Chapter 2: Imperial and colonial Policy Flashcards
How long did most colonial secretaries serve for
Only for a few years
How did the governance of India change in 1858
Handed over to the crown
What were the terms of the government of India Act 1858
Secretary of State for India was created
Viceroy appointed
Indian Civil Service under state control
Advisory body of 15 members with experience of Indian affairs created
How was India administrated from 1858
Provincial governors represented the viceroy and had their own legislative council
District officers oversaw local councils
1000 British servants employed as members of the Indian Civil Service
Greater respect was shown for traditional Indian practises
Queen assured there would be no meddling in Indian religious culture
In what ways did the British rely on the cooperation and collaboration of the native population
The viceroy relied on 565 native rulers of independent princely states
The removal of the doctrine of laps helped ensure loyalty and bolstered the Princes prestige
The British community was forced to rely on a growing middle class that wanted a greater say in administration and British refusal led to them creating the INC (1885)
Bilingual Indians were recruited as low level clerks to act as intermediaries between British Elite and the mass of the population
How did Britain change how India was defended after 1858
EIC army brought under control of crown and proportion of British to Indian troops raised to 1:2
Regiments of Indian troops cut off to prevent unity
Casts and religions were mixed
Greater number of Gurkhas and Sikhs
All field artillery was placed in British hands
Indians denied officer rankings
3000 miles of track added in the decade following to exaggerate British presence and allow swifter deployment of troops
Armoured gun train was introduced
Garrison built in every major city to quell any challenge to British rule
Imperial police force set up to avoid reliance on army
What threats were there to Empire 1870-1890
Industrial rivals imposed high duties to protect their own economic interests - threatening Britain’s global position as it relied on free trade
Economic depression started in the 1870s and led to falling profits and unemployment in Britain
Threats from growing empires of Germany, France and Russia
How did Germany pose a threat to Empire
Germany became united in 1871 and now had the power to dominate Europe
Defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 showing it had a powerful military - No navy yet though
Sought to emulate Britains path - Prussia had no colonies in 1870 but Germany had 5x its landsize in colonies by 1890
Huge expansion in empire with Cameroon, Tanzania and Togo however was mostly dry beds and deserts nobody else wanted - Gladstone welcomed German expansion
Germany had a growing industrial strength and its economy overtook Britain by early 1900s
German merchant ships threatened to break Britain monopoly
In what was did Germany not pose a threat
Much expansion was done with British support - Gladstone said he welcomed German expansion with joy
Germany had no navy
Germany wanted to stay friendly with Britain and Bismarck even suggested an alliance
German public was not interested in empire and by 1914 only 14,000 had moved to colonies
Why did France pose a threat to the Empire
It was determined to build its prestige after the Franco-Prussian war by increasing empire
It took part in a Naval building programme
It established a foothold in India-China and expanded north - huge threat to India
Pursued new markets in Africa
Why did Russia pose a threat to Empire
Accumilated large areas in central Asia and was brought closer to Afghanistan - Russian and British empires only 20 miles apart
Planned to conquer parts of the Ottoman Empire threatening the Suez Canal
It had a large population of 77M so could muster a large army
Was beginning to expand industrially
Undertook large railway building projects eg Trans-Caspian railway. Seen as being primarily for transporting troops to Afghanistan and therefore a threat to NW frontier
In what ways did Russia not pose a threat
Disraeli and Bismarck worked together to ensure Russia didn’t gain too much land from Turkey
Tsarist governments were usually badly organised and unable to take full advantage of resources and manpower available
Alexander III concentrated on avoiding wars
What was the British response to international threats
Annexed Malaya in 1874 and took North Borneo, Brunei and Burma in response to French activity in Indo-China
Invaded Afghanistan in 1878 to reduce Russian influence and secure India
What did the Brussels Conference result in
It drew attention to the land available in Africa and led to more competition
Shown by many powers hiring explorers to assert claims and influences eg: France hiring Pierre De braze
What did the Brussels conference conclude
Africans were incapable of developing the national resources, therefore European
intervention was necessary; the route to Africa’s great lakes needed to be developed by building roads or
railways and an international African Association should be established to coordinate the European’s efforts
