Consolidation and expansion of the British Empire in Africa, 1890-1914 Flashcards
West Africa - Ashantiland
worn down by continual resistance of the ashanti people the british demanded that their king should turn over the remainder of his empire to britain but he refused. This produced a fourth Anglo-Asante war in which Britain conquered the Asante territories. A further Asante uprising led to Britains formal annexation of it and was incorporated into Gold Coast
West Africa - Nigeria
able to establish their claim with an agreement with France in 1890who agreed to recognise Britains domination in the area in return for the Frenchs claim to Madagascar. The British government took control of the Royal Niger Company and unified Nigeria in 1914.
East Africa - Zanzibar
In 1890, Britain and Germany signed a treaty establishing zonbes of influence in East Africa - Britain received Zanzibar who declared it a protectorate and placed in charge a puppet sultan. However, when he died and was succeeded by his cousin without british permission there was a confrontation. This is often known as the shortest war in history (38 minutes) in which 500 Zanzibari defenders died. The Sultan was then overthrown.
East Africa - Uganda and the railway
Anglican and French catholics had all permitted Buganda and achieved successes in converting the Bugandan people. In 1886, the King tried to assert his authority by killing 50 catholics and provoking a civil war - the king fled. He 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 Luggard ceding powers over revenue, trade and the administration of justice, eventually transferring powers to the crown in 1894.
The British constructed the railway to connect the coast with the fertile and temperate lands bordering Lake Victoria. 600 miles of track were laid down in 5 years and cost £5 million to build and the lives of 2500 workers. The harsh conditions and low pay were justified by the access to new markets and the exports of both coffee and tea. It became known as the lunatic line.
East Africa - Kenya
British interest in kenya extended back to the Berlin Conference. it offered a route from the coast to Uganda. British made use pf a succession dispute between the muslim majority to try to force their control
East Africa - Sudan and the Mahdi
the mahdist revolt left the sudan in a disrupted state. The new mahdis state was plagued by resistance, disease and famine. Lord Sailsbury believed Egypt to be vital to the security of the sea route to India and so needed to conquer at least some areas of the Sudan. Worried by interest of France and Germany, Kichener gave orders to penetrate Sudanese territory and won a decisive victory in 1898. Kichener was ordered to the headwaters of the Nile where a French expedition had arrived. The French government chose to back down and in 1899 promised to stay out of the Nile valley.
1899- Anglo Egyptian Sudan was established
East Africa - Somaliland
protectorate in 1888, reinforced in 1898 with admin and military staff - limit French and Italian ambitions in the area. Few resources but important due to access to India and colonies in the East
South Africa - Rhodesia
The European discovery og gold in the reguon was bad for the Ndebele people as it led to the arrival of Cecil Rhodes’ British South Africa Company which established mining concessions and a group of white settlers with permission from the British government to make a protectorate. The Ndebele resisted in the First Ndebele war of 1893-94, although their 80,000 warriors stood little chance against Maxim guns. However, resistance continued even after Rhodes tried to assert his power by naming the area after himself. In 1895-96 there was a second Ndebele war.
South Africa - Nyasaland
had been opened up by Livingstone but scottish missionaries faced Portugese-backed Arab attacks and it was not until 1891 that they would establish control there. Guerilla warfare and indigenous resistance continued on and off until 1897 when the area operated under the control of Rhodes’ British South Africa Company until 1907 when the area became protectorate.
South Africa - Cape Colony
quest for a confederation of South Africa was taken up with vigour largely to counter German territorial gains and Boer confidence derived from the Transvaals gold wealth
led to second boer war
why did the British expand
protectorates were expanded in order to provide better security to pre-exisiting sea ports, markets or resources and new territories were taken to limit the advance of European imperialists
what challenged to British rule were there
Boers - second boer war
Somaliland - military leader built up an army of 20,000 and mounted raids on British Somaliland to antagonise communities. Britain countered this with help from Ethiopia but were not able to suppress until 1920.
Zanzibar - bin Barghash assumed power in August 1896 but quickly fled following bombardment from British ships
Sudan
causes of the second boer war
counter german territorial gains and boer confidence after first boer war - Kruger trying to push Transvaal boundaries
in 1895, Uitlanders in Transvaal who had been denied voting rights and citizenship sought help of Rhodes, this gave an excuse for British intervention
Jameson Raid
from neighbouring Rhodesia by Dr Jameson (Rhodes’ agent). This did not have government backing and was just 500 mounted police. It was easily defeated in four days. This brought discredit to British government and stiffened Boers determination to resist British inteference.
Second Boer War, 1899-1902
Chamberlain (colonial secretary) wanted to avoid war at all costs but he was not prepared to accept any weakening of British influence. Negotiations with the Boers broke down when the Boers began an invasion and besieged Natal (british territory) Initially, the Boers had successes but the British poured in 400,000 troops from all around the empire and spent £250 million and under Kichener, took the ascendant from 1900. Britains scorched earth policies designed to remove civilian support for the Boers by burning farms and thus limiting food supplies. They opened concentration camps where thousands of Africans died. The boers were defeated in 1902.
