1.2 - Imperial and colonial policy Flashcards
How did the governance of India change in 1858?
BEIC handed control over to the British government
The company was dissolved
What led to the change of rule in India in 1858?
The mutiny of Indian Sepoys in 1857 and the need to prevent recurrence.
What were 5 of the terms of the Government of India Act (1858)?
- EIC’s territories passed to the Queen
- Creation of Secretary of State for India
- Appointment of an Indian Council of 15 members
- Crown appointed a Viceroy
- Indian Civil Service placed under control of Secretary of State.
How was India administrated from 1858?
4
- Viceroy ruled with a legislative council
- Provincial governors represented the Viceroy
- District Officers oversaw local councils
- Approx. 1000 British Civil Servants in the Indian Civil Service.
When did the Queen become Empress of India?
1877
What was the impact of the change from company to crown rule in India from the Indian perspective?
Brought little change.
What was the significance of the Indian National Congress?
The Indian National Congress, set up in 1885, became a vehicle for India’s eventual independence.
What was the recruitment strategy for the civil service in India?
2
Bilingual Indians were recruited as low-level clerks
Acted as a link between the British elite and the mass of the population.
How did Britain’s military control change after 1858?
2
The East India Company’s armies were brought under the control of the Crown
Raised ratio of British to Indian troops to roughly 1:2 (70k v 125k)
What strategies did Britain employ to prevent unity among Indian troops?
1
Deliberately mixing different religions
Which 2 groups were enlisted in the British army after the mutiny?
Greater numbers of Gurkhas and Sikhs were enlisted to replace the Bengali troops.
What were the 2 British policies regarding officer rankings for Indian troops?
Indians were denied officer rankings
But British were ordered to show greater respect for their beliefs and traditions.
What infrastructure improvements aided India’s defense?
The growth of railways added 3000 miles of track, exaggerating British presence and enabling swifter troop deployment.
How did Germany’s imperial ambitions threaten Britain?
Germany sought to acquire an empire, controlling vast colonial areas by 1890, which threatened British interests.
What was the Berlin Conference and its relation to German expansion?
The Berlin Conference was called by Bismarck after establishing Germany’s credibility in Africa, acquiring territories mainly between 1884 and 1885.
Germany’s expansion in SW Africa was seen as a threat to the _______.
Cape Colony
Which region did France pursue new markets in due to the long depression?
What naval initiative did they start?
Africa, particularly West Africa
Naval building programme
What incident marked a turning point in the French threat to the British Empire?
The Fashoda incident
What was the primary motivation behind the Brussels Conference of 1876?
To protect Belgian interests in the Congo
What principle was established at the Berlin Conference 1884-5 regarding land occupation?
Effective occupation
What was the impact of the Berlin Conference on African territories by 1900?
90% of Africa was under European control
What did the General Act of the Berlin Conference stipulate about trading in Africa?
All nations should be permitted to trade in the basins of the Congo and Niger rivers
True or False: The Berlin Conference included African representation.
False
What was one significant drawback of the Berlin Conference for indigenous populations?
Little concern for natural borders of ethnic, linguistic, or religious divisions
What did the Berlin Conference fail to address regarding the slave trade?
No effort to combat the slave trade
What is the ‘informal empire’ in the context of British influence?
Areas influenced by Britain without legal claims, often through economic means
What benefits did Britain gain from its informal empire?
Power around the world without the costs of responsibility or need to formerly colonize
What strategy did Britain use to maintain its influence in East Africa?
Exercised influence through trade and the activities of John Kirk
What actions did Britain take to enforce trade agreements in South America?
Used threats of force and naval power
Examples include pressures on Mexico, Peru, and Chile to uphold trade treaties.
