Imperial and Colonial Rule Flashcards
Why did Britain not have a universal “native policy”?
Britain reacted depending on the circumstances
Where was the most successful forms of “native rule”?
White settler colonies such as Canada and Australia
When did Canada become a dominion?
1867
When did Australia become a dominion?
1901
When was the South Africa state unified?
1910
How did Britain control the dominions ?
Britain was not responsible for neither the administration nor the cost of government in the dominions and control was largely symbolic
=this countries used to assert global power however it was a shift from British Domination of this countries and instead symbolic
How did Britain use the “divide and rule” approach to help expand and consolidate power?
Involved befriending one group against the other, common in Africa with the Masai being favoured and rewarded with cattle and tokens of office (British East africa) in preference to the kikuyu
In large areas, conventional methods of control were unworkable. Lord Lugar working with the Royal Niger Company relied on trusted chiefs to exercise governance and within the Uganda protectorate, Buganda’s Kabaka maintained autonomy and his chiefs were given land in reward for their loyalty- such approach were cheap to implement, supported existing power structures and helped to legitimise British authority
Why was the Boer war 1899-1902 key regarding imperial and colonial policy?
= Britain had previously maintained a policy of “splendid isolation” relying on the dominance of the navy to maintain status of empire however Boer war = rethink strategy as it had felt that the need to concentrate military in South Africa had left India Vulnerable
=European powers making alliance systems late 19th century ……….fear of growing power
What was the issue between Russia and Britain regarding Afghanistan?
=source of conflict refered to as the “great game”
-expansion of Russian railway concerned the British as well as the movement of 300,000 Russian troops towards Afghanistan in Feb 1900 at a time were the British army was off fighting the Boer war in South Africa, added to these worries was that of the Russian ambitions in the middle East following the 1892 agreement with France= British scared for Suez canal
What was the German’s involvement in South Africa and threat to British Empire?
-Supported the Transvaal with weapons during Boer War 1899-1902 and good relations with Ottoman empire
-Germany Navy being built up seen as deliberately to counter British Naval dominance
When did Britain effectively end “splendid isolation”?
Entente Cordiale alliance with France in 1904
Who was part of the Triple Entente and when was it established?
Britain Germany and France in 1907
=settled British main imperial concerns
by declaring the Persian Gulf as neutral zone and recognised Afghanistan as British sphere of influence
What was the policy of splendid isolation?
=Britain would not intervene with European affairs so powers would leave Britain to purse its imperial interests across the globe
When and What was the Anglo-Japanese alliance?
1902
First military alliance between a Western and non-western nation. Agreement that Japan could purse interests in China and would not threaten GB interests in India or South East Asia
=allowed GB to focus on European and African issues
What was the Morocco crises?
Morocco= French Protectorate
1905 Kaiser Wilhelm threatens French interest in Morocco, so British send support to France= Kaiser backs down
1911 Kaiser attempts to interfere again by sending a warship, Britain responds by ordering full navy mobilisation = Kaiser backs down
=Appeared that the alliance system could work to protect empire from threats and deter war
Due to the growing fear of German policies in early 1900s what new policies with Dominions were set up?
1911 Imperial Conference in London
(Dominions commit support to Britain)
1912 Royal Navy withdrawn from Med to patrol Norther European coast
=Growing threat of war meant GB little less focused on Empire
State a conclusion to Imperial/Colonial rule
1890-1914 - “high noon” of empire
Britain leading global economy and empire consolidated and expanded to maximum extent, imperialism very popular
BUT Changes to imperial policy had occurred:
- Morley Minto reforms
-Reunification of Bengal
-Reforms to Egyptians
-Compromises with indigenous rulers in Africa
-Abandonment of Splendid isolation
-withdrawal for Navy from the Med
