1857-1890 Flashcards
EIC before 1857
Granted royal charter in 1600
Trading routes:
Surat
Madras
Bombay
Calcutta
1773-EIC corrupt-BR helped
1773-1858- Br rules India through EIC
What does a charter do
Gives company special power:
private army
levy taxes
“Jewel in the crown”
Nickname given to India because of it’s resources and strategical position
Cornwallis aims for India Civil service 1857
Cornwallis (Gov general)
determined to purify corruption in admin
raised salaries of servants
3 Pillars of Indian Administration
Civil service
police
army
Cornwallis action on police
Made a separate PD
made them loyal to the British
Brought down crime rates
Cornwallis influence on army
divided and conquered
Indian soldiers treated worse
Huge Indian contingent
ratio of white to Indian soldiers was 1:8
Aims of Wilberforce and McCauley 1857
to evangelise India to save them
they made petitions
Why did the British tolerate the Suttee
it would be too much interference in India
could start a rebellion
Rumour spread about Gun cartridges
Cartidges greased with pork/beef fat-offended both Hindus and Muslims
Key Events of Mutiny
2nd May 1857
Sepoys (Indian Soldiers) killed every European they could find
Siege of Lucknow
European Infants were killed and women were raped
Significance of Spurgeon in terms of mutiny
He called for a holy war against India
he was a priest
British response to the mutiny
Hanged those involved in the Streets
Forced them to lick the blood of British victims
strapped them to explosive barrels and blown up
fired them out of cannons
Livingstone’s response to the Mutiny
negative- they didnt want to it stop christianisation
1869 Egypt developments
Ferdinand de Lesseps designed the Suez Canal between Mediterranean and Red Sea.
Cut sailing time between India and England down from 24 days to 10 days and 43%
Egypt’s economic state 1875
Brink of insolvency due to financial issues from Suez construction
International intervention- BR and FR
Cave report
MP Stephen Cave sent by Disraeli to analyse Egypt’s financial state
he concluded it was so and that BR and FR had to get involved
They were to help Egypt stay afloat and pay of debt through dual control finances
1881 Rise of Egyptian nationalists
urabi rebellion- led by Urabi Pasha
Military revolt led by 4 Egyptian Colonels
“Egypt for the Egyptians”
consisted of Army and unpaid officers
Pasha made himself minister
1881 Anglo-French response to the rise of Egyptian Nationalism
BR worried about security of the Suez Canal
Warships sent to Alexandria
1882 Nationalist Riot in Alexandria
2000 Egyptians and 50 Europeans killed in Riots led by Ahmed Urabi
1882 Anglo French response to Alexandrian Nationalism
French refusal of an armed response- they didnt directly respond
British sent in 31000 soldiers
Pasha exiled
Gladstone became known as a reluctant imperialist
1883-4 Egypt Admin
1883 Dufferin Report advises Britain to keep control of Egypt
Veiled protectorate established-puppet government
Consol general- lord Cromer- Britain Control of Government through cromer
End of Anglo-French control
1881 Sudanese Nationalism
Ahmad proclaims himself Madhi (saviour)
Mahdists took control of Sudan
Annihilated 40k Egypt forces sent there to restore order
Madhi take over el-obeida
1882 Mahdist rebellion
Rebellion between Mahdist sudanese and the Khedive+Britain
Resulted in Condominium of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
1883 Anglo-Egyptian counter attack to Mahdist rebellion
BR set up new colonial system- Anglo-Egytian admin
Led to a full dominion over Sudan
1884-Gladstone’s orders for British troops in Sudan
November 1884, Gladstone ordered withdrawal of troops from Sudan
Gordon disobeyed- he believed he could save Sudan and they would welcome him- he died
1885-MOG and Defeat of British troops in Sudan
Colonel Gordon killed in the siege of Khartoum
before this £300,00 spent to get him out of Sudan
Gordon seen as a martyr and Gladstone seen as the Murderer Of Gordon (twist on his old nickname of Grand old man)
Colonial office (date founded, who in charge/held the role, responsibilities)
founded in 1801
Secretary of State for the colonies in Charge
oversee and protest imperial colonies
War office (date founded, who in charge/held the role, responsibilities)
founded in 1857
War Minister of SOS in charge
Administration of the British army
Foreign Office (date founded, who in charge/held the role, responsibilities)
Founded in 1782
Foreign sec in charge
