1. expansion in Africa 1857-1890 Flashcards
1
Q
Swing to the East
A
- the loss of the American colonies sent the British on a ‘swing to the east’, looking for influence in Asia and Africa
- represented a shift in Britain’s imperial priorities
- this outlook marked a preference for trade rather than conquest and control
- This was enabled due to the industrial revolution as production of steamships and weapons made it possible to establish footholds
- aimed to maintain its wealth and status as a global power
2
Q
history of relationship with Africa
A
- merchants had traded with West Africa since the 1500s to acquire gold and ivory
- in the 18thc, the slave trade took precedence
- By the time Britain outlawed the slave trade in 1807, it had overseen the exportation of 3 million Africans to work in America and plantations in the Caribbean
3
Q
trade and the economy as a reason for expansion
A
- the prospect of further trade was the key reason for expansion
- the opening of new routes inland allowed for the discovery of minerals and resources
- once materials, markets and routes had been accessed, further considerations emerged such as investment opportunities or strategic interests
4
Q
trade and economy as a reason for expansion, relations with Africa
A
- coal, iron and timber were sought to feed the demands of British industry
- as industrial productivity in Britain grew, the need for sales markets also increased
- this meant a cycle of dependency developed, where Britain sought African resources to manufacture goods like textiles, to then sell back to Africa
- this process was particularly evidenced during the economic slump of 1873-1896 due to the Great Depression
5
Q
economic motives for expansion
A
- the Empire is described as being ‘the relentless pursuit for profit’
- Africa had a wide variety of natural resources that were strongly valued by Britain, such as rubber and oil
- Europeans became aware of precious commodities like gold, ivory and diamonds that were discovered across the continent
- This gave an opportunity to replace the wealth obtained from the slave trade
6
Q
personal influence as a reason for expansion
A
- increasing trade led to a growth in the personal influence of British merchants in Africa
- Merchant-imperialists like Goldie and Rhodes capitalised on new commodities, finding fame and fortune in the process
- The British public and political interest in Africa was stimulated by explorers who traced the waterways, published their findings, producing maps and spreading exotic tales of discovery and adventure
- this resulted in a sense that Africa was being discovered for the 1st time
7
Q
strategic factors as a reason for expansion
A
- strategy drove expansion as competition with other powers sparked British interest in the region
- The need to protect the Suez Canal and the expansion into Zanzibar was seen as strategically necessary to move troops to India if there was another rebellion
- The deep-water port at the Cape in southern Africa was also viewed as strategically necessary for the protection of a sea route to the Middle East, China, Australia and India
interests included securing trade routes and establishing a strong naval presence
8
Q
coastal defences and strategic interests
A
- Britain’s coastal interests in West Africa required protection, leading to the construction of forts along the Gold Coast
- Strategic interests sometimes outweighed commercial ones, as seen in the establishment of Cape Colony in 1806
9
Q
why economic factors were more significant than strategy
A
- the main strategy was to protect British investment and reap the benefits of raw materials that had been discovered
- International pressures were a race to gain the most financially beneficial territories in Africa
- the depression and threat from other powers meant Britain had to act to find new and secure its existing markets
- the pursuit of wealth shaped British actions
10
Q
how strategic factors impacted expansion
A
- used to protect Britain’s industry in colonies
- coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia to protect economic control
- regions were put under control if they were a benefit to other British interests
- control over the Cape would protect the sea route to Asia or Egypt
- to secure control over the Suez would secure the route to India
11
Q
moral factors influencing expansion
A
- the Victorian era was one of strong moral principles
- increasingly from the 1860s, missionaries saw it as their duty to spread their faith among ‘heathens’
- viewed the empire as a force for ‘civilisation’
- there was a strong body of philanthropists who believed they could be raised to the same standards of education and conduct which they possessed
12
Q
how moral factors influenced expansion
A
- missionaries provided the moral justification for expansion
- tried to promote Western values and in turn denounced a wide range of indigenous activities
- created the view that indigenous peoples benefited from British colonial administration
13
Q
how adventure and exploration influenced expansion
A
- by 1857, most of Africa had been mapped out
- explorers located vast reserves of raw materials such as gold, palm oil and diamonds, which merchants sought to exploit and trade
14
Q
limitations of British expansion
A
- Until the 2nd half of the century, British presence in Africa was strictly limited
- the West African settlements of Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast, trading networks further inland such as the Niger river and the Cape Colony represented Britain’s main assets
15
Q
British policy being reactive
A
- it wasn’t until the 1890s that British expansion really accelerated
- this meant previously, Britain was more reactive to the actions of other powers rather than aggressively seeking new lands for their own sake
- As the British tried to match the claims of others, they sought to define their control of areas where British traders had been operating
- companies such as the Royal Niger Company were charted to implement claims and ensure other powers were excluded from British bases
16
Q
reasons for interest in the Suez Canal
A
- desire to speed up trade between Britain and Asia, especially India
- was geo-strategically beneficial as it shortened the trading route to India by 6000 miles
- would speed up the trading times with India and provider quicker access to troops in the event of another mutiny
- was economically beneficial as it allowed for faster trade and therefore more cost-efficient trade
17
Q
