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’
What was Rhodes only failure
Only failure was attempting to annex Bechuanaland Protectorate
Who was Mackinnon
Shipowner + businessman who built substantial commercial interests + founded Calcutta + Burma Steam Navigation Company (became British India Steam Navigation Company) grew into huge organisation trading through Indian Ocean extending reach to coast of East Africa
What company did Mackinnon found
Founded Imperial British East Africa Company + received a Royal charter 1888 supported by British govt as means of establishing influence in the region - despite official privileges, company rapidly bankrupted
What did Mackinnon do in Kenya
Mackinnon combined his business enterprise + religious principles helping to found Free Church of Scotland East African Scottish Mission in Kibwezi Kenya 1891
Who was Goldie
Family of Goldie bought a palm oil business in Niger basin 1875 - palm oil provided adaptable product (industiral lubricant + used in soaps/candles)
What company did Goldie form
Created the Central African Trading Company 1876
1879 persuaded all British trading firms on Niger River to join forces with his family to create single company United African Company which controlled 30 trading ports but application for Royal Charter 1881 refused (due to French competing interests)
How did Goldie interact with indigenous people
Goldie secured concessions from local leaders whom he signed treaties obliging them to trade solely with the company in return for commitment to buy up all local exportable products
What other products did Goldie become successful from
Greatly benefitted from Loder’s discovery that unused palm kernels could be used to manufacture margarine - palm kernel exports came to exceed palm oil in value
Established cocoa + coffee plantations
Efforts means that he won trade war with rival French companies
Describe Goldie’s success
Largely resulted of his agents having secured over 450 local treaty arrangements which transferred territory + jurisdiction to United African Company
In return local leaders were promised protection, provided with compensation + annual subsidies, gifts
Knighted 1887