National security and counter terrorism
East India Company (date founded, /held the role, responsibilities)
founded in 1600 (when they got royal charter)
Global trade-served as a body for merchants
% of people living below poverty line in 1947 in India
90%
Life expectancy and literacy rates of Indians in 1947
life ex=27
lit rates=17%
Stat about railway building in India
15000km of railways by 1880
24000km by 1900
Negatives of railways
took time
expensive
railways imperialism led to control of the people and land
Stat about British tea plantations
Tea plantations grew from 1 to 295
Negatives of British Markets
Took up the land
less trade
Subsistance farming
1858 India Act
powers set up in civil service
education for Indians- more people to work for them
Princes given their land back so they stay loyal to Br
Doctrine of Lapse removed
EIC dissolved
Death rate from famine under British rule
35 million
Significance of 1867 in W. Gruiqualand
Diamonds discovered in Kimberley (W.g-land)
This triggered a diamond rush that attracted white settlers 1867
annexation of Basutoland
1868
they annexed it claiming that the indigenous africans were seeking Br protection
1871 British Invasion of W. Griqualand
1875 East Griqualand
Went in for the resources
2000 Griquas went East and established E. Griqualand
1875 British annex East G-land
Xhosa War
1877
British disarmed tribesmen and annexed the cape
British annexed the Transvaal stating they need to defend Boers from local tribes
Boers reluctantly agreed
Xhosa war ended in 1878
1880-1 Boer conflict
1880-Boers turn on British and declare themselves a republic
1881- British defeated by boers at Majuba Hill (150 br killed)
British forced to sign convention of Pretoria (recognising Boer self gov)
Significance of 1884 German occupation of SW Africa on British-Boer relations
leads to a British fear of German-Boer alliance
British Annex Bechuanaland (between Transvaal and German SW Africa) and make the North a protectorate and the South a Crown colony
Benjamin Disraeli
1868-1880
Conservative
“tory democracy”
expansionist policy (India and Afghanistan)
Promote imperial strengthening and expansion
Bought 4mil of Suez shares
Strength of Egypt (why were Britain interested in it)
Suez Canal (43% and 24-14 days)
Fertile land
Cotton
Access to other countries
Palmerston’s 3 quotes about Egypt
“we wish to trade with Egypt”
“we wish to travel through Egypt”
“we dont want to have Egypt”
George Goldie
-British colonial administrator
-responsible for development of Northern Nigeria into prosperous protectorate
-Governor of the royal Niger company 1886-1899
-He repelled French and German attempts to set up posts in Niger region
-extended control control of Niger River through force and persuasion
Definition of scramble for Africa
The invasion, occupation and colonisation of Africa between 1880 and 1914
how much of Africa under European rule in 1870 and 1900
1870: 10%
1900: 90%
Why was expansion into Africa slow
difficult terrain
Natives didnt want them there
limited technology and transpoirt
disease
no maps
Clipper ships
Small ships that could travel down rivers
Why was Africa nicknamed the dark continent
because it was unknown
similar to dark ages- we dont know what happened then
motives for going into Africa
Wanted to do good (stop slavery)
Ordained by God to do so-spread christianity
Free trade-profit
“christianity and commerce”- Livingstone
Why did Britain feel threatened by Germany
1880s naval building programmes
1871 Germany unified- huge powerhouse-Industrial growth
Policy of imperial expansion
Long depression 1873-1896
period of deflation
silver lost a lot of value
Other countries caught up to Britains industrialisation-Germany growing twice as quick
Why did Britain feel threatened by France
1860-Foothold in Indo-China
1880-expansion of coastal settlements
threat in NE Africa
Naval programme
Why did Britain feel threatened by Russia
1884- Russia expanded their borders to Afghanistan
1891- trans Siberian railway. Moscow to Vladivostok
Brussels conference
1876
Hosted by King Leopold II of Belgium
voted to establish the international African association (effectively created Congo free state)
Berlin conference
1884-5
organised by Otto von Bismarck
general act of Berlin was established
Formalisation of the scramble for Africa
principle of effective occupation
Empires could acquire full control over a colonial territory if they possessed them, had treaties with local leaders or had established administration.
