Role + influence of individuals 1857-90 Flashcards
How did individual’s play a role in Britain’s imperial growth
- No central plan for empire (suggested that it was acquired almost by accident)
- Individuals played major role in Britain’s imperial growth + extension of British influence
How were explorer’s influential
Livingstone, Kirk, Burton, Speke influential in shaping British attitudes towards empire, viewing its exoticism/adventurism + shaped understanding of interior of Africa
How were missionaries influential
- Missionaries Christian Imperialists helped to open up territories to British rule by penetrating beyond colonial frontiers establishing links with indigenous communities
- Extended British commercial reach + enforcing consumption of Western materials through cultural influence
What did Methodist missionaries do
Set up ‘conferences’ to oversee missions in Canada, NZ, Aus + prepared groundwork for establishment of British rule in Fiji 1874
What did Missionary Mackenzie do
South African conference established 1882
1883 Mackenzie put pressure on British govt to establish a protectorate over Bechuanaland + when govt did, Mackenzie appointed Deputy Commissioner
What were the conflicts between missionaries + indigenous people
Conflicts arose between missionaries + indigenous people/colonial rulers
1880 Anglican Church Missionary Society clashed with Anglican African bishop in Niger
How did missionaries sometimes limit expansion
Sometimes delayed annexation + colonialisation + challenged imperial authority
Christian missionaries sometimes provided focus for local resistance/opposition to colonial rule + sometimes missionaries lobbied for equal rights for indigenous peoples - Cape colony
How did Livingstone initially gain influence
Inspiration to the public + other explorers - began his travels as missionary doctor in SA but began exploring uncharted territories
Returned to Britain 1857 + conducted lectures at Cambridge about his findings in Africa + announced he will go back to open up path for commerce + Christianity - received govt funding 1858
David Livingstone’s influence as an explorer
Official title of Consul for the East Coast of Africa + explored along Zambezi river
Sent 2000 letters back to Britain which thrilled public imagination - accounts of his journeys published with illustrations to show his ‘saintliness’
Dramatic disappearance + rediscovery by Stanley 1871 shaped public attitudes depicting him as a martyr who sacrificed his life for empire
How were traders influential
- Traders seeking new markets/materials had important role to play in development of attitudes towards empire
- Once commercial enterprises had established a foothold somewhere, British administration often followed
How did administration follow from role of traders
EIC led the way towards British control of India + commercial exploitations of Rhodes, Mackinnon + Goldie helped ensure British flag followed British trade in Africa
Establishments of British protectorates as means to consolidate/protect commercial interests
How was Rhodes influential
Prime mover behind British expansion in South Africa - owning all SA diamond mines (90% of global diamond production) so had the wealth to pursue furtherance of empire
How did Rhodes establish British South Africa Company + assert influence
Rhodes BSAC 1889 came through concessions + treaties to control large areas in interior of SA - Zambezia changed name to Rhodesia 1895 + Rhodes was the colonial administrator
What was Rhodes’ role in the Cape Colony
BSAC received Royal Charter 1889 + Rhodes became PM of the Cape Colony 1890-96
How did Rhodes treat indigenous people in Cape Colony
He forced indigenous people from their lands to make way for industrial development + endowed Rhodes scholarship at Oxford uni in hopes that this would lead to closer union which he called ‘Greater Britain’
