British Empire 1 Flashcards
What were ‘Colonies’?
Parts of the Empire directly controlled by the British with a British individual as leader.
What were ‘Protectorates’?
Informal parts of the Empire which were not officially ruled by the British, usually used ‘advisors’ and/or a puppet ruler
What were ‘Dominions’?
White settler colonies with self-government
What was the East India Company?
Royal charter company given a charter in 1600 by Elizabeth I for trade in India. Specifically their spice and textile trade. Over time gained more power and control over the Native Indian people especially following the Battle of Plassey against the French in 1757.
What was the significance of the Battle of Plassey?
Allowed EIC to collect taxes.
British dominance in India, defeat of French imperial rivals.
Who was Mangal Pandey and why was he significant?
Sepoy in the EIC’s army.
29th March 1857- wounded two British Officers.
Hung a week later which sparked the Indian Mutiny (1857)
What were the causes of the Indian Mutiny?
East India Company’s Rule- had 2/3 of the subcontinent and taxed the Indians, taking up land as landlords.
British trying to impose British ideas on economy, courts and trying to enforce Christianity.
Rifle Cartridges with Pig and Cow fat
Mangal Pandey
Doctrine of Lapse
Support of local rulers
What happened at Cawnpore?
Group of British troops sieged by Indians in June 1857. Offered false escape by boat and then the boats were shot at. Most of the 60 British men involved were killed. Women and children were kept alive as hostages for a moment, then butchered and some bodies stuffed down a well. Afterwards, on a mission to find those responsible thousands were hung, many innocent.
What was the ‘Devil’s Wind’?
British response to the mutiny with extreme violence, saw over 100,000 Indians killed in brutal ways including being smothered in pigs fat and blown to pieces by a canon.
What was the British press’ reaction to the Indian Mutiny?
Focused on the violence towards white women and children, especially the image of an Indian man raping a white woman to elicit more of an outraged response.
The mutiny depicted in art and paintings of the period.
Depicted Indians as savage and violent.
What were the consequences on the Indian Mutiny?
End of EIC rule, India became an official crown colony (The Government of India Act)
Mughal Emperor exiled and his sons assassinated
Doctrine of Lapse abolished
What happened at Lucknow?
British were barricaded selves inside the city after rebellion reached Lucknow.
About 3,000 inside the fortifications, mostly Europeans, some Indian sepoys. Surrounded by 10,000 rebels.
Starvation, disease and wounding was rife in the settlement.
A relief force came but couldn’t get them out so it just brought more people.
How was India governed after 1857?
Queen became the Empress of India
Secretary of State for India advised by an Indian Council
Viceroy in control of actual India
Indian Civil Service- mostly Europeans, some bilingual Indians allowed to carry messages
Native Princes - 565 princely states, 40% of India
Who was the first Viceroy of India?
Viceroy Canning
What was the Indian National Congress (1885)?
Political forum for Indians to join ough they didn’t have any actual power.
Complained about British Rule and how it limited Indian industry and that Indian taxes were used to pay the British.
What economic interests would Britain have in Africa?
Gold
Ivory
Trade markets of British machinery
Materials like coal, iron and timber
Cycle of dependencey
When was there an economic depression in Europe?
1873 - 1896
Made trade in Africa especially important- they weren’t experiencing a depression
Pre Berlin conference strategic expansion
The cape to control waterways to Asia and stop off point
Forts along the Gold Coast to strengthen West African interests
British African Protecterates expansion 1857-1890
1868- Basutoland
1879- Zululand
1884- British Somaliland
1885- Bechuanaland
British African expansion from Chartered Companies 1857-1890
1884- Southern Nigeria
1885- Northern Nigeria
1888- British East Africa
1888- Uganda
Khedive Ismail Pasha and his reforms
Wanted to continue the modernising of the Ottomans
Railways
Schools
Street Lights
Suez Canal
Irrigation projects
Put Egypt into a lot of debt from Britain and France etc.
