Africa 1857-1890

Question 1

Why was the empire regarded with renewed interests in the late 19th century?

Answer 1

• Growing political power of France and Russia
• New competition from America and Germany whose economies were increasingly growing
• The global spread of cheap and reliable railway and shipping systems which caused agricultural goods to flood the British market causing prices to plummet
• The trade slump in 1873

Question 2

What was of particular interest in Africa in 1884?

Answer 2

• Mineral wealth
• There is a healthy climate
• It is in easy reach of the coast
• The East coast tribes would be happy for their country to be colonises
• The people are naturally industrious so will do the work well
• the prospect of further trade given the opening up of new routes inland and the subsequent discovery of minerals and resources
• investment opportunities
• strategic interests

Question 3

Trading reasons for increased British interest in Africa in the second half of the 19th century

Answer 3

• The “swing to the East” was caused by the American revolution
• Steamships and weapons made it easier to establish footholds in Asia and Africa
• Africa gave Britain the prospect of further trade given the opening of new routes inland and the subsequent discovery of minerals and resources
• Investment opportunities in Africa
• Mineral wealth
• Unlimited capacity for the production of cattle, cereals and all the usual articles of tropical trade
• Healthy climate
• Is a “European climate” within easy reach of the coast
• Coal, iron, and timber were sought in Africa to feed the demands of British industry
• Between 1873 and 1896, Britain needed the materials and resources from Africa to create products. This caused a cycle of dependency where Britain took materials from Africa and created products and then sold them back to Africa

Question 4

Personal influence on the British interests in Africa

Answer 4

• Increasing trade led to a growth in personal influence of British merchants in Africa
• Merchant-imperialists such as George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes recognised and capitalised on new commodities and in the process found fame and fortune
• British public and political interest in Africa was also stimulated by the mid-century Victorian explorers who sought and traced the continent’s waterways. Publishing their findings, producing maps, and spreading tales of adventure
• Despite their reliance on local geographical and environmental knowledge, there was sense that much of Africa was being discovered for the first time

Question 5

Strategic factors which caused an increased interest in Africa

Answer 5

• It is sometimes difficult to disentangle the commercial and strategic factors that led to the colonisation
• Britain’s coastal interests in West Africa, for example, demanded protection, and a string of forts was built along the gold coast, as were coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia
• However, sometimes strategic interests predominated as, for example, in the establishment of the colony at the most southernly tip of Africa – the Cape
• The temperate climate and deep-water port of the Cape held advantages over other harbours and, in 1806, during the Napoleonic Wars, Cape Colony had been seized by Britain from the Dutch allies of the French
• Cape Colony protected the sea route to the middle east, China, Australia and, not least, India which gave Britain considerable power over the sea routes to the East

Question 6

Moral factors which causes an increased interest in Africa

Answer 6

• Many British people living in the Victorian era had what they considered to be “strong moral principles”.
• Increasingly from the 1860s, Christian missionaries, reflecting this wider mindset, saw it as their moral duty to spread their faith among non-Christian – or, to their way of thinking, heathen people
• Their view was that the empire was a force for “civilisation”
• The most famous example of a missionary explorer is David Livingstone, who went to Africa in 1858 “to try and make an open path for commerce and Christianity”

Question 7

What impact did exploration have on attitudes towards Africa?

Answer 7

• While exploration does not have to intrinsically result in colonisation, Victorian exploration often did
• By 1857, most of Africa had been added to European maps, although the course of the Congo River was not chartered by Europeans until 1867
• Explorers located vast reserves, already known to local inhabitants, of rae materials such as gold, palm oil and diamonds, which European merchants then sought to exploit and trade

Question 8

Britain in the second half of the nineteenth century in Africa

Answer 8

• Britain’s presence was dictated more by trade than by sovereignty
• The West African settlements (Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast), trading networks further inland and the Cape Colony in the south all represented Britain’s formal control
• However, between 1857 and 1890, Britain extended its Empire and influence across African territory
• Having seized control of the Cape form the Dutch in the early 19th century, and having established control over key trading ports in West Africa by the mid 19th century, it was not until the 1890s that formal British expansion really accelerated
• The period between 1857 and 1890 was characterised by a desire to maintain and safeguard those existing positions as well as have economic influence further afield
• This idea of maintaining is seen by the formalisation of control in areas where British traders had been operating for many years and companies such as the Royal Niger Company and the British South Africa company becoming chartered to implement British claims and ensure that other Europeans were excluded from British bases
• It was only in Egypt that intervention was more direct and even here, the British still claimed to be acting on the defensive

Question 9

How did government policy towards Africa change?

