Chapter 2 - Imperial And Colonial Policy Flashcards
What dealt with policy decisions of oversea territories?
The colonial office
What report meant that Britain was moving towards a system of ‘responsible government’ in the white settler colonies?
Durham report
What company had seen the expansion of influence in India originally?
The British East India Company
What business structure did the EIC have over India?
A monopoly
How many people were in the EIC army in 1803?
250,000
What year did the EIC hand it’s rule over to the British government?
1858
What were the terms in The Government of India Act 1858?
EIC territory passed to the Queen
The position of Secretary of State for India was created
15 members to support SofS
Crown appointed Viceroy
India Civil Service controlled by Secretary of State
What was the Raj?
Formal British rule in India
1858 - 1947
What was the priority for the British government during the Raj?
To keep control
What was Queen Victoria made?
Empress of India
What event happened in 1876-78?
Bengal famine
How many people died in the Bengal famine?
15%
What did the Viceroy do?
Ran government affairs in India through legislative council of 5 people
What sectors did the legislative council control?
Finance
Law
Army
Economy
Home affairs
How was the Viceroy represented in the provinces?
By provincial governors
How many British civil servants helped run the Raj?
~ 1000
Who took up most official posts?
White males
Who did the viceroy also rely on to rule?
Native rulers
What was removed to help ensure princes loyalty?
‘Doctrine of lapse’
What was the ‘doctrine of lapse’?
It mean that if the rulers didn’t have an heir the status would be taken by the British
How many provinces were there in India?
8
What percent of India was ruled by princely states?
40%
What other administrative jobs were there?
Collecting taxes
Maintenance of law
Running the courts
What law was used in India?
English law
What area of law was shown more respect after the Indian Mutiny?
Marriage and family law
What was actively discouraged?
Missionaries
Was there much change seen by the Indians from company to Raj rule?
No - usually same people still ruling + princes ruling on behalf of Raj
What was set up that showed increasing political awareness?
The Indian National Congress 1885
What happened in the Indian National Congress?
Discuss public affairs - not set up to challenge British rule
What Prime Minister named Queen Victoria Empress?
Benjamin Disraeli
What was the ratio of British to Indian troops?
1:2
What were officer rankings reserved for?
British soldiers
What were Native Indian troops mixed by?
Caste and religion
What did the army enlist more of?
Sikhs and Gurkhas
Why were more Sikhs and Gurkhas recruited?
They were loyal to Britain in the mutiny
Who didn’t control artillery?
Native troops
What was the caste system?
Separated at birth into different social strata
What else helped India’s defence?
Railways
When was the first passenger train launched in India?
1853
Where were Indian troops deployed to help?
Arabi Pasha’s rebellion in Egypt
Why were they deployed?
To look like pawns for the British empire rather than defenders of India
What European powers became threats?
Germany
France
Russia
Why was Germany becoming a threat?
Newly united
Expanding its navy
Growing industrial power
Wanted to emulate Britain’s empire
Growing economy
Why was France becoming a threat?
Wanted to regain prestige after Franco-Prussian war
Gained territory in south east Asia and Africa
Why was Russia becoming more of a threat?
Had large areas of Central Asia incl Afghanistan
Wanted to conquer parts of the Ottoman Empire
Large in population
Starting to expand industrially
Building railways
When was the global economic depression?
1873 and 1896
What did countries do with domestic demand falling in the UK?
Sell to new markets in Asia and Africa
What was the race for land in Africa called?
Scramble for Africa
How many conferences were held to decide African territory?
2
What was the first conference called?
The Brussels conference
When was the Brussels conference held?
1876
Who hosted the Brussels Conference?
King Leopold II of Belgium
What was the Brussels Conference for?
To protect Belgian interests in the Congo
What did the Brussels Conference conclude?
Africans were incapable of of developing their natural resources - European intervention necessary
Routes to Africa’s Great Lakes needed to be developed by building roads or railways
An international African Association should be established to coordinate European efforts
What unintentionally came out of the Brussels convention?
Heightened competition - unsure of Leopold’s intentions
What was a famous quote from Leopold II speech?
‘Piecing the darkness’
What could ‘piecing the darkness’ be interpreted as?
Lack of perceived cultural advancements
Playing off of racial ideology
What was the second conference called?
The Berlin Conference
When was the Berlin Conference held?
1884-5
Who hosted the Berlin Conference?
German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck
How many European states attended?
14 + USA
What did the Berlin Conference do?
Separate Africa for European countries to own
In 1884 how much of Africa was still controlled by local tribes?
90%
What was made in the General Act in the Berlin Conference?
All nations could trade in the Congo
Protect indigenous people and suppress the slave trade
Powers should support, religious, scientific, or charitable causes
Should notify signers of the act if wanting more land
What was the principle of the act known by?
Effective occupation
By 1900 how much of Africa was occupied?
90%
What did A.J.P refer to Africa as?
A safe arena
What did the spheres of influence not take into consideration?
Natural borders
Ethnic division
Linguistic division
Religious division
What was the informal empire?
Areas that Britain had influence on but had no legal claim over
How much public capital did Britain have in Latin America?
£80 million
Where was the Royal Navy used to secure ‘free trade’ agreements?
Peru and Chile
