Scramble For Africa Flashcards
What were the reasons for British expansion in Africa?
- Trade and economy
- Personal influence
- Strategic factors
- Moral factors
- Adventure and exploration
- ‘Swing to the East’ after American Revolution
Why did the Britain expand in Africa in terms of trade and economy?
Key reason for British expansion in Africa during second half of 19th century was trade, or the prospect of further trade given the opening up of new routes inland and subsequent discovery of minerals and resources.
Once materials, markets or routes had been accessed, further considerations emerged such as investment opportunities and strategic interests, which were very important in late 19th century imperialism.
In the second half of the 19th century, coal, iron and timber were sought in Africa in order to feed the demands of British industry. Certain businesses were over-producing and needed new markets in which to invest so they weren’t making a loss with their over-producing. Capitalist nations had to take control of colonial markets to prevent their workers rising in Revolution. In this way a cycle of dependency developed whereby Britain sought African resources in order to manufacture goods, such as textiles and weapons, to sell back to Africa. This was particularly the case during the economic slump of 1873 - 1896, when Europe experienced the Great Depression.
Why did Britain expand in Africa in terms of personal influence?
Increasing trade led to growth in the personal influence of British merchants in Africa.
Britain expanded in Africa because merchant-imperialists such as George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes recognised and capitalised on new commodities and in the process found fame and fortune.
British public and political interest in Africa was also stimulated by the great mid-century Victoria explorers who sought and and traced the continent’s waterways, publishing their findings, producing maps and spreading exotic tales of discovery and adventure.
Why did Britain expand in Africa in terms of strategic factors?
Britain expanded in terms of strategic factors because their coastal interests in West Africa demanded protection, so a string of forts was built along the Gold Coast, as were coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia.
Gibraltar, Malta and the Falkland Islands provided important naval bases for guarding vital sea lanes between Britain and economically valuable colonies.
The temperature climate and deep water port of the Cape held advantages over other harbours. Cape Colony protected the sea routes to the Middle East, China, Australia and India, thus giving Britain power over the sea routes to the East.
They needed to protect their interests in Egypt and South Africa and the only way of doing that was forcing them into conquests. Such were the rivalries of the nations of Europe, and so technologically superior were they to their African opponents that once the Scramble for Africa had begun it proved to be unstoppable.
Why did Britain expand in Africa in terms of moral factors?
Britain expanded in Africa in terms of moral factors because from the 1860s Christian missionaries saw it as their duty to spread their faith among non-Christian - or, to their way of thinking, ‘heathen’ - people. Their view was that the Empire was a force for ‘civilisation’. The most famous example of a missionary explorer is David Livingstone, who went to Africa in 1858 ‘to try and make an open path for commerce and Christianity’. Christian missionaries travelled to colonies, where they set up churches, schools and hospitals for those willing to convert.
Why did Britain expand in Africa in terms of adventure and exploration?
Britain expanded in Africa in terms of adventure and exploration because it was the explorers who located vast reserves of raw materials, such as gold, palm oil and diamonds in Africa, which European merchants sought to exploit and trade. By 1857 most of Africa had been mapped although the course of the Congo River was not chartered by Europeans until 1867. The lure of adventure led many to have a rose-coloured picture of Empire and encouraged people to become explorers or to at least wonder what life was like in the colonies.
Why was Britain’s interest in Africa renewed in the late 19th century?
It was renewed because they were threatened from other countries like France, Germany, Russia & US, which threatened their trade, resources and plans so they began to renew their interest.
What was of particular interest in Africa at the time was the high production of cattle, cereals and tropical trade. Britain wanted control of it and therefore stepped-out of the trade slump.
Why was the ‘Scramble for Africa’ so significant?
- In the mid 19th century, there didn’t seem to be much desire on behalf of the British government to extend the Empire in Africa.
- Gladstone (PM) spoke of a policy of non-intervention in colonial affairs.
- However, in 1882 he ordered the occupation of Egypt, an event seen by many to mark the start of the European partition of Africa.
How did Britain define its control over areas in Africa?
Companies such as the Royal Niger Company, the Imperial British East Africa Company and the British South Africa Company were chartered to implement British claims and ensure that other Europeans were excluded from lucrative British bases.
Why was Britain feeling more concerned about their rivals during late 19th century?
- dominated the seas for the past 200 years. Facing challenge from other expanding industrialising powers.
