british empire section 2 1890-1914 Flashcards
what countries in Africa did Britain take control of in the years 1890-1914?
Ashantiland -
Nigeria - laid claim to Nigeria by virtue of occupation of Royal Niger Company, established in 1876 and by agreement with french in 1890
- The british government took over the responsibilities of the royal niger company and established direct British control in the North in 1900, the south in 1906. Nigeria was then eventually unified in 1914
Uganda - missionaries lived in Buganda and achieved success in converting people. in 1886, King Mwanga asserted authority, executing 30 catholics and protestants, causing civil war
- promised he’d hand over some sovereignty to imperial British east Africa company in return for becoming king again. in 1890 he signed treaty with imperial British east africa company, cedeing powers - was transferred to crown in 1894 and buganda became protectorate as part of uganda
- 1896 constructed uganadan railway from mombosa to connect coast with the fertile lands bordering lake victoria - was nicknamed ‘lunatic line’ due to crazy events eg 35-100 workers being eaten by 2 lions.
kenya - interest dated back to berlin conference as it offered route to uganda.
- natives obtained weapons from germans and took british 9 months to quell - became part of british east africa
zanzibar - ceded to British as part of 1890 treaty between british and germans establishing spheres of influence.
declared protectorate in 1890 and britain installed puppet ruler - when he died his cousin tried to take over which scared the british so they asked him to step down when he refused a naval bombardment took place, becoming the shortest war lasting 38 minutes.
Nyasaland - britain sought control as it was discovered by livingstone and was on shore of the lake Nyasa.
face portegues backed arab attacks until it became of Cecils British South Africa company . became part of british south africa protectorate in 1907
what was the Sudan Campaign
mahdist rebellion of 1881, brought about death of General Gordon in 1885 in Khartoum.
gladstone wanted to withdraw from egypt when it was safe but new Pm salisbury in 1885 he had growing concern for Sudan as he wanted to maintain Egypt for the Suez Canal and was concerned of other european nations trying to intervene in egypt.
the incident at Adowa in 1896 gave Britain an excuse for his campaign as he cld argue for it due to African barbarianism. Kitchener was appointed chief of egyptian army and given orders to penetrate sudanese territory. Additional forces and imperialist support helped him succeed.
kitchener was then ordered to go to fashoda on the headwaters of the nile, where a french expedition arrived. Both laid claims to the region - the ‘fashoda incident’ was viewed with fear as talks of war with france arose. In agreements in 1899, french promised to stay out of the nile in return for territory further west.
what was the jameson raid
1895 gold seeking Uitlanders who were being denied citizenship by Boer government sought help of cecil rhodes - this provided excuse for British intervention.
jameson raid launched on Transvaal - went with only 500 mounted police and where defeated easily - Rhodes was forced to resign
The boers anxious to strike a blow before the British south african army could be reinforced, invaded British territory.
This led to the second Boer war. intially the Boers had some success, but British poured in nearly 400,000 imperial troops at £250 million cost. Boers werent defeated till 1902.
Boers acknowledged themselves as British subjects and Boer republics became British colonies .
The Union of South Africa became a dominion in 1910
What were the main reasons for British expansion in Africa in the years 1890-1914?
STRATEGIC, ECONOMIC AND IMPERIALISTIC – Egyptian expansion was perhaps because of Suez Canal.
Zanzibar and Uganda establishment was because of fact it allowed consolidation of East African expansion → Ugandan Railway, 660 miles was to allow coast and highlands direct access.
Kenya expanded into as it offered route to Uganda.
Cape Colony and Transvaal conflict rooted from Uitlanders and gold → Rhodes’ actions were not liked by British but they had to defend British interest → eventually led to Union of South Africa in 1910.
EUROPEAN RIVALS – Nigeria established because Britain already had charter company (Royal Niger Company established 1879) in the region and French interests grew.
