Scramble for Africa

Question 1

How much did Egypt’s foreign debt increase by between 1863 and 1879? Where had British banks invested lots?

Answer 1

Increased from £3m to £100m

Suez Canal

Question 2

What forced the Egyptian ruler Ismail to turn to Britain and France in the mid 1870s?

Answer 2

Egypt had a debt crisis which threatened economic collapse. The ruler turned to the two countries with the greatest foreign investment in Egypt to help.

Question 3

When did the Anglo-French rescue plan for Egypt emerge? What were its measures?

Answer 3

1878 - it cut the pay of the army and the civil service and introduced VAT on food and goods

Question 4

What prompted the British government to formally control Egypt from 1882?

Answer 4

The nationalist movement led by Arabi Pasha.

Question 5

When was colonel Charles Gordon sent to act as Governor General of Egyptian administered Sudan?

Answer 5

1877-80

Question 6

When did Gladstone order the removal of British and Egyptian troops from Sudan? Why?

Answer 6

1884 - because the French were suspicious of Britain using nationalist uprisings as an excuse to takeover nations e.g. Egypt with Pasha and Sudan with Ahmad

Question 7

When did the British re-launch a campaign into Sudan?

Answer 7

1896

Question 8

When and what was the Fashoda incident? How was it resolved?

Answer 8

1899 - Kitchener pressed onto Fashoda (the headquarters of the Nile) after his successes in Sudan where the French had been trying to gain territory. This provoked the French, who seeing Britain’s military might backed down by agreeing to stay out the Nile Valley in return for territory further west.

Question 9

When did the Parliamentary select committee recommend no further colonial expansion in West Africa?

Answer 9

1865

Question 10

Which man on the spot was responsible for expanding British influence in West Africa? Where did he expand without government approval?

Answer 10

George Goldie

Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast

Question 11

What events occured in West Africa which led to the Berlin conference?

Answer 11

France was expanding from Senegal whilst King Leopold set up the Congo Free State after signing treaties with several West African Rulers. This prompted the French to create the French Congo. Subsequently, Bismarck seized Togoland and the Cameroons. It was decided that the conference was the best way to alleviate tensions.

Question 12

What guarantee did the British get at the Berlin conference about West Africa?

Answer 12

That their economic interests on the Niger (through Goldie’s Royal Niger Company) would be maintained.

Question 13

When was Goldie’s Royal Niger Company given a charter by the British government? (essentially conferring control)

Answer 13

1886

Question 14

Why did the Royal Niger Company transfer its territories to the British government in 1900?

Answer 14

Because it was unable to hold its own against the state-supported protectorates of France and Germany in the region. Likewise, Goldie’s company was severly unprofitable.

Question 15

What was William McKinnon’s company in East Africa?

Answer 15

The Imperial British East Africa Company

Question 16

Who was McKinnon’s German counterpart?

Answer 16

Karl Peters

Question 17

Why did the British government later give support to McKinnon despite refusing to back his former potential acquisition of territory in 1878?

Answer 17

Because McKinnon now faced competition from Karl Peters who was supported by Bismarck. As a result, it was political rivalry which provoked the British government to intervene.

Question 18

Following the Berlin conference, which East African territories did Britain acquire over the following decade?

Answer 18

Uganda, Kenya, Zanzibar, Pemba and British Somaliland

Question 19

When was McKinnon’s Imperial British East Africa Compnay given a royal charter? Why did the British government have to assume control of his company’s territories in 1895?

Answer 19

1888

Because his company failed

Question 20

Which other European rival had a presence in East Africa? Where?

Answer 20

Italy - Eritrea and Somaliland

Question 21

What was the “Great Trek” in South Africa? What were its main consequences?

Answer 21

It was the movement of Afrikaaner farmers further north to escape British rule in the 1840s. Led to the creation of two Boer states: Orange Free State and the Transvaal. This brought the boers into conflict with the Zulus.

Question 22

Which two south African territories were taken in 1868 and 1871? Why?

Answer 22

Basutoland and Griqualand

Colonial Secretary Lord Carnavon was keen on acquiring them to “protect them from the Boers”

Question 23

Which colonalist man on the spot annexed the Transvaal in 1877?

Answer 23

Bartle Frere (Colonial Governer at the Cape)

Question 24

When did Frere annex Zululand?

Answer 24

1879

Question 25

Why was Gladstone forced to free the Transvaal in 1881?

Answer 25

Because the Boer’s successfully rebelled against British rule in the first Boer war (1880-81)

Question 26

Why did the British take Bechuanaland in 1885?

Answer 26

Due to the danger of a Boer-German link-up after Germany took South West Africa in 1884

Question 27

Which man on the spot initiated the counquest of land north of the Transvaal? ie. Southern Rhodesia. What was his company?

Answer 27

Cecil Rhodes - British South Africa Company

Question 28

Why did the British government endorse Rhode’s ruling of Southern Rhodesia in 1890?

Answer 28

In order to forestall the Germans, Boers and Portugese

Question 29

Which other territories did the British South Africa Company take in the 1890s (Northern Rhodesia)?

Answer 29

Barotseland (Zambia)

Nyasaland (Malawi)

Question 30

Why did Rhodes launch an invasion of the Transvaal in 1895?

Answer 30

Because President Krueger denied foreigners in the country looking for gold the right to vote (many were British)

Question 31

Why did Britain instigate the Second Boer War?

Answer 31

Following the failed invasion in 1895, the Kaiser congratulated President Kruger and Kruger proceded to important thousands of German Mauser rifles. This cemented fears of Germany allying with the Boers against Britain.

Question 32

When was the Union of South Africa formed?

Answer 32

1910