Answer 9

• Before 1880, Britain had very few possessions in Africa
• Britain controlled some coastal areas in West Africa which were dependent colonies so had very few settlers
• Britain had no colonies in North and East Africa
• The largest area was in South Africa (cape colony) as it protected routes to India and Australia
• Britain had some land in the Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State
• Between 1880 and 1900, about 90% of Africa was seized by Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium.
• This is known as the Scramble for Africa

Question 10

What was Gladstone’s impact in starting the Scramble for Africa?

Answer 10

• In the mid 19th century, the British had very little desire to extend the empire in Africa
• Gladstone (the British prime minister) spoke of a policy of non-intervention in colonial affairs
• However, in 1882 Gladstone ordered the occupation of Egypt which is seen to be the start of the European partition of Africa

Question 11

Why did British policy towards Egypt change?

Answer 11

• they were worried that it was going to become a part of another European empire
• Egypt was also useful for trade
• Taking control of Egypt stopped Russia having power
• The Suez Canal also played a big part as having control of Egypt gave them control of the Suez canal which made the route to India quicker which increased trade and therefore economically benefitted Britain
• As a result of the Suez Canal, a lot of British investment went into Egypt
• British textile manufacturers were also interested in the high-quality Egyptian cotton

Question 12

Key dates and events with Egypt

Answer 12

In 1857, the idea that Egypt would fall under British control would probably have been laughed at

Although British traders had used Egypt for centuries as an important route between Europe and Asia and from the eighteenth century it had become a key route to India, Britain had been largely hostile to the Muslim rulers of Egypt.

Between 1861 and 1865, the British interest in Egypt was revived during the American civil war
In 1863, Ismail Pasha, who was committed to modernisation, came to power in Egypt

In 1869, the work on the Suez Canal was completed. Shares in the project were made available however only France were very interested. Britain only brought a few shares as they weren’t sure the Canal would be suitable for large ships

In 1875, Britain brought Egypt’s share in the canal which was worth £4 million. This gave Britain greater control over its passage to India and income from shipping tariffs

In 1879, Ismail was deposed as a result of domestic and Anglo-French pressure. This led to his son, Tewfiq, becoming the new Khedive however, unemployment increased, and the country was only being kept afloat by British money and political interference. As a result of this, a nationalist rebellion took place which forced Tewfiq to appoint Arabi allies to government positions

In June 1882, Political tensions cause violence in the streets of Alexandria, Egypt, which claimed the lives of 50 Europeans and 125 Egyptians. Further revolts across Egypt led to British prime minister, William Gladstone, intervening by sending naval forces to Alexandria. These naval forces destroyed residential areas, killed hundreds of civilians, and reduced defensive forts. As a result, Arabi Pasha declared war however the British forces were able to secure the Suez Canal and defeat the Arabi forces at Tel el-Kebir in the battle which lasted little over an hour. This enabled the British to re-take Cairo and restore Tewfiq as a puppet ruler. The occupation of Egypt had begun.

In 1885, Britain’s influence over Egypt was confirmed by the Convention of London, which secured an international loan for the Egyptian government. Egypt was now firmly under British administrative control and help the position of a client state (veiled protectorate) in which the British effectively ruled from behind a screen of Egyptian ministers who were aided by a group of English administrators.

• As a result of Gladstone not being a strong imperialist, it is likely that he sent British forces to secure the Suez Canal in 1882 for trading and business purposes rather than to expand the empire

Question 13

Attitudes to Egypt and imperialism

Answer 13

• The British believed that Egypt had the potential to become great through trade as the resources it has are sufficient
• The British feel if they have control of Egypt it will be very profitable
• The British saw potential but felt indigenous people would hinder this so needed complete power
• Egyptian people were thought to be wasting the extravagance of the East and therefore not making the most of their countries potential

Question 14

Causes and consequences of British invasion of Egypt

Answer 14

• The occupation of Egypt was a spectacular act of imperial expansion
• Gladstone was very reluctant to support imperial expansion
• The British invaded Egypt in order to restore order and create a stable government
• The British also invaded in order to protect the Suez Canal
• So much western money being poured into Egypt and the Suez Canal led to Gladstone intervening and invading
• The British were not prepared to leave Egypt due to the European rivalry
• Doubts about the stability of Egypt were resolved by Britain’s force
• Britain invaded because they greatly feared instability in Egypt
• The invasion increased tension in Europe
• This act of expansion into Africa was not really the outcome of a planned policy but more out of economic necessity
• Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean was essential for British interests and had to be maintained
• Many see this as the turning point in European attitudes towards Africa as, after this, the scramble for African lands by European powers began

