Consolidation And Expansion Of The British Empire In Africa c1890-1914 Flashcards

1
Q

Until the 1880s, how had the British acted in Africa?

A

The British largely established bases for their strategic value or for the purposes of trade.

This sometimes involved reacting to the initiatives of other powers - matching settlement by the French or Germans in particular by claiming the area where British traders had already established themselves.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

From the 1890s, British policy in Africa became more assertive. Why?

A

Imperial attitudes changed.
The Conservative government was determined to uphold Britain’s position in every part of the world, this brought wars, and threats of wars, over Africa and ambitious programmes to consolidate the Empire.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When was the Conservative government elected?

A

1895

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Between 1870 and 1914, how much (as a percentage) did European control in Africa change by?

A

1870 - 10% of Africa was under European control
1914 - Barely 90% was not under European control

10% to 90%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How did the British gain control of Ashantiland?

A

British demanded, in the early 1890s, that King Prempeh should turn over the remainder of his empire to the British as a protectorate - he refused.

This produced a fourth Anglo-Ashanti War in which Britain conquered the Ashanti territories and forced Prempeh from his throne in 1896.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When and what prompted the formal annexation of Ashantiland?

A

A final Ashanti uprising in 1900 led to the formal annexation of the kingdom.

Incorporated into the Gold Coast Colony in 1902.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How did the British establish their claim to Nigeria?

A

By virtue of occupation and by 1890 an agreement with the French, who agreed to recognise Britain’s domination of the area in return for Britain recognising the French claim to Madagascar.

The British assumed the responsibilities of the Royal Niger Company and established direct British control of North 1900, and South 1906.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How did Britain establish its influence in Zanzibar?

A

In 1890 Britain and Germany signed a treaty establishing spheres of influence in East Africa. Zanzibar was ceded to British influence.

Britain duly declared Zanzibar a Protectorate of the British Empire (1890) and installed its own ‘puppet’ Sultan.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What was the issue that the British faced in Zanzibar?

A

Following the mysterious death of Sultan Hamad at his palace in 1896 (amidst rumours of poison) and the accession of his cousin Khalid, without Britain’s blessing, there was a confrontation.

The British ordered him to stand down but he refused which resulted in the naval bombardment of the Sultan’s palace.

After just 38 minutes, Khalid was overthrown and pro-British Sultan Hamud placed on the throne of Zanzibar.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What was Buganda and what happened there?

(think hand over, treaty, becomes part of..)

A

King Mwanda of Buganda promised to hand over some of his sovereignty to the Imperial British East Africa Company in return for British backing.

In 1890 he signed a treaty with Lord Lugard on behalf of the Imperial British East Africa Company, ceding powers over revenue, trade and the administration of justice to the company.

The powers were transferred to the crown in 1894 and Buganda became a protectorate as a part of Uganda.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How long was the Uganda Railway, when did construction start, and how much did it cost?

A

660 miles of rail track (known as Lunatic Line)
1896, ordered by Chamberlain
£5 million to build

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The Uganda Railway was created at the expense of the British taxpayer
It was justified by what reasons?

A
  • Enabled access to new markets
  • Encouraged colonial settlement
  • Facilitated the export of both tea and coffee
  • Stopped the need for slave porters to access the interior
  • Protected the source of the River Nile against Britain’s potential enemies
  • Promoted British tourism, particularly safari tours.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When did British interest begin in Kenya?

A

It dated back to the Berlin Conference, 1884-85, when it fell into Britain’s sphere of influence in East Africa.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why was Kenya considered a useful territory?

A

Strategically important, it offered a route from the coast to Uganda.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What opposition did the British face in Kenya?

A

Sheikh Mbaruk bin Rashid took up arms against the British, obtaining weapons from the Germans. It took the British nine months to crush the opposition. Thus in 1895 they made it a protectorate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How was the British interest in Sudan reignited?

A

In 1885, Salisbury became Conservative Prime Minister.
He believed that Egypt was vital to the security of Britain’s sea-route to India, hence Salisbury’s concern to reconquer at least parts of the Sudan.

Salisbury was also concerned about the interest of other European nations in Africa (in context of scramble for Africa)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

When and what did Salisbury sign in an attempt to keep Britain’s rivals out of East Africa?

