liberal party's views?

Answer 54

Less expenditure and minimal overseas involvement Washington Treaty of 1871 secured peace and paid for damages over American shipping sunk by confederate privateers sailing from British ports

Question 55

What was the outcome of the 1874 election?

Answer 55

Liberals had 189,000 more votes and won the majority of the seats

Question 56

What were the Conservative party's views?

Answer 56

Limit Russia by supporting powers bordering Russia Suez Canal shares under Disraeli in 1775

Question 57

British involvement in the Ottoman empire

Answer 57

Lord Salisbury was sent to Constantinople to negotiate support for the ottomans Failed to persuade to occupy the Balkans

Question 58

When was the Russo-Turkish war

Answer 58

1877

Question 59

What was the Russo-Turkish war

Answer 59

Threatened to take Constantinople which would have given them access to the Mediterranean and the black sea

Question 60

Russia expansion

Answer 60

1878 peace treaty with Ottoman empire ceded the majority of the Balkans to Russia

Question 61

Disraeli's reaction to the Russo-Turkish war

Answer 61

Persuaded the government to approve £6 million to prepare the army and navy Allied with Bismarck to force Russia to abandon the territory and they accepted

Question 62

Why did Britain gain Cyprus

Answer 62

Monitor and counter Russia Provided a link to India Intervene in Egypt if necessary Territorial reasons over economic

Question 63

How did Britain gain Cyprus?

Answer 63

Through the Cyprus convention where it was technically leased to them for £92,799 annually

Question 64

Did Britain pay Cyprus for their occupation?

Answer 64

No the money was raise through taxing the people but was never paid to the Ottomans It was used to pay debts from the Crimean war instead Ottoman's had no choice but to accept

Question 65

Gladstone's views

Answer 65

Led the anti-imperialist party 1868-1894 Tried to cut back Naval expenditure but was med with criticism as it was already underfunded