Question 15

Sudan

Answer 15

• Colonel Charles Gordon was sent from Britain to act as Governor-General of Egyptian-administered Sudan, on behalf of their “puppet” Khedive Ismail, between 1877 and 1880
• The British administrators faced opposition from the Sudanese Islamic cleric Muhammad Ahmad who, in June 1881, proclaimed himself the Mahdi or the saviour of mankind
• The long – term hostility towards Egyptian ruled, combined with the recent resentment of British influence, caused the self-proclaimed Mahdi to transform an emerging political movement into a so called “jihadist army”
• The Mahdists wanted to liberate Sudan from outside rule (Egyptian or British)
• By 1882, they had taken control of the area surrounding Khartoum
• In 1883, a joint British-Egyptian military expedition under the command of Colonel William Hicks launched a counterattack against the Mahdists, in which Hicks was killed
• Gladstone, reluctant to get drawn into further conflict, ordered General Gordon to oversee the evacuation of both British and Egyptian troops from Khartoum in 1884 but the British-Egyptian forces defending Khartoum were overthrown in January 1885
• Almost the entire garrison was killed, and General Gordon was beheaded
• Nevertheless, Gladstone did not retaliate as he wanted to avoid further loss of life and money for no obvious gain
• It was not until 1896 that another campaign was launched to assert Britain’s control over the Mahdists and Sudan

Question 16

Political reasons for Britain’s change in policy in north Africa

Answer 16

• Egyptian nationalism growing would have freed Egypt from Turkish control and allowed Egypt to form alliances with other European powers which was a clear threat to Britain

Question 17

Economic reasons for Britain’s change in policy in north Africa

Answer 17

• Significant financial investments were in Egypt
• Trade with Egypt was vital for Britain
• Control over Egypt protected revenue of trade routes to India due to the Suez Canal

Question 18

Imperial reasons for Britain’s change in policy in North Africa

Answer 18

• The Suez Canal was the easiest route to India
• Egypt was vital strategically
• Control over Egypt protected trade routes

Question 19

Reasons for increased British concern of European rivals in the late 19th century

Answer 19

• Britain were worried that they would no longer be able to dominate the seas as they had done for the past 200 years
• Britain began to face challenges from other expanding and industrialising European powers
• Germany became a new powerhouse in Europe after it was united as a single country in 1871. Germany had a huge supply of natural resources and a great location which gave it industrial potential and allowed it to trade
• France transformed its army after defeat to Germany in 1871 as it became determined to assert its “rightful place” in the world
• Russia began to transform their economy and extend their control into central Asia so that, by 1884, Russia had taken its empire to the borders of Afghanistan
• The Russians also began constructing a railway network which, the British feared, could carry an army to challenge the British position in India
• The naval building programmes of France and Russia also caused concern in the 1880s. These programmes gave these nations naval power which meant explore areas, for example in Asia and Africa, where Britain had previously faced no serious competition. This naval power, as Britain feared, allowed France to establish a foothold in Indo-China, in Southeast Asia, in the 1860s. The French also pushed North in Asia, where they were joined by Germany, who were also seeking commercial concessions.
• Russia also appeared set on the idea of imperial expansion in North China as work on the Trans-Siberian railway would begin in 1891
• The Long Depression encouraged European countries to have a new interest in expansion in Africa, where markets for manufactured goods and new sources of raw materials may be utilised, as well as the obvious prestige of acquiring overseas territory. As a result of this, the French became more active in Africa while the Germans began making annexations (forcibly acquiring) from 1884 in the south-west and western regions

Question 20

British reaction to their concerns

Answer 20

• The British responded to French activity in Indo-China by matching its expansion by annexing territory in Malaya (from 1874), extending British influence in Singapore, and taking control of Sarawak, North Borneo (1881), Brunei (1885) and Upper Burma (1885) but leaving Thailand as a buffer between the rival European powers
• As a result of these international developments, and fears of military escalations in Europe, the Berlin and Brussels conferences were held to determine European control over African territory. This is regarded as the beginning of the partition of Africa (or the scramble for Africa)

Question 21

The Brussels conference (1876)

Answer 21

• In 1879, King Leopold II of Belgium hosted a conference of explorers and leaders from Geographical societies around Europe

Question 22

Why was the Brussels conference held?