Zanzibar was eyed by the Germans and settled in 1890 treaty. Sudan annexed due to Fashoda incident with French and Italians and French eyeing up territories before however this was finally settled in 1899 when the French agreed to not push onto Nile
PROTECTING OWN TERRITORIES – Ashantiland annexed in 1896 when Prempeh was forced from throne due to them causing skirmishes in trying to annex territory on the coasts of West Africa and the Gold Coast.
How did Britain administer India in the years 1890-1914?
Head of government was Viceroy backed by Indian Civil Service, which was almost entirely white British and recruited from Oxford and Cambridge.
Rule required collaboration with natives and rulers.
Education and expansion of railways enabled Indians to learn English and modernisation.
Economic and social development meant Britain had to interfere economically and physically → tax collection and city/urban growth.
Indian Civil Service often relied on ‘divide and rule’ to hold British rule in India emphasising divisions between race, language, religion, caste, occupation and region
Many Indian elite accepted British rule as route for future and accepted British values.
Who was Lord Curzon?
Viceroy from 1899-1905.
the Indian National Congress, was established in 1885 to campaign for home rule.
Curzon made changes in civil service to improve efficiency and founded Imperial Cadet Corps in 1901, giving native princes and elite figures military training and ‘special’ officer commissions. Reformed universities and police, lowered taxes and adopted gold standard to ensure stable currency.
What happened with the Partition of Bengal?
Curzon decided Bengal should be divided into 2 separate provinces: Muslim-majority province of East Bengal and Assam and Hindu-majority province of West Bengal.
Uproar occurred amongst Hindu elite of West Bengal, many of whom owned land in East Bengal that they leased to Muslim peasants. Hindus saw partition as payback for criticisms of British rule and there were strikes, protests and boycotts of British-made goods.
nationalism began to develop further. Curzon resigned as a result in July 1905.
What were the Morely Minto reforms?
Viceroy Minto (1905-11) was left to deal with fall out of Curzons plans.
supported by liberal government he introduced limited programme of reforms in 1909 in an attempt to appease Bengalis
- indian councils act 1909 enabled 27 indians to be elected from provincial constituencies to viceroy council. However elections were held on a narrow franchise and in some cases representatives were chosen by the British but still provided for greater indian particpitation in government.
Further democratic reform in 1910 meant elections in enlarged provincial councils 135 Indians were able to secure seats across the subcontinent and play a greater part in government at a provincial level
who was viceroy Hardinge?
1910-16
used king george visit to india in 1911 as an opportunity to reunite Bengal.
he moved the indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi (a muslim stronghold ) as a means of undermining revolutionary hindu groups
his declaring war on Indias behalf raised hopes for a ‘new deal’ for indian home rule, leading to the Montague declaration of 1917, which promised eventual self- rule.
How did Britain administer Egypt in the years 1890-1914?
egypt was not technically British until 1914 when it officially became a protectorate. it was only under military occupation.
Britain largely ignored Turkish rights and sultan didnt interfere.
The capitulations - slowed down law making regarding europeans. all foreigners in egypt were granted privileges to protect them from muslim laws against christians. Any new egyptian law affecting europeans had to be approved by the governments of all countries represented in Egypt.
The Caisse de la Dette - included Austria-Hungary, france, germany, russia, italy and britain and controlled Egypts finances. - members of this could prevent British consul general from spending Egypts money on matters they disapproved of eg - plans to use egypts money to finance the reconquest of sudan were thwarted by Russia and France.
Entente cordiale - after fashoda incident 1898, the British and french grew closer and signed this in 1904 whereby the French agreed to respect British special rights in Egypt for return of British recognition of french take over of Morocco.
mixed courts which were set up to deal with cases involving both europeans and Egyptians were not always supportive of the British.
what benefits did the british bring economically and socially to egypt?
Consul-General Evelyn Baring helped wipe Isma’il Pasha’s debt of £70 million and develop Egypt’s economy and infrastructure. Baring made cutbacks to Egypt’s military and bureaucracy, revitalised economy by improving communications and investing in irrigation schemes, improved conditions for Egyptian labourers and introduced better sanitation and health services in towns and stimulated cotton and sugar production.