A

He signed a treaty in 1890 with the Germans whereby they agreed to take Tanganyika while the British took Kenya and Uganda.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What did Salisbury use as an excuse for a British campaign in Sudan?

A

Italian forces were defeated at Adowa in 1896 whilst trying to seize Abyssinia.
It could be sold to the public as a campaign to aid Italy and uphold European civilisation against African barbarianism.

It was also welcomed as an opportunity to avenge General Gordon.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Who was appointed to penetrate Sudanese territory?

A

General Kitchener was appointed Commander-In-Chief of the Egyptian Army in 1896.

He was ordered to go no further than Dangola but he went further to take Khartoum and conquer the whole region. (demonstrates power of men on the spot)

He won a resounding success at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Why was this victory not the end of the campaign in Sudan?

A

Kitchener was given sealed orders by Salisbury to open after defeating the Sudanese.
He ordered him to go to Fashoda on the headwaters of the Nile - where a French expedition under Major Marchand had arrived.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How did the British press distort the conflict between the French and British in Sudan?

A

Both Kitchener and Marchand pressed their nation’s claims to the area (accusing the other of trespassing) but the meeting was not particularly fiery.

Press reacted strongly to this and suggested that Britain and France were on the brink of war.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Why did the French withdraw from Sudan?

A

Fortunately for Salisbury, the French government, facing internal problems and aware of the British army in the Sudan, signed an agreement of 1899 whereby the French promised to stay out of the Nile Valley in return for territory further west.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What was established, relating to Egypt and Sudan, in 1899?

A

There was an agreement between Egypt and the British, whereby Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established.

This would be administered in an arrangement known as a condominium.

In practice, this meant that the Sudan would be run by the British, with Egyptian support.

24
Q

What role was Lord Kitchener given in Egypt?

A

In 1902 he was appointed as the first Governor-General (ruling in name of Khedive of Egypt).

25
Q

What school did Kitchener establish for Sudanese?

A

‘Gordon College’ which trained young Sudanese to run their own country.

26
Q

When and why did the British reinforce Somaliland as a protectorate?

A

The British reinforced Somaliland in 1898 as a means to limit both French and Italian ambitions in the area.
It had few resources, however, it gave Britain crucial access to the Indian Ocean and its colonies in the east.

Therefore, it was taken with strategic intent.

27
Q

When did South Zambesia become known as South Rhodesia?

A

1895, after Rhodes used force to establish British settlers in the area.

28
Q

Was there resistance against the British settlers in South Rhodesia?

A

In wars with the native Ndebele, nearly half of those settlers died, but the territory was eventually taken.

29
Q

Which territory did David Livingstone open up that housed Scottish missionaries?

A

Nyasaland.

30
Q

What resistance did the British face in Nyasaland?

A

Portuguese-backed Arab attacks. Guerrilla warfare continued on and off until 1897, with the area operating under the control of Rhodes’ South Africa Company until 1907 when it became a Protectorate.

31
Q

Who promoted the quest for a British confederation of South Africa? Also why?

A

Advocated by Joseph Chamberlain and Cecil Rhodes.
Largely to counter German territorial gains and Boer confidence derived from the Transvaal’s wealth.

32
Q

Which plea for help served as an excuse for British intervention in the Transvaal?

A

In 1895, the gold-seeking Uitlanders of the Transvaal, who were being denied citizenship and rights by the Boer government led by Paul Kruger sought the help of Cecil Rhodes.

33
Q

What was the issue with the Jameson Raid?

A

The raid was launched on the Transvaal from neighbouring British Rhodesia.
The whole affair was a fiasco (600 arrested, Rhodes resigned) and even though no official support had been given to this, it brought discredit to the British government and stiffened the Boer’s determination to resist British intrusions.

34
Q

How did the Boer victory affect Kruger’s reputation?

A

He became the people’s hero and the Boers still living in the Cape Colony formed an anti-British ‘Afrikaner Bond’ to show their solidarity with their fellow Boers in the Transvaal.

35
Q

When was the Jameson Raid?

A

December 1895 - January 1896

36
Q

What effect did the Jameson Raid have on Rhodes?

A

Rhodes was forced to resign from the Cape premiership but was not put on trial.

37
Q

Was Chamberlain complicit in the scheming of the Jameson Raid?

A

He had undoubtedly given covert support to the Jameson raid, but wanted to avoid war if at all possible.