Answer 22

• The conference was motivated largely by the King’s desire to protect Belgian interests in Congo

Question 23

What was decided at the Brussels conference?

Answer 23

• Africans were incapable of developing the natural resources found in Central Africa, so European intervention was necessary
• The routes to Africa’s great lakes needed to be developed by building roads or railways
• An International African Association should be established to coordinate the European’s efforts

Question 24

What were the consequences of the Brussels conference?

Answer 24

• The conference was supposedly meant to promote cooperation however it actually increased competition as European governments were suspicious of Leopold’s intentions
• The International African Association hired Henry Morton Stanley to advise in the Congo region, but it soon became clear that Leopold was intent on establishing his won Congo Empire
• The French hired explorer Pierre de Brazza and Germany hired explorer Gustav Nachtigal to assert influences on Congo. In 1879, France extended its control from Senegal into Western Sudan and in 1884, Portugal claimed control of the mouth of the Congo River

Question 25

The Berlin conference (1884-85)

Answer 25

• By 1884 , a scramble for territory had already begun, however 80% of Africa was still under local control
• The European powers had been restricted to the coastal areas but there was need for regulation of European expansion
• German Chancellor, Otto von Bismark, initiated the conference which was attended by the foreign ministers of 14 Europoean states plus the USA
• France, Germany, Great Britain and Portugal were the major countries involved as they controlled most of colonial Africa at the time

Question 26

Why was the Berlin conference held?

Answer 26

• To secure agreement that both the basins and mouths of the Congo and Niger rivers were to remain neutral and open to trade
• Negotiate claims to territory across Africa

Question 26

What was decided at the Berlin conference?

Answer 26

• the basins and mouths of the Congo and Niger rivers would remain neutral and open to trade
• representatives of major powers negotiated their respective claims to territory which were formally mapped out in recognised spheres of influence across the whole of Africa
• the General Act was signed which promised:
  • all nations should be permitted to trade in the basin of the Congo and its outlets
  • there should be free trade in these regions
  • the powers with influence in the area should help protect the indigenous people and supress slave trade
  • the powers should support and protect religious, scientific or charitable undertakings, Christian missionaries, scientists and explorers
  • if any power toom control of further land on the coast of Africa, it should notify the signatories of the Act, in order to enable them to assert any claims of their own
• the principle known as “effective occupation” was established which meant that a European power could assert a claim to land that it effectively occupied and notify other powers. Then, only if the other powers didn’t claim it was it right for it to be colonised

Question 27

Areas of success and failure of the Berlin conference

Answer 27

• was a success in terms of European relations as it enabled countries to expand their empires in an ordered fashion and without the risk of conflict
• Africa became a “safe area” for competing countries where, thanks to its size, they were unlikely to get in each other’s way whilst expanding
• The Berlin conference and the General Act did very little to help the indigenous people as there was no African representation at the conference and European ministers mapped out spheres of influence without considering natural borders or ethnic, linguistic, or religious divisions
• In the following years, there was no concentrated effort to combat African or Arab slave trade
• The well-being and religious customs of locals were frequently overlooked

Question 28

Consequences of the Berlin conference

Answer 28

• Led to a further scramble for African territory as by 1900, 90% of the continent was in European hands
• Enslavement in the new territories occurred
• Natural resources were taken away from Africa causing there to be a lack of food supplies
• Caused division in Africa

Question 29

Reasons for the scramble for Africa

Answer 29

• the European powers wanted to do good by spreading their culture throughout the world, even if this involved using violence
• Africa was a place of darkness, ignorance and inherent so Britain’s went there to change this
• Britain missionaries went to Africa to save people’s souls for Jesus
• Britain dreamed of turning Africa into a place based on Christianity and free trade
• Africa was the empires new civilising mission as they attempted to unlock the dark continent
• Every European power wanted to reserve the largest possible spheres for future activities and increased trade

Question 30

Impact of the scramble for Africa on African people

Answer 30

• They had their religious views uprooted by Christian missionaries
• They were exploited
• Borders were put around different ethnic groups in Uganda
• Britain’s policies caused tension
• Slavery took over 5 million lives
• Sudan was ruled in 2 halves which were then put together
• Divide and rule meant tension was created between people in the country to cause division in order to make the country easier to rule
• Play on existing tensions and divisions between tribes by bringing them together as one country made the country easier to rule than it being one united country
• Once the colonial powers leave, there will likely be civil wars as the parts of each country will all want to be equal, but they weren’t under the colonial rule

