Africa 1875-1890 Flashcards
Egypt + Sudan
- Disraeli buys £4 million worth of controlling shares in suez canal in 1875 (saves time, sea route to India). Isma’il Pasha having financial problems so he sells.
- Egypt have economic support from french and ottoman empire
- egyptian cotton good quality + valuable
- british money backing egyptian government gave them power.
1879: In 1879, Tewfiq becomes Khedive. Egypt extremely poor and dependant on British support.
- Army reduced by 2/3 and taxes placed on Egyptian goods.
- These measures lead to nationalist movement from 1879-82, led by Arabi Pasha.
- 50 Europeans were killed in rebellions. Gladstone was forced to send reinforcements, and the rebels were overthrown.
- They introduce the dufferin report in 1883, necessity of british control
- Under dufferin report, British restore Tewfiq as a Puppet Ruler, Evelyn Baring acts as Consul General. Behind the guise of the Ottoman Empire and Tewfiq, the British Empire was strongly in control. Egypt was a Veiled Protectorate.
- 1881: the Mahdi draws on resentment towards outside influence on Sudan. Raises an army who take over areas surrounding Khartoum by 1882.
- Gladstone reluctant but pressured by the press, sends Gordon to evacuate forces in 1884, but they are killed (Gordon beheaded) in 1885.
- he loses the 1885 election due to discontent
Southern Africa 1867-1890
Henry Bartle Frere governor from 1877 to 80
- 1867 diamonds discovered in WEST GRIQUALAND (kimberley), causes diamond rush (white settlers and natives)
- 1868, British annex Basutoland, claiming indigenous people seeking their protection from the Boers. THIS WAS TO BE A BUFFER STATE BETWEEN BOERS IN OFS AND WEST GRIQUALAND!!! 1871 they also annex WG.
- 1875, Lord Carnavron’s (colonial secretary) proposes federation with Boers which is rejected
- 1877, British annex Transvaal, say its to protect the white settlers against Zulus. Boers accept british aid.
- 1879 British launch invasion of Zululand:
- launched by Bartle Frere, British suffer humiliating defeat at Isandhlwana + high cost of war cause reprimand, Glandstone removes him (but they won)
- 1880: Boers declared independence, didnt like annex of transvaal in 77.
Boer War 1880-81
- British suffer humiliating defeat at Majuba Hill February 1881
- Forced to sign Convention of Pretoria giving Boers self governing in Transvaal. (SUZERAINTY British control external affairs)
- 1885 Germans arrive in Southern Africa, causes tensions so the British Annex Bechuanaland, inbetween german South West Africa and transvaal
1886 new gold discoveries in Transvaal
- brings white Europeans known as Uitlanders to Transvaal (Rhodes among them who received charter in 1889.
- transvaal becomes richest state, THREAT TO BRITISH
in 1881 they chose suzerainty (easy), by 1886 its a mistake, cant reap economic rewards of gold
By 1890, british dominance in SA was not assured
what was the significance of explorers?
- laid groundwork for the empire to expand, grew popular support. gained public’s interest and often became national heroes
brussels conference
- 1876
- convention to promote european cooperation, but only really to protect belgian interests in congo
- impact: heightened competition not cooperation, raised suspicion, no real agreement
Berlin conference
1884-85
- Basically let them expand without conflict
ended with the signing of the general act
kickstarts scramble for africa
The general act
1885
Berlin Conference concluded with the signing of the General Act:
- All nations could trade in the Basin of Congo + its outlets
- There should be free trade in these regions
- The powers should suppress the slave trade
- The powers should support religious, scientific or charitable work (done by missionaries and explorers)
- Established Effective Occupation (a power could assert a claim to land that it occupied if it had proof of a local treaty)
No indigenous people had a say
Private chartered companies
Goldie’s United African Company had charters that led to Britain claiming Northern and Southern Niger at the berlin conference
- led to it gaining a charter as the ‘Royal Niger Company’ in 1886
- The British South Africa Company also gained a charter in 1889
What was informal empire
The informal empire comprised places influenced by British economic power, sealed through free trade agreements or by British investment in the area.
- British capital in Latin America stood at over £80 Million by 1865
- British city financer Charles Morrison owned a bank in argentina in 1881 and invested directly into the countries utilities
- The British used their naval power to control China, by threatening to disrupt its opium trade with India (opium was 1/5 of its income). Under the Treaty of Tientsin (1858), they gained trading bases in Hong Kong and Shanghai- both becoming settled with British people and governed under British law.
Motivation for trade and commerce
Driven by the Scramble for Africa, trade and commerce were important but secondary to strategic and political factors (e.g., protecting India and competing with European powers).
Key Exports and Resources
West Africa: Exports of palm oil (used in British industries for soap and lubricants).
- By 1870, palm oil made up 75% of West African exports.
South Africa: Discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) in the Transvaal.
Kimberley became the largest diamond-producing region globally.
Egypt: British interest in cotton intensified during the American Civil War (1861–1865)
Infrastructure development
British investments in railways, ports, and telegraphs to facilitate trade.
Example: Uganda Railway (1896–1901) built to link Mombasa to Lake Victoria.
Railways were often exploitative, built for resource extraction rather than local development.
Steamships revolutionized trade by significantly reducing travel time and increasing efficiency.
Example: By the 1850s, steamships could travel from Britain to West Africa in 3 weeks, compared to months on sailing ships.
Trade Africa and Britain
Africa became integrated into the global economy as a source of raw materials
Example: British exports to Africa grew from £2.2 million in 1854 to £12.4 million by 1900.
Free trade
From 1857, Britain moved towards free trade (new theories such as the ‘wealth of nations’)
- Britain was the worlds foremost trading nation
By the 1880s its dominance starts to contract
1884 Imperial Federation League est 1884 to promote closer colonial ties
Public attitudes to empire (positive)
The Education Act 1870: increased national literacy and extension of the vote made public more politically aware. EMPIRE ACCESSIBLE AND ASPIRATIONAL 4 THEM
Propaganda:
imperialist literature, tales of adventure, reinforce british superiority and heroism
- 1885 King Solomon’s Mines (haggard)
- 1887 She (Haggard)
Young boys interested, bravery, urged to lead manly and christian lives
- 1879 The Boys Own Paper (Baden Powell- started scout movement)
- 1883 The Boys brigade, offered military training by reminding young men the importance of being part of glorious empire
- 1882 Gladstone used media to justify intervention in Egypt, The daily mail recounted that Arabi Pasha’s rebels had killed all of the Christians they could find
Exhibitions:
- Darwin’s ‘Origin of species’ in 1859, view that britain had superiotity as a race. Not suggested by darwin, but came off the back of different species having advantages over competitors.
- 1862 international exhibition in kensington featured 28,000 exhibitors from 36 countries, represented range of industry, tech, and arts
- 1886, The colonial exhibition held in london to give demonstration of the wealth of empire.
- Africa Exhibition 1890, showcased work of traders and administrators, Stanley’s travels. celebrated explorers through displays of photos.
Public attitudes to empire (negative)
there was some bad publicity
- isandlwana defeat
- Zulu war (Majuba Hill)
- Gordon defeat
Politics and the public
conservatives- party of empire,
- introduce reform act 1867 (increased vote to 1.5 million including working class)
Liberals- interested in self determination, domestic issues
- 1884 reform act (vote from 1.5 million to 5.5 million).
- 1886 failed First Irish Home Rule Bill (other colonies want it too, fuels nationalist movement, INC 85)
