scramble for Africa 1857-90 Flashcards
How did Britain govern the empire in 1857
the empire was made up of crown colonies, were administrated by governors appointed by the crown
India state apart in the empire - ruled by the East India Company
Informal Empire - territories influenced by the British even if not directly ruled by them, British traders cut exert influence
protectorates - area with its own ruler but placed under protection of British crown
settlement - a loose term describing British settlers and under British control
client states - independent states with self-government but under heavy British influence
Why did Britain expand into Africa?
Moral reasons; christian missionaries saw it as their duty to spread Christianity. empire was a power for ‘civilisation’ and ‘enlightenment’. Diamonds 1886 transvaal
Trade and the Economy; industrial revolution made Empire possible. merchants were able to find new raw materials that they were able to sell back to Africa such as rubber, gold, diamonds, ivory
Strategic; Britain wanted to have global dominance over the emerging French and German threat The loss of American colonies in the 18th C caused the ‘swing to the east’
Cape Colony protected sea routes to India
Personal Influence; merchant imperialists such as George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes sought to capitalise on the continents communities. traced the continents water ways and published findings
What was the role f the Ottoman Empire
in the Middle Ages the Ottoman Empire was massive with territories in Africa, the Middle East, Spain and. the Mediterranean
it moved with the spread of Islam, seen as a threat to Christianity
by the 18th C the Turkish empire was weak ‘sick man of europe’
Britain took advantage and inserted influence in OTTOMAN TERRITORIES
why did British policy towards Egypt change
economic:
significant financial investment went into Egypt
vital to protect trade routes to India
Imperial:
Canal was the easiest wroute to Africaa
Politcal:
Egyptian nationalism would have freed Egypt from Turkish control and the threat of Egypt growing closer to other powers such as France threatened empires security
How did Britain establish control in Egypt
Sue3z canal shares - in 1875Benjamin disreali bought 4million pounds worth of shares in the Suez Canal which was being sold by the Khedive due to an accumulation o large debts
shared control - due to large debts the Egu[tian economy was on ht verge of collapse, in 1878 British and French ministers had to intervene and aid in controlling the economy
deposition Isma’ Il in 1879 r economic mismanagement, Tewfiq was appointed the new Khedive and was pupated by the British such as by British Commissioner Lord Dufferin
how was the establishment of British Control in Egypt challenged
unemployment - due to duel control with France, Britain imposed high taxes on Egyptians and reduced the size of the army to 2/3
the Araba Pasha Revolt - unrest led to nationalist revolt led by Arabi Pasha. Tewfiq was forced to appoint anti-europeaan Egyptians to ministerial roles
led to concerns over the safetty of 100,000 Europeans in Egypt and the protection of British trade through the Suez Canal
how was British control in Egypt confirmed
PM Gladstone ordered the occupation of Egypt in 1882
in 1885, at the Convention of London, Egypt was announced as a ‘Vailed protectorate’ under the British empire
Why was the Scramble for Africa so important?
Britain had few posssesions in Africa in 1880
Britain had few coastal territories such as the Gold Coast, but had few British settlers
the interior of Africa had renamed untouched and offered opportunities to discover and farm raw materials
britians largest claim to Africa was in the South African Cape colony and the Boer lands of the transvaal and the Orange free State were gold nd diamonds were discovered in 1886
What happened at the Berlin and Brussels conference
Brussels Conference 1876
- hosted by King Leopold
- concluded that Africa was to be carved up by the European powers
Berlin conference 1884-85
- egitimised colonisation of African
- Africa was carved up (90% was controlled by Britain, France and Germany by 1890)
- policy of effective occupation
- tried to avoid conflict between other European powers over colonisation of Africa
Who was General gordon?
Britain to be the gveneor General of Egypt-administrated Sudan
from 1877-1880
Who was the Mhaddi and what did his followers want
Sudanese Islamic Cleric Mohammed Ahmad was a self-proclaimed saviour of mankind (Mhaddi)
Resent towards Egyyptian and British control
raised a Jihadist army which aimed to free the Sudan from outside rule
by 1882, had seized the land surrounding kawhtun
What did PM Gladstone order General Gordon to do
1883 a joint British-Egyptian military counter offensive, led by General Hicks, agianst the Mahdi, Hicks was killed
Gladstone ordered Gordon to evacuate the Egyptian and British troops from Khartoum
What happened to Gordon at the Khatoun garrison
Gordon defied Gladstone’s orders and stayed in Khatuon. He was popular and British public was unhappy with Gladstone not sending relief
Eventually Gladstone sent ‘Gordon relief expedition’ led by Wolsely however there were several setbacks - arrived 2 days after the death of Gordon
in 1885, at the Khatoun Garrison, British Egyptian forces were overrun and defeated, Gordon was beheaded
Gladstone went form the ‘Grand Old Man’ to the murder of Gordon
Why didn’t Gladstone retaliate?
he was anxious to avoid further loss of life and money for no obvious gain
no other campaigns took place until 1886
