Chapter 1 British Empire Flashcards
How many miles did the Suez Canal reduce the trade route to India?
6,000
What percentage of Egypt’s imports were from Britain in 1870?
40%
When was the Suez Canal constructed by the French?
1854-1856
When did Disraeli buy Isma’il Pasha’s shares of the Suez Canal and how much were they worth?
1875 & worth £4million
What year did Tewfiq replace Pasha?
1879
What did Commissioner Dufferin do when Tewfiq was installed as a puppet leader?
Imposed tariffs on Egyptian foods and reduced the army by 2/3
When did political riots take place in the streets of Alexandria, Egypt and how many people died?
June 1882 with the deaths of 50 Europeans
What happened when Pasha declared war?
Commander Wolseley defeated Pasha and his rebels, securing the Suez Canal, retaking control of Cairo and reinstalling Tewfiq as a puppet leader
What was Eveling Baring installed as?
Counsul-General
What year was Basutoland acquired?
1868 - protectorate established by treaty
What year was Griqualand West acquired?
1873 - settlement established and absorbed into Cape Colony in 1880
What year was the Transvaal acquired?
1877 - occupied, British forces were there but not directly in control
What year was the Zululand acquired?
1879 - protectorate established by war
When was Egypt acquired?
1882 - occupation establishing a client state
What year was Southern Nigeria acquired?
1884 - chartered company rule
What year was British Somaliland acquired?
1884 - protectorate established by treaty
What year was Bechuanaland acquired?
1885 - protectorate established by treaty
What year was Northern Nigeria acquired?
1885 - chartered company rule
What year was Gambia acquired?
1888 - settlement established
What year was British East Africa acquired?
1888 - chartered company rule
What year was Uganda acqired?
1888 - chartered company rule
What year did Britain seek African resources to manfucature goods such as textiles and weapons to sell back to Africa?
1873-1896 when GB had the Great Depression
Why was Britain strategically interested in West Africa?
There were a string of forts along the Gold Coast as were coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia
David Livingstone
1858 - went to Africa to try and make an open path for commerce and Christianity
What was Tewfiq forced to do?
He was forced to crete a government amenable to Britain and employ a British military etc
What was Britain’s influence over Egypt confirmed by?
The 1885 Convention of London which secured an international loan for the Egyptian government
Sudan - what was Colonel Charles Gordon sent to do?
He was sent from GB to act as Governor- General of Egyptian administrated Sudan on behalf of puppet leder Khedive Isma’il between 1877-80
Why did British administrators face oppostion?
Because in June 1881, Sudanese cleric Muhammed Ahmed proclaimed himself as the Mahdi of mankind
What did the Mahdi do?
They turned into a jihadist army and sought to liberate Sudan from outside rule
What did the Mahdi do in 1882?
They overtook the area surrounding Khartoum
What was done in 1883 by Colonel Hicks?
Along with Egyptian forces, Hicks launcher counter-attacks against the Mahdists but Hicks was killed
What was the response from Gladstone?
Gladstone ordered General Gordon to oversee thr evacuation of both GB and Egyptian forces from Khartoum in 1884 but they were overrun
What happened to General Gordon after he followed Gladstone’s orders?
The entire garrison was killed and General Gordon beheaded. Gladstone didn’t retaliate
