Imperial policy and international relations 1890-1914 Flashcards
impact on Indian indigenous
Indian civil service - ensure the regime was secure and India was profitable to Britain
began to modernise - extension of railways and spread of education which enabled more to read English
raising more money through taxation
policy of ‘divide and rule’ asserted Britain’s authority to bring enlightened reform to diverse nation
acknowledge some degree of Indian representation in provincial councils reforms in 1892 and 1909
exploited division between educated Indian and illiterate masses to create an Anglo-Indian administrative elite
Viceroy Curzon
mindful of growing criticism of british rule which emanated from the Indian National Congress
pressure came from social and humanitarian groups
made changes in the civil service to improve efficiency and founded the Imperial Cadets Corp in 1901 to appease Indian princes with military training and special officer commissions
reformed the universities, lowered taxes and adopted the gold star to ensure a stable currency
attempt to partition Bengal
Morley-Minto reforms
Minto was Viceroy after Cuzron
Indian Councils act 1909 enabled 27 Indians to be elected from provincial constituencies to the Viceroys council - although held in a narrow franchise and sometimes chosen by the British
reforms in 1910 enabled 135 Indians to secure seats
Viceroy Hardinge (1910-1916) moved indian capital to Delhi as a means of undermining the Hindus
partition of Bengal
in July 1905, decided it should be split into a Muslim east and a Hindu west. produced uproar amongst Hindus as many leased land to muslim peasants in the east. The Hindus saw this as pay back for their criticisms of British rule and there were strikes, protests and boycotts of British made goods. Muslims gained more freedom.
hindrances to British freedom in Egypt
only a veiled protectorate - still technically belonged to Turkey
Caisse de la Dette controlled Egypts finances and could prevent the British Consul-General from spending money on matters they disapproved of
Mixed courts set up to deal with cases involving both Europeans and Egyptians.
The french posed a particular challenge however after the Fashoda incident in 1898, Britain and France grew closer together and in 1904 signed the Entente Cordiale which France had to respect Britain’s special rights in Egypt and the Caisse de la Dette ceased to control finances
Evelyn Barring
acted as advisor to the Khedive
had a partially elected government but all Egyptian ministers had the support of the consul-general. If they resisted British advice, they could be dismissed.
Number of Britons working in Egypts government increased. 1885 - 100, 1905 - 1000
Baring made cutbacks to military and bureaucracy but revitilised the economy by improving communications and investing in irrigation systems
improved conditions for labourers and introduced better sanitation
reformed army by placing 6000 british troops in it and placed under command of Kichener
could not risk threat of passage to India
wary of extending education as in India led to nationalist protests - but 1909 new University
impact on Egyptian indigenous
growing middle class nationalist movement fuelled by newspapers - lack of opportunities for educated Egyptians and failure to promote Egyptian cloth industry as only wanted for raw materials
national party in 1881 attracted professionals
1906 - clash between Egyptians and British officers led to 52 arrests and increased backlash to British rule
Baring succeeded by Gorst - tried to impose tighter censorship of the press in 1909
New legislative assembly in 1913, 66 elected members and 17 appointed nominees - represent rich rather than ordinary
declared protectorate in November 1914
Native Policy
Settler colonies ‘white colonies’ - original inhabitants were treated as second class citizens (social-darwinist views) as opposed to the white Europeans who had migrated, became dominions and Britain had no impact over administration or government and control was merely to preserve global power
Elsewhere, local elites were used to facilitate British rule and participate in administration. Those prepared to uphold British rule often rwarded with material goods or positions of influence
large landowners often gained titles or privileges
Sometimes involved befriending one group against another - Masai in British east africa given cattle over the Kikuyu
International relations and colonial policy
had maintained a policy of splendid isolation with priorities in the navy. The defeat in the second boer war raised the need for a review of strategy in the army. Alliance systems had emerged with Europe - Austria-Hungary and Germany, Russia and France. conflicted with all over expansion in Africa. Although, clashes with France after the 1898 Fashoda incident had been peacefully resolved, viewed Russia as a concern due to involvement in Afghanistan (buffer zone between Indian and Russia). Germany also challenged Britain - sent a letter of support of Transvaal after Jameson raid and supplied Boers with weapons, established relations with Ottoman so did not need to rely on British Suez canal and tried to build up navy to compete with Britain
Signed Entente Cordiale in 1904 with France and came together to from Triple Entente with Russia in 1907 - established Afghanistan as a British sphere of influence
Britain: strategies and war
agitation of the naval race with Germany spread to the settler colonies where a special imperial conference was held which considered a Dominion fleet
in July 1912, Britain removed its navy from the Mediterranean to relocated on the North Sea, relied on France to protect its Mediterranean interests. The army was also remodelled for deployment in Europe. Appeared to be refocusing away from Empire to the defence of Britain in Europe. Russia, Germany and Italy all hoped toe expand into the Balkans and led to a series of wars. After the assassination of the heir to the Austrian Throne they went into direct conflict. In July 1914, when Germany ignored an ultimatum given after the invasion into Belgium, Britain were thrust into World War One.
