1. The Development Of Imperialism c.1857-90 - Imperial And Colony Policy Flashcards
Why were Britain more concerned about Russia in the late 19th Century
They started to transform their economy, extending their control in Central Asia so that by 1884, they had taken their empire to the borders of Afghanistan and had began constructing rail networks. They also had naval building programmes and wanted imperial expansion in north china
How did Britain respond to the French activity in Indo China?
They matched its expansionism by annexing territory and extending beyond its existing base in Singapore
Where did Britain expand into in response to France?
upper Burma 1885, north Borneo 1881, Brunei 1885
What were the 2 conferences called that were held to determine Europeans’ spheres of influence and control over African territory?
- the Brussels conference 1876
- the Berlin conference 1884-85
What are the conferences known as?
The scramble for Africa
What was decided at the Brussels conference?
- Africans were incapable of developing natural resources to be found in central Africa
- the routes to Africa’s Great Lakes needed to be developed by building roads + railways
- an international African association should be established to coordinate European efforts
What were the consequences of the Brussels conference?
- it heightened competition as European governments were suspicious of Leopold’s intentions as he was determined to establish his own Congo empire
- French and German explorers were hired by the governments to stake their own claims to the region and assert influence.
- France extended its own control from Senegal into west Sudan in 1879 and Portugal asserted claims to control the mouth of the Congo river in 1884
What was decided at the Berlin conference?
- all nations could trade in the basin of the Congo and its outlets
- free trade in these regions
- the powers with influence in an area should protect the indigenous people + suppress slave trade
- the powers should support and protect religious, scientific or charitable undertakings - through missionaries
- if any power took further land on the coast of Africa, it should notify the signatories of the act, in order to assert claims of their own
What were the successes of the conference?
European relations - European countries were to expand their countries in an orderly fashion & without risking conflict
What were the failures of the Berlin conference?
Violence was perpetrated by Europeans on African communities in the name of colonisation, there was little care for the indigenous or for religious, ethnic or linguistic division when mapping out borders and no effort to combat the African slave trade
Who hosted the Brussels conference?
King leopold II of Belgium
By 1890, how much of Africa belonged to Europe?
90%
What was democracy like in 19th century Britain?
From 1867, only two and a half million British men could vote out of a total population of 30 million and the right to vote depended on property ownership and was only given to men over 21. In 1884 the vote was extended to two thirds of men
What were settler colonies?
They were colonies characterised by ‘white’ settlement and the violent removal and exploitation of indigenous peoples. During the 19th Century they became more self governing
What were crown colonies?
A colony ruled directly by an appointee of the British crown and accountable to the crown office. Most had overwhelmingly non-European populations and according to racial views were ‘incapable’ of ruling themselves
How did British rule develop under the East India Company?
- In the 17th Century, traders were granted a royal charter in 1600 by Queen Elizabeth I and in doing so they recruited Indian soliders to defend economic interest
- the real drive to extend British interests began with the annexation of Bengal
- the company had a monopoly with European trade
How did the government reduce the East India Company’s rule?
- the 1774 India act gave the government the power to ‘guide’ the politics of India
- in 1813, the British government ended the companies monopoly over Indian trade apart from tea with china
- in 1784, an Indian board of control was set up to manage Indian affairs
What were sepoys?
Indian soldiers serving in the EIC army
When did the British government take control of India from the EIC
1858
What act did the British government put in place after the EIC dissolved?
The government of India act 1858
What were the terms of the Government of India Act 1858?
What was the British Raj?
Formal British rule in India between 1858 and 1947
Who was involved in the administration of India during the Raj?
Queen or king, the Secretary of State and India council, the Viceroy, the Indian Civil Service + provisional governors and the legislative council, native princes + British residents and the provincial legislative council, district officers, local officials and local councils
What was the role of the Queen or king?
It was a symbolic title that acted as a reminder of Britain’s imperial power
How did the British completely change the army in India to prevent a repeat of the mutiny?
- in 1858, the British Indian army was numbered at 40000 British troops, however in response to this the EIC armies were brought under control of the crown and the proportion of British to Indian troops was raised to a 1:2 ratio - in the late 1880s, there were 70000 Britons to 125000 Indian troops
- the army established more Sikhs and Gurkhas who were loyal to Britain and the number of British officers were increased
- Indians were placed under control of British commanders and denied officer ranking
What was the positive impact of the British Raj?
- British tried to act more sensitively towards religion
- growing economy investments e.g. 2 miles of railway/day
- offered markets for Indian agriculture produce
- provided Indians with cheap British manufactures
- provided jobs, schools, universities
- irrigation schemes
What was the negative impact of the British Raj?
- poverty continued; death rates from famine were high
- encouraged specialisation in the higher value cash crops
- railways mainly benefitted the British for economic power and control e.g. to transport troops or goods
- India became dependent on food exports
- systems favoured by white people
- India unable to develop viable industries themselves
How did British policies completely change towards India?
- The government of India act 1858
- EIC armies brought under control of the crown and changed
- Removal of the ‘doctrine of lapse’
- Relationships with the Princely states
- More tolerance of religious views
Why didn’t British policy towards India completely change?
- there was increased political awareness and the formation
- there was little impact on the average Indian
- the government of India Act didn’t make immediate change
- more of a continuation rather than change in policy
What was the ‘Empress of India’?
On Jan 1st 1877, Queen Victoria was made ‘empress of India’ as a symbol of British domination to both Britain and India, despite her never visiting India and not even being present at her ceremony in Delhi
What were princely states?
They consisted of 565 nominally independent states under Indian rulers, that Britain relied on support from in order to keep a smooth running of the subcontinent
How did the removal of the ‘doctrine of lapse’ show a complete change in policy towards India?
It ensured that princely states fell under British rule when their rulers’ line of descent ended. The banned practise of adopting heirs when natural heirs were unavailable was reintroduced. It also helped ensure certain ‘princes’ loyalty, with an elaborate hierarchy of status undermining the princes’ prestige