Mary Slessor
British missionary in Nigeria
campaigned against injustice against women
Suffered form Malaria and adopted 9 children
Nicknamed “queen in the local community”
Mary Carpenter
british reformist/activist
In support of anti-slavery movements
worked in India (trynna improve education for Indian girls)
1870’s- set up national Indian association
John Mackenzie
Scottish explorer
Missionary who fought for rights in Southern Africa
member of London missionary society
John Hanning Speke
Explorer in Africa, Asia and Americas
His work criticised colonial policies in empire
Associated with search for the source of the Nile
Richard Burton
Army captain in the crimean war
Explorer for empire
he thought the British should show mercy
Translated many books
Cecil Rhodes
-British politician in S. Africa and a mining magnate
-Entered mining industry at 18
-Entered cape parliament at 27-he was pm from 1890-96
-pushed black people from their own land (making way for industry)
-Introduced educational reform in SA
-Leader of BSAC
-Organiser of De Beers diamonds
-wanted to build a railway from the cape to Cairo
Sir Evelyn Baring
Colonial administrator In India
became consul general of Egypt in 1882 until 1907 (24 years)
Served as British controller general (in charge of Egypt’s finances)
Bartle Frere
Member of Indian civil service
given seat in viceroy after mutiny
High commissioner of the Cape
Governor of Bombay for 5 years
Brought cape into conflict with Zulus
David Livingstone
Scottish explorer
Believes in christianising but not a missionary
One of the first to navigate Africa
Explored Zambezi river (got lost)
Published book called “missionary travels” in 1857. very popular
named Victoria falls and lake Victoria
Sir John Kirk
Scottish explorer
closer to Livingstone
chief medical advisors and botanist
Becomes vice consul of Zanzibar
Outlawed slave trade there
City of London Methods of Trade/Commerce
examples of success
examples of failures
Pound sterling was currency of trade
Construction of railways overseas grew 5x
EOS:
The Uganda railway
tea trade in India
almost all trade in the world went through London
EOF:
London takes ages to get too from almost everywhere
World trade declines from 25% to 20% between 1860 and 1900
Africa:
Methods of trade and commerce
Examples of Success
Examples of failures
Methods:
Railways established
Infrastructure of trade (ships, canals, rivers) tonnage of trade doubles
Steam ships
EOS:
Uganda railway
Ratio of exports to Gross domestic product was 14%, by 1873 it was 18%
EOF:
terrain
conflict with locals
Palm oil trade down 16% by 1881 from 76%
Middle East and Asia:
Methods of trade and commerce
Examples of success
examples of failure
Methods:
Establishment of banks in Shanghai and Peking (HSBC)
Privatisation
Investment
railways
EOS:
24000km railways in India by 1900
China 5x more treaty ports due to opium wars
EOF:
China only buys 8% of cotton exports
Influence of British public of opinion on Empire
Growing of press
Education Act of 1870
Reform act of 1884
Education Act 1870
Made education compulsory for anyone age 5-13
How did Newspapers influence attitude
Showed people more of the world- inspired expansion and travel
How did imperial exhibitions influence attitudes
Furthered view of white superiority
Mercantilism
When the colonies were forced to send goods to Br, use British ships and buy british goods
referred to as a protectionist system
Significance of steam ships + one weakness
Steamship companies reduced the time it took to travel to W Africa
By 1870s, many steamships were sent up the Niger River
However, they broke down all the time
Why did the first opium war occur (1839-42)
Britain was angry over trade and went into the pearl river. blasted it up
Informal empire (definition) vs formal empire
informal empire:
Parts of the empire the br had no legal claims, but still formed part of it.
placed influenced by British power
formal empire:
Places Britain had legal claims, they were dependent on Britain
Socio-political aspects of informal empire
British people moving/living there
English being spoken
English culture and traditions being adopted
% of exports from latin America
10%
Swing to the East
After losing the 13 US colonies, British focus on expansion shifted from the western world to Africa and Asia
Jingoism
extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy
Granville Doctrine
1883
Gave Britain the right to dismiss any Egyptian minister
When does Canada gain self rule
1867
When were diamonds discovered, where, and what did It lead to
1967 in Kimberley and West Griqualand
leading to a diamond rush
When did Basutoland become a British protectorate
1868 to protect from Boer expansion
When did Boers declare independence from British rule
1880
battle of Majuba Hill
1881
Boers defeated the british
leading to recognition of Boer independence
