Interwar years 1919 - 39 - Africa Colonial Policy Flashcards
What were the two categories of British rule in Africa?
- Colonies under indirect rule - used relations and treaties with existing local rulers e.g west Africa
- Settler Colonies ruled directly through own officials - numbers of white settlers e.g Kenya, Rhodesia, Union of S.A (dominion since 1910)
Why were the british willing to grant settler colonies like Kenya with self governance
- they had a strong economy and positive relationship with settler population without the responsibility and resources of running the country
What was another name for Kenya
white highlands
What happened in 1920 in Kenya?
White settlers put pressure on the GB government to give self governance
How did the british respond to Kenyan white settler demands?
They gave power to 20 - 30,000 white settlers who dominated the legislative council and excluded Indian settlers and Kikuyu tribe
How did white settlers grow wealthy in Kenya?
Tea and Coffee plantations
Did the Kikuyu people also benefit from tea and coffee trade
No, the white settlers banned them from growing tea and coffee and taxed them heavily - weakening their economic resources
How did this treatment of indigenous people worry the British?
Stirred nationalism amongst the Kikuyu people
What did the British do to appease the Kikuyu people?
The Devonshire Declaration 1923 - stated that African interests had to be respected.
Tried to improve agriculture and education
Were the British successful in stopping the momentum of growing Kenyan nationalism?
No, political movements grew steadily
Southern Rhodesia - what was the predominant population?
White
When was self governance granted to Southern Rhodesia?
1923
Were rights of ethnic minorities respected, which had been promised protection in 1910 during union of South Africa
No - rights were eroded by white majority
How important were economic factors in S. Rhodesia and status and S.A status of dominion
White power derived from wealth from diamond and gold mines
Colonies under indirect GB rule - what did Britain hope to achieve with indirect rule
Increase economic importance of Empire
Increase satisfaction with British rule by developing education etc through reforms
