1.1: expansion in africa

Question 1

why did the British lose its American colonies

Answer 1

They lost their a
American colonies in 1783 due to disputes over taxes

Question 2

what does the term ‘Swing to the East’ imply?

Answer 2

A shift in Britains imperial priorities focussing their political and economic interests in Africa, Asia and the Middle East

Question 3

as British industrialisation progressed what did the British need to compliment this?

Answer 3

the sales market

Question 4

why was the East valuable for Britain?

Answer 4

opened up prospect of further trade providing new routes inland and discovery of new materials and recourses

Question 5

what materials did Britain rely on the East to help progress industrialisation

Answer 5

Iron, Coal, Timber

Question 6

How did a cycle of dependency with the east begin?

Answer 6

Britain exploited African recourses, manufactured goods (textiles/weapons) nationally and sold them back to Africa

Question 7

why was personal influence a motivating factor for expansion in Africa?

Answer 7

Merchant-imperialists capitalised on new commodities which gave them fame and fortune

Question 8

what else stimulated interest in Africa?

Answer 8

political/government posts and explorers (Victorian age of discovery)

Question 9

what were some of the strategic motivators in expanding into Africa?

Answer 9

coastal interests for trading ports (cape colony) and trading routes

Question 10

why did moral principles lead to expansion?

Answer 10

Christians wanted to spread their faith and show the light to the heathen people of Africa

Question 11

what was the Victorian imagination of Africa?

Answer 11

people viewed Africa as the ‘Dark Continent’ thus were interested in the perceived uncivilised culture African inhabitants possessed.

Question 12

what years did the Berlin Conference take place?

Answer 12

1884-85

Question 13

why were the British interested in Egypt

Answer 13

they had good quality cotton that was attractive to British companies who begun investing.

Question 14

what percentage of Egypts imports were coming from Britain by 1870?

Answer 14

40%

Question 15

when did Ismail Pasha become khedive?

Answer 15

1863

Question 16

what were Ismail Pashas aims?

Answer 16

-to modernise Egypt
-establish a professional army
-extend Egyptian rule throughout Sudan
-irrigation of suez canal

Question 17

what is the suez canal?

Answer 17

man made canal through Egypt connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula

Question 18

why was the suez canal useful?

Answer 18

Cut British trade route to asia by 6000 miles shorter than that via the cape

Question 19

why was the suez canal a threat to Britain?

Answer 19

the Cape was no longer the quickest trading route to the East therefore profits of British traders who operated warehouses to store goods reduced

Question 20

How did the British gain initial control over the suez?

Answer 20

1875: Benjamin Disraeli bough £4 million worth of shares for the suez granting Britain greater control over the suez and greater income from shipping tariffs

Question 21

when was Ismail Pasha disposed of as Khedive?

Answer 21

1879

Question 22

who was British commissioner at the time?

Answer 22

Lord Dufferin

Question 23

What did Lord Dufferin do with his British political influence at the time?

Answer 23

imposed taxes on taxes on Egyptian food and goods and reduced the army by 2/3s to prop up the ailing economy

Question 24

What were the consequences of these methods?

Answer 24

Increased unemployment and prompted national rebellion led by Arabi Pasha

Question 25

Why was Britain concerned by Arabi Pasha?

Answer 25

he forced Khedive Tewfiq to appoint Pasha’s allies in gov positions where there was now a strong nationalist and anti British stance. This weakened British security over trade and investment

Question 26

what happened in June 1882?

Answer 26

political tensions spilled over Alexandria killing 50 Europeans

Question 27

What was PM Gladstone’s reaction to these revolts?

Answer 27

Sent in naval forces to Alexandria

Question 28

when did Arabi pasha declare war?

Answer 28

1882

Question 29

How did Britain claim victory in the Arabi Pasha war?

Answer 29

Britain maintained control over the Suez using Brit forces and beat Pasha at Tel-el-Kebir allowing them to retake Cairo

Question 30

How did Britain solidify control over Egypt?

Answer 30

-Tewfiq restored as puppet ruler
-Evelyn Baring appointed as Consul General

Question 31

What did being a puppet ruler mean for Tewfiq?

Answer 31

He had to create a government amenable to Britain, employ brit military and had to rely on brit administrators

Question 32

what was Egypt considered to be at the end of 1882?

Answer 32

A veiled protectorate

Question 33

who was Muhammed Ahmed of Sudan?

Answer 33

A Sudanese islamic clerk who proclaimed himself as Mahdi (the saviour of mankind)

Question 34

What were Sudanese relations with Britain and Egypt like?

Answer 34

They had long term hostility toward Egypts existing administration with Sudan and grew even more resentment of British influence

Question 35

What was the aim of the Mahdist’s and the Jihadist army?

Answer 35

Sought to liberate Sudan from British-Egyptian rule

Question 36

What did the Jihadist army achieve in 1882?

Answer 36

The had taken complete control over Khartoum

Question 37

What did Gladstone do to counteract this?

Answer 37

Ordered General Gordon to oversee the evacuation of British and Egyptian troops to avoid further conflict

Question 38

What happened to General Gordon?

Answer 38

He was beheaded in 1885 after British-Egyptian forces were overrun