Expansion of British Empire into Africa Flashcards
From the 1890’s how did British imperial policy in Africa change?
Became more assertive
-before 1880’s, the British had largely established bases for their strategic value or for the purpose of trade. Sometimes involving reacting to initiatives of other powers and private chartered companies had been used to occupy administrated territory and though there was some direct intervention, as seen in Egypt and South Africa, British policy had generally been cautious
Why did imperial policy change from the 1890s?
Imperial attitudes in Britain had their effect on British policy in Africa, the conservative government of 1895 was determined to uphold British position in every area of the world = British imperialism took on a less haphazard appearance
What happened in (British West Africa) Ashantiland?
-Britain tired of British-Ashanti relations failing in 19th century led to in the early 1890’s the British demanding that their King, Prempeh, should turn over the reminder of his empire to the British as a protectorate, he refused
=4th Anglo-Ashanti war in which Britain conquered the Ashanti territory and forced Prempeh off his throne
A final Ashanti uprising in 1900 led to Britain’s formal annexation of the kingdom and was incorporated into the Gold Coast in 1902
What happened in (British West Africa) Nigeria?
Britain established their claim to the area by virtue of occupation and French agreement to recognise Britain’s dominance in return for reconginsartion
Between 1890-1914 what did the British Empire mostly focus on?
Strengthening its formal control of new areas as well as consolidating its influence
Why was there a shift towards consolidation in this period?
Conservative government (PM Lord Salisbury) elected in 1895 and promised to uphold Britain’s dominant position on the world and was prepared to use threat of war to achieve goals
Why was there a move away from chartered companies?
Chartered companies had helped to provide “effective occupation” however companies now struggling to make a profit and cost of maintaining territory unsuitable for companies so government took formal occupation/ consolidation now based on trading connections
What happened in (British East Africa) Kenya?
Granted to Britain at Berlin Conference 1884-1885
-offered a route to the coast from Uganda
=achieved control by exploiting a dispute over succession between the native Mazrui and the Muslim majority to achieve control
territory added to Britain’s East African protectorate in 1895 which was then declared a colony in 1920
What happened in (British East Africa) Zanzibar?
1890, Britain and Germany signed a treaty establishing spheres of influence in East Africa. In the same year Zanzibar is declared a protectorate. Britain placed a puppet Sultan Hamad bin Thuwanini, however following his death the accession of his cousin Khalid there was confrontation. The British ordered Khalid to stand down and when he refused mounted a naval bombardment of the Sultan’s Palace. Shortest war in History occurred (38 minutes) and Khalid overthrown and a pro-British Sultan Hamud placed on the throne which he ruled for six years
What happened in (British East Africa) Sudan?
-Mahdi revolt in 1881 led to the death of General Gordon in Khartoum in 1885= Gladstone no longer wanting involvement in the Sudan and intended to withdraw from Egypt once stability had been restored
-1896 General Kitchener ordered to penetrate Sudan on the orders of Salisbury, won a successful battle in 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman then goes on to Fashoda were the so called “Fashoda incident” takes place, however French government agreed to back down and in 1899 agreement for the French to stay out the Nile valley in return for territory further west in the same year Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is established and Lord-Kitchener set up as the first Governor General
What happened in Rhodesia (South Africa)?
Rhodes had established a British presence in “South Zambesia” - this became known as “Southern Rhodesia” from 1895 after Rhodes had used force to establish British settlers in the area. In the wars with the native Ndebele, nearly half the settlers died but the territory was eventually taken.
What happened in Nyasaland (South Africa)?
A small territory that had been opened up by Livingstone and settled by Scottish missionaries. However they faced Portuguese- backed Arab attacks and it was not until 1891 that they were able to establish control there. Guerrilla warfare continued on and off until 1897, however with the area operating under the Rhodes British South Africa Company until 1907, when it became a protectorate
What happened in the Cape Colony (South Africa)?
Desire for the creation of a British confederation of South Africa was taken up with vigour in the 1890’s, largely to counter German territorial gains and Boer confidence derived from the Transvaal’s gold wealth. 1895 gold-seeking Uitlanders of the Transvaal, who were being denied citizenship and voting rights by the Boer government. A raid was launched on the Transvaal from British Rhodesia = Jameson raid (500 mounted police) who were easily defeated and forced to surrender after 4 days and Rhodes resigned from PM of Cape Colony
=negotiation with the Boers broke down in 1899, who then invaded British territory and besieged LadySmith in Natal.
=Second Boer War 1899-1902
British poured nearly 400,000 imperial troops at the cost of £250 million
=Peace of Vereening May 1902 ended the second Boer war where the Boers acknowledged themselves as British subjects and self-government was awarded in 1905
=1908 PM’s of Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony and Natal all drew up a constitution for the “Union of South Africa” which became a single British Dominion in 1910
What treaty ended the Second Boer war?
Peace of Vereeniging (May 1902)
When was the Second Boer war?
1899-1902
What happened after negotiations broke down between the British and the Boers in 1899?
Boers besieged Ladysmith in Natal
How much did the Second Boer War (1899-1902) cost the British?
£250 million
When was the union of South Africa?
1908 and in 1910 it became a single British Dominion
When was South Zambesia renamed Southern Rhodesia?
1895
When did Nayasaland become a protectorate?
1907
When was the Fashado incident?
1898
When was Lord Kitchener’s invasion of the Sudan?
1896
When was the Mahdist revolt in Sudan?
1881
When did Salisbury become conservative PM?
1885