Therefore, negotiations began with the Boers.

38
Q

When and what happened during the course of negotiations between Milner and Kruger, what followed?

A

1899, there were failed negotiations at Bloemfontein between Kruger (Transvaal President) and Alfred Milner (High Commissioner for South Africa). Milner advocated granting full citizenship to the Uitlanders after five years’ residence. Kruger opposed the policy but was prepared to make concessions. Milner was not, claiming that “war has got to come”; Boer forces invaded Natal four months later.

39
Q

How many troops did the British pour into the ‘Second Boer War’?

A

Nearly 400,000 imperial troops.

40
Q

How much did the British spend on the Second Boer War?

A

Some £250,000,000

41
Q

When were the Boers defeated in the Second Boer War?

A

1902

42
Q

Which treaty marked the end of the Second Boer War?

A

Treaty of Vereeniging, May 1902.

This treaty meant that the Boers acknowledged themselves as British subjects and the Boer republics became British colonies with a promise of responsible self-government.

43
Q

How did the British already have influence in Nigeria pre-occupation?

A

Under Goldie’s Royal Niger Company.

44
Q

What was Nigeria’s primary economic resource?

A

Palm Oil

45
Q

What were the negatives for Sudan and its people following British rule in 1898?

Think, oppressors, new rules, how were these rules received + evidence of this, mahdist again?

A

1) Whilst the people welcomed the British defeat of the Mahdists as they had almost destroyed the Sudanese economy, they felt as if one oppressor had been exchanged for another.

2) British attempts to introduce land tenure rules, penal codes, a new government, and a system of taxation angered the Sudanese peoples. Proof of this was how many tribal people refused to accept the new laws which caused the British to embark on 33 punitive expeditions to force them to accept the new British order.

3) Resistance was also demonstrated through 1902-3, 1904, and 1908 Mahdist Uprisings. The British responded by hanging the participants without trial.

46
Q

What were the benefits for Sudan and its people following British rule in 1898?

Think, development, link key areas, port, scheme

A

1) British rule led to economic development, particularly in Nile Valley.

2) Telegraph and railway lines were extended linking key areas in Northern Sudan together.

3) Port Sudan opened in 1906 as the country’s main outlet to the Red Sea, stimulated economic growth through increased trade etc.

4) In 1911 the Gezeira Scheme was established which aimed to provide high quality cotton and improve irrigation, British funded.

47
Q

How many were the Mahdist side’s casualties in 1898 conflict?

A

30,000

48
Q

How many were the British side’s casualties in 1898 conflict?

A

700

49
Q

How was the Uganda Railway constructed at the expense of the welfare of its workers?

A

During its construction, 500 of the workers were killed by Masai Warriors

50
Q

What did Consul General Evelyn Baring do to try and save the Egyptian economy?

A

Attempted to reduce the national debt of Egypt which had reached £70 million by cutbacks to military and bureaucracy.

Revitalised the economy by improving communications and investing in irrigation schemes.

He caused the production of cotton and sugar to increase by 3x.

Aswan Dam constructed in 1902, paid for privately for cost of £2 million, enabled year round cultivation.

51
Q

What was the Granville Doctrine introduced by Consul General Evelyn Baring?

A

Introduced a partially elected parliament, Egyptian ministers had the ‘support’ of a British official but Baring introduced the Granville Doctrine which meant Egyptians would be dismissed if they resisted the advice.
Therefore, it appeared as if he was granting greater sovereignty but British still steered the ship.

52
Q

From 1885 to 1905, by how many had Britain increased the number of officials involved in Egyptian government?

A

100 to 1000

53
Q

What action did Baring take that indicated his distrust of the loyalty of the Egyptian army?

A

He added 6000 extra British troops to the Egyptian Army.

54
Q

What German action, following the Jameson Raid, increased British suspicions surrounding the relationship between Germany and the Boers?

A

In 1906 Kaiser Wilhelm sent a telegram to Paul Kruger congratulating him on repelling the British.

55
Q

What did Consul General Gorst (1907-11) do in Egypt?

A
  • Brought more Egyptians into responsbile positions to weaken Egyptian National Party
  • Imposed tighter censorship of press
  • Used penal measures to stop growth of nationalist movements, German government funded these movements against the British.