Reasons for increased interest

Question 1

What were the key factors of interest?

Answer 1

• Trade and economy
• Personal Influence
• Strategic factors
• Moral factors
• Exploration

Question 2

Explain how trade and economy was a factor in British expansion

Answer 2

• arguably the biggest factor -> new routes inland and discovery of minerals and sources.
• Tropical trade: cattle and cereals.
• Zanzibar harbours and climate of mountain ranges of Kilimanjaro and Kenya give advantage to traders.
• 2nd half of 19th century: coal, iron and timber in demand.
• Cycle of dependency created: British exploit resources to manufacture goods (textiles and weapons) to sell back to Africa.
  -> especially during ‘Long Depression’ (1873-1896).

Question 3

Explain how personal influence was a factor in expansion.

Answer 3

• merchant-imperialists, e.g. George Goldie, Cecil rhodes, capitalised on new commodities and became wealthy.
• explorers trace waterways, produce maps and spread adventure stories which stimulate public and political interest.
• feeling that Africa was being ‘discovered’ for the 1st time.

Question 4

what were the strategic reasons for expansion

Answer 4

• coastal interests in West Africa need protection: forts built along Gold Coast and defences built in Sierra Leone and Gambia.
• s africa -> cape colony -> temperate climate and deep water port held advantages over other harbours.
  -> protected sea route to Middle East, china, Australia and India -> lots of power over sea route to the east.

Question 5

what were the moral reasons for expansion?

Answer 5

• 1860s, missionaries believe in ‘moral’ duty to spread faith among ‘heathen’ peoples (non-Christians).
• empire a force for ‘civilisation’.
• David Livingstone -> went in 1858 to ‘make an open path for commerce and christianity’.
• People consume pamphlets outlining ‘depravity of the heathens’ -> accounts of idolatry and superstitions.
• growing belief: world split into ‘civilised’ and non-civilised’ spheres.

Question 6

how was exploration a factor in expansion

Answer 6

• exploration often resulted in colonisation.
• explorers locate vast reserves, already known to local inhabitants, of raw materials such as gold, palm oil and diamonds.
• European merchants sought to exploit materials and trade.