reasons for Britain’s interest in Egypt
A
- traders had used Egypt for centuries as a route between Europe and Asia
- British companies heavily invested in production of Egyptian cotton
18
Q
reasons for Britain’s interest in Egypt- cotton
A
- Britain was reliant on this cotton as a raw material in its textile revolution
- the trade of cotton from the Southern Confederacy was blocked and so Britain looked elsewhere to import cotton
- Britain began to import large quantities of Egyptian cotton
- This increased investment in Egypt led Isma’il Pasha to begin an extensive program of westernised reform, including the construction of the Suez Canal
- this resulted in trading interaction growing as by the 1870s, 40% of Egypt’s imports came from Britain
19
Q
Pasha’s modernising programme and reforms
A
- committed to the process of modernisation that began by the Ottoman ruler Ali Pasha
- he was involved in irrigation, railways schools, street lighting and the Suez Canal
- conscription based army and prioritisation of cash export crops
- his policies placed his khedivate in severe debt, leading to the sale of Egypt’s shares in the Company in 1875
20
Q
when was the Suez Canal Company set up
A
1858
21
Q
overview of the Suez Canal Company
A
- was set up to run the canal for 99 years
- was completed in 1869 with shares made available internationally although there was limited interest outside France
- Britain was sceptical about the project as the thought the canal would be unsuitable for large ships
22
Q
impact of the Suez Canal
A
- had an immediate and dramatic effect on world trade
- reduced profits of British traders in the Cape who operated warehouses for the storing of goods, rendering trade posts redundant
- this contributed to the economic depression of 1873
- control of the canal encouraged further British interest in Egypt
23
Q
Disraeli and shares of the canal
A
- in 1875, due to increasing debts, Pasha sought a buyer for Egypt’s share in the canal for £4 million, to which Disraeli accepted
- although France still held the larger number of shares, this gave the British greater control over its passage to India and an income from shipping tariffs
24
Q
Why Pasha was deposed in 1879
A
- due to his economic mismanagement, he was deposed as a result of domestic and Anglo-French pressure
- he tried to rally the people to revolt against British and French financial intervention
- by 1876, Britain and France introduced dual control when the khedive was bankrupt to protect their investments
- this meant Tewfiq became the new Khedive
25
Q
Tewfiq and British support
A
- Tewfiq became the new Khedive but British money and support kept Egypt afloat
- meant the British Commissioner, Dufferin held considerable influence
26
Q
causes of the revolt- changes to support the Egyptian economy
A
- taxes were imposed on Egyptian food and goods
- the army was reduced by 2/3
- these measures increased unemployment and led to a nationalist rebellion under Colonel Pasha
- reduced interest on foreign debt to 5%
27
Q
causes of tensions leading to the 1882 revolt
A
- Tewfiq was forced to appoint Arabi’s allies to government positions
- their anti-European stance provoked British concerns over trade and investment, as well as the security of the Europeans living in Egypt and the route to India
28
Q
events of the 1882 revolt
A
- political tensions erupted as violence resulted in the death of 50 Europeans
- further revolts across Egypt encouraged Gladstone to intervene and so naval forces were sent to bombard Alexandria
- Wolseley was able to secure the Suez Canal which enabled Britain to re-take Cairo and restore Tewfiq as a puppet ruler, beginning British occupation of Egypt
29
Q
strategic motivations for British intervention
A
- the Suez Canal was crucial to British trade
- 80% of shipping through the canal was British ships
- Britain controlled 45% of the Suez Canal shares
- not intervening would allow the French to increase their influence in the region
30
Q
trade reasons for British intervention
A
- by 1880, Britain bought 80% of Egypt’s exports
- 40% of Egypt’s imports came from Britain
- 5% of exports to Egypt were Britains total exports
- provided business ventures in railway and harbours for British merchantmen
31
Q
financial reasons for British intervention
A
- Egypt’s ability to pay back its debts affected British bondholders in London
- 37% of Gladstone’s fortune was invested into Egypt
32
Q
administration consequences of the 1882 revolt
A
- Baring was installed as Consul-General
- Tewfiq was forced to create a government amenable to Britain, employ British military personnel to supervise his army, and rely on British advisors
- behind the veil of Ottoman and local rule, Egypt was firmly under British administrative control
- meant Egypt held the position of a client state
- Baring effectively ruled from behind a screen of Egyptian ministers, aided by a group of English administrators
33
Q
the 1885 Convention of London
A
- confirmed British influence over Egypt
- secured an international loan for the Egyptian government
34
Q
reasons for British interest in the Sudan
A
- had no strategic or economic importance, yet was crucial for Britain as it was controlled by Egypt
- if it fell to religious fundamentalism at the hands of the Madhi it could mean that Egypt and the Khedive were under threat
- this was against British interests as Egypt was a veiled protectorate of the Empire and had the Suez Canal located in it
35
Q
General Gordon and the Sudan
A
- he was sent to act as Governor-General of Sudan between 1877 and 1880
- attempted to abolish the slave trade which caused an economic crisis and angered the slave traders
- ordered the evacuation of British and Egyptian troops
- press made Gordon a hero and the government a villain
36
Q
cause of the Sudanese revolt 1881
A
- long-term hostility towards Egyptian rule and recent resentment of British influence
- didn’t launch another campaign in Sudan until 1896
37
Q
events of the Sudanese revolt
A
- the self-proclaimed Mahdi transformed the emerging political movement into a jihadist army
-they sought to liberate Sudan from outside rule - by 1883 they had taken control of the area surrounding Khartoum
- in 1883, Hicks launched a counter attack against the Madhists
- Gladstone ordered Gordon to see the evacuation of troops in 1884, but forces defending Khartoum were overrun, so virtually the entire garrison was killed
- Gladstone didn’t retaliate as he anxious to avoid further loss of life and money for no obvious gain
