Imperial And Colonial Policy

Question 1

When was the Indian Mutiny?

Answer 1

The Indian Mutiny was in 1857.
It lasted one year and brought thousands of deaths.

Question 2

How did the British demonstrate their desire to retain India during the mutiny?

Answer 2

They expended many British troops to assist the East India Company, they had to retain India at all costs.

Question 3

What happened to the East India Company following the mutiny?

Answer 3

In 1858 it was dissolved, any control of India was handed to the British government.

Question 4

What did the Government of India Act, 1858, introduce?

Answer 4

East India Company dissolved, territories in India handed over to the Queen.

The position of Secretary of State for India was established, received powers and duties formerly exercised by the EIC directors.

A council of 15 members (India Council) established to assist Secretary of State for India.

The Crown appointed a Viceroy to replace the company’s Governor-General.

The Indian Civil Service placed under control of Secretary of State.

Question 5

When was Queen Victoria made Empress of India?

Answer 5

1877

Question 6

What did the role of Empress of India represent?

Answer 6

British domination, a reminder of Britain’s imperial power.

Question 7

What Council assisted the Viceroy?

Answer 7

The Legislative Council of 5 were responsible for finance, law, the army, economy and home affairs.

Question 8

Which group of people represented the Viceroy.

Answer 8

Provincial governors, they had their own legislative councils and oversaw local councils and reported on practical issues.

Question 9

How many British civil servants were employed to assist in the maintenance of the Raj / Indian Civil Service?

Answer 9

Around 1000.

Question 10

Why was the Indian Civil Service attractive?

Answer 10

It’s professional bureaucracy of British officials was unique within the Empire.

Positions offered status and good salary.

Question 11

How did the Viceroy use local elites?

Answer 11

The native rulers in charge of 565 nominally independent Princely States were essential for the smooth running of the subcontinent.

Question 12

What was the Doctine of Lapse and why was it removed?

Answer 12

Until 1858, the Doctrine of Lapse had ensured that Princely States would fall under British rule when the heir rulers’ line of descent ended.

It was removed to ensure princes’ loyalty.

Question 13

What was the Indian National Congress established for?

Answer 13

In 1885, the INC met to discuss public affairs and although it was not set up to challenge British rule, it offered a forum for debate and criticism in which demand for a greater role for Indians in government became increasingly strident.

Question 14

What changes were made to the East India Company’s armies following is dissolution?

Answer 14

They were brought under the control of the Crown.

The proportion of British to Indian troops raised to 1:2.

Question 15

How many British and Indian troops were in the army by the late 1880s?

Answer 15

70,000 British, 125,000 natives.

Question 16

How were native Indian troops trained ?

Answer 16

Trained and stationed in their own districts and cut off from one another to prevent any sense of unity.

Also deliberately mixed, by cast and religion.

Question 17

How did the British reduce the risk of rebellion further within the army?

Answer 17

British officers were increased, all artillery placed in British hands.

Indians placed under British commanders and denied officer ranking.

Question 18

How did the growth of railways help India’s defence?

Answer 18

3000 miles of railway track were added which expedited the movement of troops.

Question 19

Lord Canning (First Viceroy) set up which organisation to increase security?

Answer 19

Imperial Police Force

Question 20

Britain dominated the seas for the past 200 years, but by 1871 is began to face a challenge by which power?

Answer 20

Germany

It became a new powerhouse in Europe, German merchant ships made an increasing appearance on the high seas.

France also began to recover with a new determination to assert its ‘rightful place’ in the world.

Russia too started to transform their economy, creating a rail network that threatened Britain’s control in India.

Question 21

How did the Great Depression drive interest in Africa?

Answer 21

It encouraged new interest in expansion into Africa, where markets for manufactured goods and new sources of raw materials might be found.

Question 22

What were the two conferences held to facilitate Europeans’ access to, and control over, African territory?

Answer 22

The Brussels Conference - 1876

Berlin Conference - 1884 to 1885

Question 23

What did the Brussels Conference conclude?

Answer 23

Africans were incapable of developing the natural recourses to be found in central Africa. European intervention therefore necessary.

The routes to Africa’s great lakes needed to be developed by building roads or railways.

An International African Association should be established to coordinate the Europeans’ efforts.

Question 24

Did the co-operation that the Brussels Conference promoted raise tensions?

Answer 24

It is said to have heightened competition as European governments were suspicious of Leopold’s (Belgian Host) intentions.

Morgan Stanley was hired to advise in the Congo region but it became clear that Leopoldo was intent on establishing his own Congo empire.

Question 25

When was the Berlin Conference?

Answer 25

1884

Question 26

Who insisted the Berlin Conference?

Answer 26

The German Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck.

Question 27

The Berlin Conference concluded with the signing of a General Act, which promised:

Answer 27

• All nations should be permitted to trade in the basin of the Congo and its outlets
• There should be free trade in these regions

-The powers with influence in the area should help protect indigenous people and suppress the slave trade.

• The powers should support and protect religious, scientific or charitable undertakings, Christian missionaries, scientists and explorers.
• If any power took possession of further land on the coasts of the Africa it should notify the signatories of the Act, in order to enable them to assert any claims of their own.

Question 28

Effective occupation was also established at the Berlin Conference, this was:

Answer 28

The principle that a European power could assert a claim to land that it ‘effectively’ occupied and notify other powers.

Only if another power made a rival claim would it’s right to colonise be questioned.

Question 29

By 1900, what percentage of Africa was in European hands?

Answer 29

90%

Question 30

How was the Berlin Conference a success in terms of European relations?

Answer 30

It allowed European countries to expand their empires in an ordered fashion and without the risk of conflict with one another.

A.J.P Taylor - Referred to Africa as a ‘safe arena’ for competing countries.

Question 31

What did the Informal Empire enable the British to do?

Answer 31

Enjoy power around the world without the costs of responsibility.

Question 32

Following the Indian Mutiny, education was expanded but what data suggests that this did little for the average Indian?

Answer 32

Despite post-mutiny education acts, universities etc, by 1872 96.5% of Indians were still illiterate.