By 1870s 40% Egyptian imports from Britain
Why were Britain interested in Egypt
Had previously lost American colonies, Big suppliers of cotton. Egypt also had a large cotton agriculture
Around 1861-1865
The creation of the Suez Canal
Began in 1959. Completed in 1869 by a French Company.
Shortened route to India by 6,000 miles
Instantly very important for world trade
1875- Ismail Praha tries to sell his shares to pay off debts
Benjamin Disraeli purchased these for £4 million
Why was Khedive Ismail Pasha deposed in 1879?
Pressured to by French and British because of the debts he had caused
Who was Ismail Pasha replaced by?
Tewfiq Pasha, his son as a British puppet ruler
British reforms in Egypt 1857-1890
Increased taxes on Egyptian goods
Army reduced by 2/3
What was the Egyptian response to British reforms?
Rise of a nationalist rebellion led by Colonel Arabi Pasha
What major event happened in Egypt, June 1882?
Anti-European riots in Alexandria in which 50 Europeans were killed
The bombardment of Alexandria 1882
British naval forces were sent by Gladstone to intervene in the riots
What happened at the battle of Tel el-Kebir
Battle lasting less than an hour in which the British massively beat Colonel Arabi and his forces
What was Colonel Charles Gordon’s role?
Governor-General of Sudan 1877-1880
Who was the Mahdi?
Self proclaimed Islamic profit and saviour of mankind who wanted to rid all Egyptian and European influence from Sudan
What did Gladstone instruct Gordon to do in 1884?
Evacuate Sudan of all British officials
What did Charles Gordon do?
Disobey Gladstone orders and attempt to hold out against the Mahdi and his army in order to keep British control of Sudan.
Resulted in his death and beheading
What did the Colonial Office do?
Formed in 1801
Run by Colonial Secretary
Six divisions: North America, Australia, West Indies, Africa, Mediterranean, General
Usually only the official colonies, later many white settler colonies would become self-governing too
What was the Durham Report (1838)?
Report from which Britain decided white settler colonies should have a system of ‘responsible government’ with more local say in government.
Applied to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Cape Colony
What were the terms of the Government of India Act 1858?
EIC territories fall under the Crown
Creates Secretary of State for India post
Created the India Council
Appointed a Viceroy (Canning) in charge of India
Indian Civil Service
When was Queen Victoria made Empress of an India by Disraeli?
January 1877
What roles were there for Indians in the Indian Civil Service?
Not much opportunity.
Could work in it but had to take a test which was in London
What did the Indian Civil Service do?
Collect tax
Maintain law and courts
What changes were there in Indian society following the Mutiny?
More respect for Indian law
More religious sensitivity
Christian missionaries discouraged
Railway developed- 3,000 miles of track built in the decade following the mutiny
How did the British reform the Indian army following the Mutiny?
70,000 British and 125,000 Indians in the army. 2:1 ratio
Districts of troops cut off from each other
Army mixed by caste, religion, language and area
Hire more Gurkhas and Sikhs
Replace 62/74 Bengali regiments
Field artillery controlled by the British troops
The Brussels Conference 1876
Hosted by King Leopold of Belgium.
Conference of explorers and leaders from Europe.
Decided that:
Africans incapable of.using their natural resources
They needed to be developed with roads and railways
Set up International African Association to coordinate this
Heightened foreign rivalry rather than coordination
Léopold just wanted to establish his own Empire in Congo
The Berlin Conference 1884-1885
hosted by German Chancellor Otto von Bismark
14 European states plus the US
No Africans in attendance
Established basins of Congo and Niger River’s should be neutral spaces for trade
Signed the General Act
Conditions of the General Act
All nations free to trade in the basin of the Congo
Free Trade
Those in influence of an area should attempt to help the indigenous people and stop slavery
Should support Missionaries, explorers and scientists
Effective occupation- had to assert a claim to prove they had influence over an area
What impact did the Berlin Conference have on Africa?