Question 31

Impact of British expansion in Africa on the people

Answer 31

• The British imposed their beliefs and religion and then took the land and resources for their own uses

Question 32

The Boers and Bantu

Answer 32

• The Boers were decedents of the 17th century Dutch settlers from the cape area
• The Bantu people were the 300-600 ethnic groups in Africa who spoke Bantu languages
• the lands of the Bantu peoples of southern Africa had been subjected to colonisation by Europeans for centuries
• the British people had taken possession of Cape colony at the tip of the continent during the Napoleonic wars in 1795 from the Dutch
• to the north of the continent were the Boers republics of the Orange Free State and Transvaal
• at first the Boers ignored their new governors in the cape colony
• the Boers were fiercely independent and therefore refused to accept this outside rule from the British
• hostilities began in 1823 when new laws were introduced, and English became the official language
• emancipation (legally making children adults before they are 18) of British slaves in 1833 threatened the Boers’ economic stability as the farms now depended on free labour
• unhappy with the British rule, from 1833, the Boers began to move northwards away from Cape Colony in what was known as the Great Trek
• in 1852, the British allowed the Boers to self-govern
• the republic of Transvaal was born with the Orange Free states two years later in 1854

Question 33

relations with Boers and Bantu 1867-90

Answer 33

• the European discovery of diamonds in 1867 near Kimberley on the Vaal River in West Griqualand, bordering the Orange Free State, opened the path towards greater friction between the British and the Africans
• this discovery triggered a “diamond rush” which attracted both white settlers and Bantu people to the area
• in 1868, the British annexed Basutoland (land of the Khoikhoi and Sotho people), claiming that the indigenous Africans there were seeking British protection against the Boers
• in 1871, the British took control of West Griqualand
• as a result of these annexations, 200 of the Griqua people, who were both Boer and Khoikhoi descent and wanted to live outside the boundaries of colonial society to escape racial prejudice, trekked eastwards to establish Griqualand East in 1873
• however, in 1874, Griqualand East was annexed too by Britain
• in 1875, the British proposed a federation of the British and Boer territories, but the Boers gave a firm rejection
• the area suffered from extreme instability as both the British and the Boers attempted to exert greater control over the territory which had become of great value for traders
• during the Xhosa War of 1877-78, the British easily disarmed neighbouring communities and annexed the Cape. The Boers were less successful in their conflict with the Pedi peoples, who had successfully maintained their independence in the eastern Transvaal
• in 1877, the British announced the annexation of the Transvaal as they claimed that they needed to defend the white European settlers against not only the Pedi but also the Zulus (the most powerful African tribe in the area)
• the Boers reluctantly accepted British aid and the British launched an invasion of Zululand in January 1879
• the Zulu army outmanoeuvred and defeated the British in Isandlwana later in January 1879, forcing a retreat
• reinforcements were sent and the British Army defeated the Zulus at their capital, Ulundi, in July 1879
• Ulundi was burnt to the ground and Zululand was incorporated into Natal
• The campaign ended with an attack on the Pedi who were similarly defeated
• However, once the Zulus had been defeated, the Boers declared their total independence from Britain in 1880
• From 1880, the Boers rejected British control attacking the British army across the Transvaal and winning a series of victories that culminated in a humiliating British failure at Majuba Hill in February 1881, where over 150 British people were killed
• The British were then forced to sign the Convention of Pretoria, which recognised the Boer self-government in the Transvaal, although the British still claimed a right to control over external affairs
• Further problems arose with the arrival of the Germans in south-west Africa in 1884
• The German presence raised British fears that the Boers might form an alliance with Germany
• Consequently, in 1885, the British annexed a section of territory between German southwest Africa and the Transvaal, Bechuanaland, as a strategic attempt to prevent German and Boer colonies combining
• In 1886, new gold discoveries at Witwatersrand near the Transvaal capital of Pretoria produced further instability
• This gold was eagerly sought by trading companies and brought a mass of non-Boer Europeans (Utilanders) into the Transvaal
• Among the traders was Cecil Rhodes, who received a charter for his British South Africa company in October 1889 and sought not only to enrich himself but to extend the British Empire
• Rhodes’ ultimate aim was to create a continuous British land route from Cape Town to Egypt, which had come under the control of the British in 1882
• In September 1890, Rhodes’ company established a fort at Salisbury in Mashonaland, which was home to the Shona people, which forced yet another area under British control
• However, by 1890, British dominance in South Africa was still far from assured