- Within 10 years, exports of cotton and sugar had trebled and population had risen from 7 to 10 million.
- Baring oversaw rapid expansion of tourism. Thomas Cook & Son became Egypt’s largest employer – providing jobs in hotels, houseboats and excursions. Many wealthy enjoyed to ‘winter’ in Egypt. However, most were advised against mixing with locals.
- Example of irrigation system built was Aswan Dam. 18 metres high and ¼ of a mile long built to hold back waters of Nile. Cost £2 million, opened in 1902 and enabled ½ a million acres of former desert to be irrigated with water from its reservoir, enabling year-round cultivation.
Eldon Gorst, successor of Baring, brought more Egyptians into government to weaken national party. Kitchener in 1913 established new Legislative Assembly - However, represented rich landowners more than regular Egyptians.
how did Britain maintain their interests in egypt ?
Baring reformed Egypt’s army, placing 6000 British troops within to ensure interests weren’t jeopardised by military or popular disturbances and placed under command of General Kitchener.
Changes were made to law courts, police and education though Baring was sceptical extending educational opportunities since he’d seen growth of nationalist movements in India. Egyptians were rarely offered more than a few years of elementary schooling and it wasn’t until 1909 that a new university was founded.
Gorst imposed tighter censorship of press in 1909 and used various penal measures to quell growing nationalist within Egypt but never worked as German government provided funds to fuel anti-British sentiment.
in what ways did the British and nationalists clash ?
By late 1890s, growing middle-class nationalist movement fuelled by newspapers which attacked British for failing to deal with corruption of Khedive’s government and for doing little to help Egypt’s poor.
Nationalists also complained about lack of opportunities for educated Egyptians
A National Party formed in 1881 but revived in 1893 as secret society, attracting Egyptian lawyers and professionals, many educated in Egyptian and European establishments. Sought end of British occupation and own representative government.
Cromer largely ignored demands.
National press horrified by 1906 Denshawai incident - clash between British offiers and egyptian villagers where officers angered villagers by pigeon shooting for sport- officers shot a women meaning egyptians killed the officers.
What was the British ‘Native Policy’?
Most successful form of ‘native policy’ was in Dominions, essentially independent and used for preservation of global power.
Idea that local elites used to facilitate British rule and uphold British interests. Those who supported British were given administrative positions, positions of power or material reward i.e. Sultan Hamad in Zanzibar
‘Native policy’ also often involved favouring one group against another. British East Africa for example, Masai were favoured and rewarded with cattle and tokens of office. Buganda’s king maintain autonomy and chiefs were given land as reward for loyalty.
how British colonial policy was affected by international relations ?
at home -
Britain could no longer maintain ‘two power standard’ where it matched two strongest naval powers, instead settled for 60% margin of Germany.
British industrial power waning in 1900s and maintaining dominance amongst european powers became difficult – change of naval approaches to reliance on france for egypt and mediterraen interests and British interests towards mainland europe.
germany -
- supported anti- British sentiments in Egypt by funding national parties
- supported Boers in Boer war by sending telegram to Transvaal and supplied them with weapons after jameson raid.
- financed railway from Constantinople to Baghdad, forming warm relations with the ottoman empire - seen as provocative in trying to establish foot in trade markets in india and counter Britains dominance of high seas.
- clashes in 1905 and 1911 regarding Morocco - germany questioned french interests and british sided with French
- german invasion of belgium - led to ww1
Russia
- constant tensions over Afghanistan. Treaty of Gandamak 1879 established British foreign policy over afghanistan. Conflict between Russia and Britain known as ‘The great game’
- russian railway to Tashkent (close to afghanistan) caused concern for British.
- movement of troops near afghanistan in 1900 when Britain was stretched by Boer war led to concerns.
- russian defeat in war with Japan in 1905 led to triple entente in 1907.