By 1900, 90% of Africa was in European control
Informal Empire in South America
Latin America was responsible for 10% of British imports and exports
Mercentile bank in Argentinaowned by a British banker
In Argentina British had such economic domination of the markets
Used gunboat diplomacy to keep nations like Peru and Chile’s compliant with free trade agreements
Informal Empire in Asia
Thailand came under British influence from trade treaties
Britain had trade bases in areas of China e.g Shanghai and Hong Kong
Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Office branch of Chinese government to protect British interests
Who was Adam Smith?
Economist who wrote The Wealth of Nations that free trade was ideal for major powers to grow their profits
1857-1900 what % of British imports came from its Empire
20%
1857-1900 what % of British exports went to the empire
33%
What was the Colonial Conference of 1887?
Debated whether the Empire should ditch Free Trade for Imperial Preference but this idea was rejected by Britain.
As a result colonies such as Canada and Australia began imposing tariffs on imported manufactured goods, to increase profit and boost their own economies.
What were Clipper ships?
Smaller, faster British ships that could carry less volume but were ideal for rapidly transporting light and expensive goods like spices, tea and opium.
Usually only lasted about 20 years but they were efficient
What developments were there inn British ships?
Steamships were able to be used transporting across oceans with the development of the steam engine in the 1850s.
Could go from GB to West Africa in under 3 weeks and had very large capacity for cargo.
What is ‘railway imperialism’?
Idea that Britain used the building of railways to secure control. Funded and built by the British’s to keep an economic reliance on them.
Railway building was the single largest investment in self-governing colonies e.g. CA, AU, NZ, SA
Raw Materials Britain could get from their Empire
AU and NZ- cheap food and wool, sugar from Queensland
South Africa- sugar, coffee, cocoa, nuts, coconuts, palm oil. Often cheap because they came from small scale farmers
India- Tea
Malaya/Borneo- rubber and palm oil
Mining resources Britain could get from their Empire
Nigeria- Tin
Gold Coast- Gold
Sierra Leone- diamond
Rhodesia- Copper, Coal, Gold
South Africa- Gold and Diamond
New South Wales, AU- Gold, in 1866 was producing 1/3 worlds gold
When was Gold found in South Africa?
1886
Caused a gold rush and a migration of 30,000 British to SA
When did the Royal Niger Company receive a royal charter?
1886
When did the British East Africa Company receive a royal charter?
1888
When did the British South Africa Company receive a royal charter?
1889
What did Livingstone do when in Britain 1856-1857?
Lectured at Cambridge University on Africa’s geography, minerals, diseases, language and culture
What were Livingstone’s three Cs?
Commerce, Christianity, Civilisation
How many letters did Livingstone write to Britain?
Over 2000
What River did Livingstone explore with Governmnet Funding?
Zambezi
What huge accomplishment did Livingstone make?
First European to travel from west to east of Africa
Before he went missing for 5 years what was Livingstone attempting to do?
Find the source of the river Nile
When he died in 1973 where was Livingstone buried?
His heart was buried in Africa
His body was transported to Westminster
Which of Livingstone’s expeditions did Kirk join him on?
Zambezi Expendition
What other African area was Kirk very prominent in?
Zanzibar
Made it function as a British client state
Outlawed the slave trade in Zanzibar
What event was distrusted by Burton’s untimely death?
1864 debate between Hanning Speke and Burton on where the source of the River Nile was
How many volumes did Burton produce about his expeditions?
43 including cultural topics like birth, death, mariage, sex and cannibalism
What did John Hanning Speke discover?
The source of the River Nile which he named lake Victoria after the Queen
The Missionary work of Mary Slessor
Lived with the Calabar tribes in Nigeria
Ended the practice of killing twins
The Missionary work of Amy Carmichael
Worked in India for 55 years
Wrote 35 books on her experiences
Rescued temple children from prostitution
The missionary work of Mary Carpenter
Travelled to India in 1866
Set up schools, hospitals and a college to help women train as teachers
How many diamond mines in South Africa did Cecil Rhodes own?
