Scramble For Africa And The Suez Canal Flashcards
What were the reasons for the expansion in Africa (trade and economic reasons)?
Trade was a significant factor in the expansion in Africa as new routes inland and subsequent discovery of minerals and resources greatly influenced Britains desire to expand. Once materials, markets or routes had been accessed, further considerations emerged such as investment opportunities and strategic interests.
Britain also used Africa’s resources in the second half of the 19th century to fuel its manufacturing machine. Africa also acted as a market where Britain could sell its newly manufactured goods back to.
What were the reasons for the expansion in Africa (personal influence)?
Merchant-imperialists (e.g. George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes) capitalised on new commodities and in the process found fame and fortune inspiring others. Additionally, explorers played an important role creating a sense that Africa was being discovered for the first time making people become interested. Explorers also found areas which could be populated with expensive raw materials which merchants could exploit and trade.
What were the reasons for the expansion into Africa (strategic reasons)?
Britain had to protect much of its colonies. In West Africa a string of forts was built along the Gold Coast, as well as coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia. Britain also colonies places to protect other places, for example the Cape colony provided great protection to the sea routes into the East: Middle East, China, Australia, and India.
What were the reasons for expansion into Africa (moral reasons)?
Many people in Britain had strong Christian and moral principles and many believed that spreading Christianity and civilising the world was their duty. David Livingstone was a famous missionary explorer.
Why was the Suez Canal so significant?
The canal became the quick route to India as a result a lot of British investment went into Egypt.
How did British interest in Egypt and the Suez Canal change over time (New leader in Egypt and what was going on in America)?
1861-5: American civil war starved British mills of raw cotton. Khedive in Egypt, Isma’il Pasha, encouraged more British companies to invest in Egyptian cotton, etc. “swing to the East”.
1863: Isma’il Pasha came to power and was committed to the process of modernisation. He embarked on the cutting of the Suez Canal. The route to India would become 6,000 miles shorter than via the Cape.
1869: Suez Canal finished being built (started in 1859 and took 10 years to be built). Shares in the project were made internationally and other than France there was limited interest (British thought it wouldn’t be able to support larger ships).
1875: Isma’il Pasha was facing increasing debts so he sought a buyer for his country’s share in the Canal. British mp, Benjamin Disraeli, stepped forward. Despite France still having the largest shares, this gave Britain greater control over its passage into India an an income from shipping tariffs. Control over the Canal encouraged British interest in Egypt.
How did the British establish control in Egypt (how was interests challenged in 1879 and why)?
1879: As a result of both domestic and Anglo-French pressure Isma’il Pasha was deposed by the Ottoman Sultan. Tewfiq became the new Khedive, but British money and political interference kept Egypt afloat. British commander, Lord Dufferin wielded considerable influence. Due to the decision to impose taxes on Egyptian food and goods and reduce its army by 2/3rds a national rebellion started (led by Colonel Arabi Pasha and fellow army officers) and Tewfig was forced to appoint Arabi’s allies to government positions, they were severely anti-Europe. Britain not only became concerned with trade but the security of the 100,000 Europeans living in Egypt and the Canal route to India.
What problem did the British face in the Sudan after they had established control over Egypt (in Khartoum)?
1877-1880: Gordon sent to act as Governor-General of Sudan.
1881: Sudanese Islamic cleric, Ahmad proclaimed himself Mahdi/saviour of mankind and transformed an emerging political movement against its British-Egyptian rule into a jihadist army.
1882: They had taken complete control over the area surrounding Khartoum.
1883: Hicks launched a counter attack but was killed.
1884: Gladstone then ordered General Gordon to oversee the evacuation of both British and Egyptian troops from Khartoum.
January 1885: British-Egyptian troops defending Khartoum were overrun everyone was killed and General Gordon beheaded. Gladstone did not retaliate anxious to avoid further loss of life and money. General Gordon’s death caused many to want to seek “justice”.
Why was Britain starting to become more afraid of other European powers in the late 19th century?
1871 - Germany united as a single country and became a new powerhouse in Europe. With its plethora of natural reassures and its location in the centre of Europe it began to show its industrial potential.
Despite being defeated by Germany in 1871 France transformed its armed forces and now began to want to assert its “rightful place” in the world.
Russia also transformed their economy and had expanded its empire to the borders of Afghanistan by 1884.
Increase in naval building programmes in these countries also was a problem as it gave them the means to explore new areas. The British had not faced any serious opposition previously.
What territories did the French gain in the 1860s?
They established a foothold in Indo-China (modern Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) and began to push north where they ran into the Germans also trying to make commercial concessions.
Where did Russia want to expand before the Berlin and Brussels conference?
North China. Work on the Trans-Siberian railway would also begin in 1891.
What did the British do in response to French activity in Indo-China?
They matched their expansionism by annexing territory in Malaya (1874) and also took Sarawak, North Borneo (1881), Brunei (1885) and Upper Burma (1885) leaving Thailand as a buffer between the powers.
What was a big economic factor that encouraged European interest in Africa?
The Long Depression encourage industrialising powers to take interest in Africa where there would be markets for manufactured goods and a new source for raw materials which could be utilised.
When did the French and Germans become more active in Africa?
The French became more active in Africa in the 1880s expanding beyond their old coastal settlements, while the Germans began making annexations in 1884 in the south-west and western regions.
Why where the Brussels and Berlin conferences held?
International developments and fear of military action in Europe caused the two conferences to take place and European ‘spheres of influence’ to be set up. This is to start of the partition of Africa (scramble for Africa).
Who hosted the Brussels conference and why?
King Leopold II of Belgium hosted a conference for explorers and leaders from geographical societies across Europe. The conference was largely motivated by the king’s desire to protect his personal interests and holding in the Congo.
What was concluded in the Brussels Conference?
- Africans were incapable of developing the natural resources to be found in Central Africa, therefore, European intervention was necessary.
- The routes to Africa’s Great Lakes need to be developed by building roads or railways.
- An International African Association should be established to coordinate the Europeans’ efforts.
What was the outcome of the Brussels Conference?
The supposed cooperation actually heightened competition. Henry Morton Stanley was hired from Britain to advise in the Congo region but it soon became apparent that Leopold was set on establishing his own Congo empire.
France extended its control from Senegal into Western Sudan inn 1879 and Portugal asserted its claims to control the mouth of the Congo River in 1884.