- Germany became a new powerhouse in Europe
- France rapidly recovered after the war with a new determination to assert its ‘rightful place’ in the world
- Russia had taken its Empire to the boarder of Afghanistan. Built the railway. Russian threat to Asia.
- Naval expansion of all European powers.
- Impact of depression forced Europe to expand in Africa.
What was the Brussels Conference?
Brussels conference 1876: Conference was motivated largely by the desire to protect Belgian interests in the Congo. Hosted by King Leopald II of Belgium.
It was concluded that:
- Africans were incapable of developing the natural resources to be found in central Africa. European intervention was therefore necessary.
- The routes to Africa’s Great Lakes needed to be developed by building roads or railways.
- An International African Association should be established to coordinate the Europeans’ efforts.
It heightened competition as European governments were suspicious of Leopald’s intentions. They came out of this more suspicious of others and not really trusting anyone.
What was the Berlin Conference?
Berlin Conference 1884-85
Initiated by Bismarck
Agreements included:
- all nations could trade in the Congo Basin
- free trade
- powers should protect indigenous people
- should support missionaries, scientists and explorers
- effective occupation was the idea that a power could assert a claim to an area and notify other powers. If no one else had a claim to it then it was accepted.
Consequences:
- legitimated colonisation of Africa
- Africa divided up (By 1900, 90% of the continent was in European hands)
- boost to resources/industry of European powers
- more rivalry between European powers over African territory
- impact on indigenous people and cultures - future conflicts
What was the role of the British in Africa?
Ordained by God, doing good in colonising Africa
Thought Africa was a place of superstition and ignorance. They sought to change it.
Missionaries came to save African souls for Christ. Wanted to stop slavery.
Building it on Christianity and free trade
Commerce
Their new civilising measure
Key issues:
Moral - e.g. end slavery in Africa
Imperial - stop other European nations gaining power/wealth in these areas
Economic: capture the known resources such as gold and rubber for European economies (mercantilism)
Geo-political - strategic importance for trade routes
National - the pride expanding the empire brought to a nation can’t be overlooked as a cause
How did the British involve themselves with the Boers?
Dutch settlers had first arrived in South Africa to form the Cape Colony in 1652
In 1795 Britain took over the Cape Colony in Southern Africa from the Dutch and British troops started to arrive.
At first the descendants of Dutch settlers, known as Boers ignored their new governors and moved away from the administrative centres. They were fiercely independent and refused to accept any outside rule or influence.
However, the British authorities began to follow the Boers and hostilities began to develop with the introduction of new laws, such as the order in 1823 for English to be adopted as the official language and the emancipation of British slaves in 1833.
The second law struck the Boers deeply as it threatened their economic stability as their farms depended on free labour. Unhappy with British rule a large number of Boers began to move away from Cape Colony (The Great Trek).
In 1852 the British allowed the Boers to self government and the republic of Transvaal was born, with the Orange Free State following two years later.
1867 - discovery of diamonds - rush if people to Transvaal
1875 - British propose a federation with the Boers but the Boers gave a firm rejection.
1877-9 - Boers were less successful, than the the British, in their conflict with the Pedi tribe, which had successfully remained independent in the eastern Transvaal. Seizing on this failure, the British announced the annexation of Transvaal. Boers reluctantly accept British aid and the British launch an invasion of Zululand.
1880 - Boers declare total independence from Britain
1880-1 - First Boer War, British defeated at Majuba Hill and forced to sign the Pretoria Convention
1884 - German arrived in SW Africa in prompting fears of alliance with Boers
1886 - Gold discovered on Witwatersrand - more ‘outsiders’ move to Transvaal.
How did the British involve themselves with the Bantu?
Bantu: Bantu people is used as a general label for the 300-600 ethnic groups in Africa who speak Bantu languages. They inhabit a geographical area stretching east and southward from Central Africa across the African Great Lakes region down to Southern Africa.
1868 - British annex Basutoland claiming that the Bantu were seeking British protection against the Boers
1871 - British took West Griqualand
1873-2000 - Griqua trekked eastwards, to establish Griqualand East.
1877-8 - In Xhosa War, British easily disarmed neighbouring tribesmen and annexed their communities. Britain announced the annexation of the Transvaal.
1879 - British invade Zululand (defeated at Isandlawana 1879) but eventually defeat Zulus at Ulundi in July. Pedi also defeated.
1885 - Britain annex Bechuanaland
1889 - ‘British South Africa Company’ under Rhodes received charter
1890 - Rhodes company gained control of Mashonaland