Question 34

Treatment of the Bantu

Answer 34

• During all of this expansion and Empire building, little thought was given to the local Bantu peoples whose land was increasing eroded by the settlers
• The European discovery of diamonds and golds, did, of course, increase the wealth of the region but profits remained firmly in the hands of white settlers
• Laws were passed at the insistence of the mining companies that limited the right of black Africans to have any claims over the mines or to trade in their products
• Black Africans were therefore only used to perform manual labour, while white people got the skilled jobs and reaped the profits
• In addition, black workers were forbidden by law from living wherever they wanted, and were forced to stay in segregated neighbourhoods or mining compounds

Question 35

Successful aspects of the British development of a colony in South Africa

Answer 35

• South Africa’s economy had been transformed by gold and diamonds
• South Africa was a high value trading partner
• British investments in South Africa would grow enormously

Question 36

Unsuccessful aspects of the British development of a colony in South Africa

Answer 36

• Britain abandoned the idea of protecting vulnerable non-Europeans
• Britain were previously concerned for the Bantu of South Africa however this changed, and Britain were not prepared to use their authority against the dominant white community who were against the Bantu
• Instead, the British provided military support and power for these white communities

Question 37

British expansion in Rhodesia

Answer 37

• The European discovery by the British that there was gold in Rhodesia was very bad news for the Ndebele (the people who lived in Rhodesia) as Cecil Rhodes’ British south Africa Company (BSAC) established mining concessions
• This was followed by a group of white settlers with permission from the British government to create a protectorate
• The Ndebele resisted the First Ndebele (Matabele) war of 1893-94, though their 80,000 warriors stood little chance against the Maxim guns deployed by the BSAC troops
• However, Lobengula (ruler of the region) escaped, and resistance continued, even as Rhodes tried to stamp his control over the area by naming it after himself (Southern Rhodesia)
• In 1895-96, in the conflict known as the Second Ndebele (Matabele) war, Mlimo, and Ndebele spiritual leader, led an unsuccessful rising against colonial rule
• This event is remembered today in Zimbabwe, which wad formerly Rhodesia, as the “first Chimurenga” (revolutionary struggle)

Question 38

British expansion in Nyasaland

Answer 38

• The British had also wanted to take control of Nyasaland, a small territory on the shores of Lake Nyasa, that had been opened up by Livingstone and settled by Scottish missionaries
• However, they faced Portuguese-backed Arab attacks and it was not until 1891 that they able to establish control there
• Guerrilla warfare and indigenous resistance continued, on and off, until 1897, however, with the area operating under the control of Rhodes’ BASC until 1907, when it became a protectorate

Question 39

The first Boer war

Answer 39

• Took place between 16th December 1880 and 23rd March 1881
• There were 4 main battles during the war: Bronkhorstspruit, Laingsnek, Shuinsgogate and Majuba
• It was very clear that the British had underestimated their opponents and had assumed that the Boers would be no match for their military force
• On the 5th March 1881, Sir Evelyn Wood and Piet Joubert agreed on an armistice in order to start peace negotiations at O’Neill’s cottage, which lay between British and Boer lines. These peace negotiations were successful and allowed the war to end on the 23rd March 1881

Question 40

Causes of the first Boer War

Answer 40

• The expansion of the British empire
• Problems with the Transvaal government
• The British annexation of the Transvaal
• The Boer opposition to British rule in the Transvaal

Question 41

Consequences of the first Boer war

Answer 41

• This was a humiliating defeat for the British as they underestimated the power of the Boers
• Independence of the South African Republic
• Paul Kruger’s standing within the Transvaal had risen as he was the leader of the Boer military
• The Boers had shown that strength gets you your desired results
• The Pretoria convention took place on August 3rd 1881 and formalised the Transvaal’s status and new borders. It stated that Transvaal was an independent republic bit still had to have foreign relations and policies regarding black people approved by the British government. The new state was also not allowed to expand westwards
• This policy meant that the Transvaal was still under British influence
• During the London convention in 1884, the Transvaal was given a new Western border and adopted the name of the south African republic (SAR)
• The SAR till had to get permission from the British government for any treaty they entered into with any other country. This led to tensions as the Boers saw this as a way for the British government to interfere with Transvaal affairs