All of them
He controlled 90% of the worlds diamonds
What company was Cecil Rhodes the founder of?
The British South Africa Company
When was Cecil Rhodes the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony?
1890-1896
What reform did Rhodes make as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony?
Educational reform
Industrial development (though this reform forced indigenous people off of their land)
Rhodesia
First fort in the area set up in 1890
Renamed to Rhodesia after Rhodes in 1895
Founded by Rhodes
What chartered company did George Goldie own?
The Royal Niger Company
When did Goldie originally request a royal charter?
1881
Denied because of French competition
What resource did Goldies family own a plantation for?
Palm Oil (and palm kernels)
How many treaties did Goldie and his company have with local tribes?
Over 450
When was Baring Consul-General of Egypt?
1882-1907
What did Baring do as Consul-General of Egypt?
Essentially in charge of the country
Appointed British ‘advisors’ to the Egyptian government
Bartle Frere’s experience in India
Crushed the Indian Mutiny
Was on the Viceroy’s Council
What was Frere’s main ambition in South Africa
Federation of the states, especially British annexation of the Transvaal
Frere and the Zulu War
1878- Provoked war with the Zulus because he considered them an obstacle to federation.
Zulu War resulted in British overall win after defeat at Battle of Isandhlwana. Cost a lot of money
Why did Frere leave South Africa in 1880?
Gladstone had him removed for recklessness and provoking the Zulu War
What is a merchant-imperialist?
Someone who contributes to the expansion of Empire through trade
What reforms by Tewfiq brought about a nationalist uprising by Arabi Pasha?
Army reduced by 2/3
Taxes on Egyptian goods increased
By 1870 what % of Egypts imports came from Britain?
40%
What battle did the British defeat Colonel Arabi’s forces?
Tel-El-Kebir
Who replaced Ismail Pasha as Khedive?
Khedive Tewfiq Pasha
Who was the first governor General of Egypt in 1882?
Evelyn Baring
Into which colony was Ashantiland incorporated in 1902?
the Gold Coast
When did the British government take responsibility of the RNC?
North Nigeria- 1900
South Nigeria- 1906
Who did Britain sign a treaty with over territory in Zanzibar in 1890?
Germany
Why did Britain bombard Zanzibar in 1896?
New Sultan came to power who was not pro-British as the previous was
How long was the Uganda railway into Nigeria?
660 miles
When did Britain re-invade Sudan?
1896
At which battle did the British led by Kitchener beat the Sudanese?
Omdurman
In 1899 what was the status of Sudan?
Condominion with Egypt (who were a veiled protectorate of
Who found Livingstone in 1871 after he had been missing for 5 years?
Henry Stanley
What was Burton originally famous for?
Translating texts such as Arabian Nights
Stories about travel in the Muslim world like Mecca
What year did Speke discover lake Victoria?
1858
Methodist Missionaries in early Empire
Held ‘Coferences’ organising missions in Australia, New Zealand and Canada
Missions across the Empire including Fiji, West Indes, India and China
Baring approved the Dufferin Report in 1883. What was it?
Established an Egyptian Puppet government which required British supervison on all decisions
When was Joseph Chamberlain Colonial Secretary?
1895-1903
What were the Colonial Conferences hosted in 1897 and 1902 by hamberlain?
Meeting of Britain with leaders of the dominions proposing an imperial defence and customs union (imperial preference)
What expansion in Africa happened under Chamberlain as Colonial Secretary?
Building of the Ugandan Railway
Annexation of Ashantiland
Incorporation of RNC territories
Supported Rhodes in S Africa and the Boer War
When did Rhodes resign as prime minister of the cape?
1896 following the Jameson Raid
When did Curzon become Viceroy?
