Africa 1857-1890 Flashcards
What was the ‘Swing to the East”?
- as a result of the loss of Britains American colonies, Britain grew interest in Asia and Africa
- Concept by British historian Vincent Harlow
What Impact did the industrial revolution have on British expansion into Africa?
- The production of steamships and weapons allowed for Britain to easily establish foothold in different continents
How was Trade and the Economy a reason for British expansion in Africa?
- Key reason for British expansion in Africa: the prospect of further trade, with discovery of minerals and resources
- Coal, Iron and timber were sought in Africa to feed the demands of the British Industry
- A cycle of dependency was created : Britain exploited African resources in order to manufacture goods (ie textiles, weapons) to sell back to Africa
- This was particularly the case during the Long Depression of 1873-1896
How did personal influencers spur expansion in Africa?
- explorers and adventurers told stories of gold and raw materials
- Merchant - Imperialists such as George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes vetted success stories of business in Africa, British rule soon followed
How did the idea of “moral superiority” spur expansion in Africa?
- Victorian Brits had what they considered to be “strong moral principles”
- Christian missionaries saw it as a ‘duty’ to educate ‘heathen’ peoples
- David Livingstone = prime example : went to Africa in 1858 to ‘try and make an open path for commerce and Christianity’
How did strategic factors spur expansion in Africa?
- Cape colony had warm waters, deep ports - allowing bigger harbours and giving access to the Middle East, India, Australia, New Zealand and China
- Interests in West Africa protected by building coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia
Scramble for Africa and ‘old diplomacy’(s) role in expansion
- Historian Dane Kennedy cites ‘growing political power’ of rivals and competitors for reasons in expanding in Africa
- Companies such as the Royal Niger Company, the British Imperial East Africa Company and the British South Africa Company were chartered to protect the Crown’s interest in those areas
- Done to protect claims against other European companies and powers
When/What happened at the Brussels Conference?
1876: King Leopold hosted conference of explorers and leaders from across Europe. Largely motivated by desire to protect Belgian interests in the Congo. It concluded:
- European intervention a necessity in Africa : Africans incapable of developing natural resources
- Development of roads/railways to lakes needed
- International African Association should be established to coordinate European efforts
Why did this spur competition/ “scramble for Africa”?
- Competition was heightened because it became clear Leopold wanted to build empire
When/What happened at the Berlin conference?
1884: Major powers negotiated territories into spheres of influence. Conference concluded with a signing of a General Act which promised:
- All nations to be permitted to trade in the basin of the Congo and its outlets
- Free trade should prevail in these regions
- Powers with influence should help protect indigenous people and suppress slave trade
- Powers should support and protect religious, scientific or charitable undertakings, Christian missionaries, scientists and explorer
- If any power took possession of further land on coasts of Africa, it should notify signatories of the Act, in order to enable them to assert any claims of their own
What was the impact of the Berlin conference?
- General Act triggered a scramble for territory across Africa. By 1900, 90% of the continent was in European hands
Success of the Conference : European relations?
- Enabled countries to expand empires in ordered fashion and without risk of conflict with one another.
- a ‘safe arena’ for competing countries as they were unlikely to tread on each others toes
Impact of the conference on indigenous peoples?
- Didn’t do much for indigenous peoples
- No African representation at Berlin conference.
- Spheres of influence mapped out with little concern for geographic, ethnic, linguistic or religious divisions
- No concerted effort to combat African or Arab slave trade and well-being and customs of locals was overlooked
Relations with Boers and Bantu 1867-80?
- British Cape Colony bordered Dutch republics of Orange Free State and Transvaal, who had been in region since 1833 and moved north from Natal, which Britain annexed in 1845. During first ½ of 19th century, relations between British and Boers was peaceful and British had recognised Boer states in 1950s, though claiming some control over territories. Discovery of diamonds in 1867 near Kimberely on the Vaal River in West Griquland, bordering Orange Free State, triggered ‘diamond rush’ attracting white settlers and native Bantu to region.
- In 1868, British annexed Basutoland (land of Khoi Khoi and Sotho people) claiming indigenous Africans were seeking British protection against Boers. In 1871, British also took West Griqualand. Following annexation, 2000 Griqua trekked eastwards to establish Griqualand East in 1873. This was also annexed by Britain in 1874.
- British went on to propose federation of British and Boer territories in 1875, Boers rejected. Area suffered from extreme instability as both British and Boers tried exerting control over valuable area for traders.
British relations with Boers and Bantu 1880-90?
- In Xhosa War of 1887-88, British easily disarmed neighbouring tribesmen and annexed communities to Cape. Boers struggled with Pedi tribe, who maintained independence in eastern Transvaal. British announced annexation of Transvaal in 1877, claiming defence of white European settlers against Pedi and Zulus. Boers reluctantly accepted and British launched invasion of Zululand in 1879.
- British defeated Zulus therefore Boers declared total independence from Britain in 1880. Boers turned on British: attacked army garrisons across Transvaal and won series of victories culminating in humiliating failure at Majuba Hill in February 1881, where over 150 Britons killed.
- British forced to sign Convention of Pretoria, recognising Boer self-government in Transvaal though Britain still claimed right to control external affairs.
- In 1884, arrival of German presence in south-West Africa rose fears of German-Boer alliance. Britain consequently annexed Bechuanaland between German South-West Africa and Transvaal to prevent union.
- In 1886, new gold discoveries at Witwatersrand near Transvaal capital of Pretoria was eagerly sought by trading companies, bringing mass of non-Boer Europeans (known as Uitlanders) into Transvaal, including Cecil Rhodes.
- Cecil Rhodes received charter for ‘British South Africa Company’ in October 1889 seeking to enrich self and Empire. Aim was to create continuous British land route from Cape Town to Egypt.
- In September 1890, Rhodes’ company established fort at Salisbury in Mashonaland, home to Shona people, aiding British control in the region. British dominance in South Africa was not assured, however.
