Chapter 4: Attitudes to Empire - Role and Influence of individuals Flashcards
Who was David Livingston
A Scottish missionary who became an explorer after little success
Tried to discover the source of the Nile
Wrote about 2000 letters and conducted lectures at Cambridge
Treated the native population with respect and his book sold 27,000 copies in 7 months
Who was John Kirk
Scottish physician who was committed to ending slavery in Africa
Was a medical officer who became vice consul in Zanzibar and then eventually ruler
What did missionaries do in the field
Helped open territory to British rule by penetrating beyond colonial frontiers and establishing links with indigenous communities
Acted as local trading agents
Shared geographic, linguistic and strategic knowledge with authorities
Many saw Africa as virgin territory because the beliefs and practises were primitive
How many missionaries were there by the end of the 19th century
12,000
What was colonial administrators view on missionaries
Often frustrated with them as they were prepared to challenge imperial authorities that acted against people they were trying to help
The education missionaries provided often gave indigenous people a political conscience
Lord salisbury called them “vulgar radicals”
Who was Cecil Rhodes and what did he do
A British trader who annexed land around the Zambesi river and brought it under British control
Was the Cape Colony PM from 1890-96
Amassed a huge personal wealth from diamond mining and formed the British South Africa company
Who was George Goldie and what did he do
Trader who fried the African trading company in 1876
United all trading firms on the Niger River and eventually got a charter becoming the Royal Niger company in 1886
Became a colonial administrator and brought land around Niger under British influence
Britain won the right to claim a protectorate over North and South Niger at the Berlin conference thanks to his efforts
What was the role and influence of colonial administrators on the Empire
Empire was typically run by men on the spot
Formal governors were appointed by the Colonial office but had discretion to interpret instructions as they saw fit
Many started as explorers, traders or missionaries eg Cecil Rhodes, John Kirk, George Goldie
Who was Sir Evelyn Baring
The Consul General of Egypt in 1882, helped establish a veiled protectorate
Remained ruler of Egypt until 1907
Who was Sir Bartle Frere
Began his career in the Indian Civil Service and his role in ending the mutiny won him a knighthood and place on the Viceroys council
Appointed high commissioner and governor of the Cape Colony in 1877
He deliberately provoked war with the Zulus as he considered them an obstacle to federation with British SA and Transvaal