1899
What improvements did Curzon make in India?
improved efficiency of the civil service
founded Imperial Cadett Corps in 1901
refirmed universities
Created the North-Wesr Frontier Province
Agricultural Department sponsoring ressearch into agriculture
lowered taxes
Put india on the Gold Standard
Irrigation projects
preservation on ancient monuments
What was Curzon’s attitudes to Indians?
believed they were not intelligent to hold power so kept them in low level positions of government
Why did Curzon resign in 1905?
Failure of the partition of Bengal
What was the Granville Doctrine in Egypt?
Allowed Baring to dismiss any Egyptian minister for not following British ‘advice’
What modernisations did Baring make in Egypt?
Stopped slavery trade in Egypt
Outlawed punishment by whip
Stopped imports of cannabis
Establised the National Bankk
What were Uitlanders?
British immigrants living in Boer territory as gold/diamond prospectors
What did Alfred Milner demand for Uitlanders?
Citizenship follwong 5 years living in the Transvaal
Who were the ‘Coolies’ in South Africa?
Lacking British labourers in the Transvaal mines so employed Chinese labourers on short contracts
Where did the Indian Mutiny begin?
the Bengal Army
How did the Indian Mutiny impact the relationship between British and Indian?
White British Settlers more aloof
Inter-racial marriages became less acceptable
Increased Respect for Indian religion.
Christian Missionaries were discouraged
How might the Raj have impacted Indians negatively
Continued to be poverty and famine
Indian industries suppressed
How might the Raj have impacted Indians positively?
Specifically multi-linguial Indians might be appointed to low level roles in the Indian Civil Service
Universities, Irrigation funds, Railroads
Where were there Universities built in India?
Bombay, Madrass, Calcutta
How did the universities impact Indians’ employment?
1/3 of the Indian graduates went into low level governmnet employment
Many of other graduated went into law jobs
At what rate were railways built in India
Average of two miles of track per day
When was Diamond discovered in Griqualand West?
1867
When did the British annex Basutoland?
1868
When did teh British first propose tfederation with the Boer?
1875
When was the Zulu War?
1879
When was the first Boer War?
1880-1881
At which battle were the British defeated by the Boer in Feb 1881?
Majuba Hill
Over 150 British soldiers were killed
What was the convention of Pretoria?
Peace Agreement signed between the Boer and British in 1881
Britain accepted self government in the Transvaal
When was Gold discovered in the Transvaal?
1886
How were Black Africans treated by gold prospectors?
Used for manual labour and underpaid/ unpaid
Were not allowed to own gold/diamond or mines
In the 1890s, opposition to British rule in India grew among which social group in India?
The Educated Middle Class
What were the names of the Indian nationalist newspapers?
Kaal
Kesari
Who founded the Young India movement?
The Savakar brothers
What was the Young India movement?
radical political and activist group for Indian nationalists
Carried out protests as well as political assassinations ;ike Curzon Wyllie
What was the Swadeshi movement?
economic boycott of British goods in response to the partition of Bengal
Lasted 1906-1911
Challenge to British Rule in British Somaliland
From 1900
‘Mad Mullah’ and a force of 20,000 carriedd out raids on British
Was not fuly defeated until after WW1
Challenge to British rule in Zanzibar
A new sultan assumed power in 1896 who was not pro-British
Resulted in the British bombardment of Zanzibar which lasted under 30 minutes
Challenges to British rule in West Africa
Hut Tax established in 1898 by Colonel Cardew
In response people refused to pay the tax
British forceds responded with a scortched earth policy destroying villages
How many punitive expeditions were sent into Sudan 1890-1914?
33
When was the Battle of Omdurman?
1898
Why was there so much unrest in Sudan following Omdurman?
Resisting Britain’s reforms modernising teh government
When was the Second Boer war?
1899-1902
How many Boer and Bantu people were in concentration camps at the end of the second Boer war?
115,000
How much money did the Boer War cost the British?
£230 million
When did South Africa become a federated dominion?
1910
