Consolidation and expansion in Africa 1890-1914 (SECTION 2) Flashcards
What policy did the British get rid of as a result of the Anglo-Boer War?
1) Britain heavily reviewed its policy of ‘splendid isolation’ after the 2nd Anglo-Boer War.
Which two alliance systems had formed in Europe in the late 19th century?
1) Germany, Austria and Italy in 1882
2) France and Russia in 1894
What did the alliances in Europe do to Britain?
1) Put the British in an uneasy situation. Whilst isolation was the preferred strategy, it could leave Britain vulnerable to the ambitions of both alliances.
Why were Britain concerned about Russia? What specific event caused great worry to the British?
1) Russia had interest in Afghanistan, which was a buffer state between themselves and Britain’s most prized colony India.
2) The establishment of a Russian railway to Tashkent and the movement of 300,000 Russian troops in manoeuvres near Afghanistan in Feb 1900 added to their worries.
In what way did Germany challenge the British? (Regarding the Boer War)
1) The Kasier sent a telegram of support to the Transvaal and supplied the Boers with artillery during the Second Boer War.
2) The Kasier also established connections with the Ottoman Empire, as a means to better access to Africa and India’s trade markets without depending on the Suez canal
3) Germany were also building up their own navy, and the cost for Naval supremacy was a furious race and intensified in from 1906.
How did Britain abandon splendid isolation? Did this provide security to the British?
1) They signed an Entente with France in 1904.
2) This did not provide much security, since it put the British against the Germans, Austrians and Italians.
What did Russia do in 1907? What did this do for the British?
1) After a humiliating defeat in war with Japan in 1905, the Russians joined Britain and France in alliance and the Triple Entente was formed in 1907.
2) This settled British imperial concerns by declaring the Persian Gulf as a neutral zone and recognising Afghanistan as a British sphere of influence.
When was the Imperial Conference and how did it help British fears to do with Germany?
1) 1911 and it was called to forge closer ties between Britain and the dominions.
2) The South African government promised to commit 40,000 men to attack German South West Africa in the event of conflict, while New Zealand and Australia agreed to take action against German colonies in the pacific.
What was the role and influence of Joseph Chamberlain?
1) He turned down the role of Chancellor and Home Secretary to become to the Colonial Secretary in the Conservative coalition from 1895-1903.
2) He believed that effective use of the Empire could sustain British prosperity and prestige.
3) Chamberlain summoned and chaired two further colonial conferences in 1887 and 1902, where he proposed an imperial defence and customs union for the self-governing white colonies but these ideas were rejected.
4) Conducted a campaign of tariff reform and for imperial preference. A tariff reform league was setup.
5) Believed Imperial preference would reduce unemployment.
6) Advocated ‘colonial development’.
7) “I believe that the British race is the greatest of the governing races that the world has ever seen.”
8) Chamberlain was seen as a national hero when the Boer War broke out.
9) Initiated the building of the Ugandan Railway and supervised the acquisition of the Royal Niger Company.
10) Resigned in 1903.
What was the role and influence of Cecil Rhodes?
1) Prime Minister of Cape Colony in 1890.
2) Driven by a strong conviction that British civilisation and control was key to the betterment of the world.
3) Using his vast fortune, political power and control of the Cape newspapers, Rhodes impressed upon audience at home and abroad that the British had the right to dominate Africa and more.
4) Sent settlers to establish Fort Salisbury in 1890 opening up territories that were called Rhodesia from 1899.
5) One of his projects in order to outflank the Boers in the Transvaal and Germans in the rush to central Africa was the railway line from the Cape through Bechuanaland, he hoped it would eventually reach the Nile to ensure British domination of all east-central Africa. Failed due to the German occupation of East Africa.
6) Resigned after the Jameson raid in 1896 and died in 1902.
7) Made a great fortune out of enterprises and his funds helped promote Empire after his death.
What was the role and influence of Viceroy Curzon?
1) Appointed as Viceroy of India in 1899.
2) He travelled around the world, exploring and producing several books.
3) Believed in a moral imperial and took great pride in representing Britain and its imperial mission.
4) He established both commissions and legislation to improve India’s administration and agriculture.
5) Oversaw the re-arming of native regiments, the expansion of provincial police, the promotion of scientific and medical education and the construction of a further 6000 miles of railway to consolidate British control of India.
6) Founded the Imperial Cadet Corps to give Indian nobles a military role and the prospect of officer commissions.
7) Lavished hospitality and rewards.
8) Very wary of giving Indians too much responsibility and he did not think highly of their abilities.
9) In his own province, an Indian lacked an Englishman’s authority and outside his province this would be even harder.
10) Refused to appoint more senior posts for the fear that they were unequal to emergencies.
11) Believed dividing the troublesome province of Bengal in 1905 would weaken the Raj’s internal enemies but this led to the native backlash and he resigned the same year
What was the role and influence of Evelyn Baring?
1) Consul General between 1883-1907.
2) Saw himself as a moral reformer and was certain that Christian values should be at the heart of the empire.
3) Believed that the occupation of Egypt was essential.
4) Regarded Egypt as a battleground between ‘civilised’ Christianity and Islam.
5) His moral mission both echoed and informed public opinion in Britain.
6) He took action to stop the slave supply to Egypt, discourage slave ownership, abolished forced labour.
7) He was forced to resign after the Danshawai incident in 1906.
8) Rewarded £50,000 in 1907 for his work in Egypt.
9) Returned to Britain and devoted himself to preventing women’s political rights as President of the Men’s League for opposing women’s suffrage.
What was the role and influence of Alfred Milner?
1) He was an administrator who served in Egypt between 1890-92 and as Chairman of the Board of Inland Reverence from 1892-97.
2) Chosen by Chamberlain to become Britain’s high commissioner for Southern Africa from 1897.
3) Convinced of British superiority over Boers and Afrikarns.
4) When Kruger was re-elected as President of the Transvaal in 1898, Milner thought the only way out of troubles in SA was reform in the Transvaal or war.
5) He took Britain into the Boer War.
6) He negotiated the Peace of Vereening alongside Kitchener.
7) After the Boer war he setup Milner’s Kindergaten which worked to resettle the Boers and promote economic growth in the gold mining industry.
8) After deciding to use Chinese coolies to make up for short numbers in the mines, he resigned from SA, returned to England wrote The Nation and the Empire.
What was the role and influence of Frederick Lugard?
1) He served in E and W Africa as well as Hong Kong.
2) Served as high commissioner in Nigeria as well as governor-general.
3) Knighted in 1901.
4) Worked for the Imperial British East Africa Company.
5) In 1894-5 Lugard for the Royal Niger Company raced the French in a treaty making exploration in the Middle Niger where he succeeded.
5) Chamberlain offered Lugard his first government position, where he was to create a British officered African regiment that he was to employ to fend off the French. Became known as the famous West African Frontier Force.
6) He moved the governorship of Hong Kong from 1907-12. He founded the University of Hong Kong.
7) Retired in 1919.
What were some of the political causes of the Second Anglo Boer War?
What was the Bloemfontein Conference `and when was it?
1) The Uitlanders were denied the right to vote, despite the fact that they paid taxes. Over 50,000 Britons were excluded from political rights despite the fact that Boers who lived in Cape Colony were granted their political rights.
2) At the Bloemfontein conference of May-June 1899, Alfred Milner demanded the Transvaal granted rights to the Uitlanders, but the leading Boer politician Paul Kruger refused.
3) Despite half-hearted attempts to compromise, both sides began mobilising troops.
4) In October 1899, Kruger issued an ultimatum demanding that Britain withdrew from the border of the Boer republic. Britain stood firm and war broke out.
