Scramble for Africa: British Expansion, Suez Canal and Battle of Khartoum

Question 1

Reasons for British Expansion in Africa:

1) How did trade and the economy cause British expansion into Africa?

Answer 1

1) > The Industrial revolution made Empire possible.
> British merchants opened roots inland, which were used to discover raw materials, that could then be used to manufacture a product that would be sold back to Africa. This was particularly the case during the economic slump of 1873 to 1896.
> The Empire provided investment opportunities.

Question 2

1) How did personal influence cause British expansion into Africa?

Answer 2

1) > Merchant-Imperialists such as George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes capitalised on the findings of new commodities.
> Victorian explorers traced the continent’s waterways, publishing their findings, and producing maps and tales of their adventures.

Question 3

1) How did strategic factors cause British expansion into Africa?

Answer 3

1) > Britain wanted global dominance, therefore meaning that they had to respond to the threat of France and Germany.
> The loss of American colonies in the 18th century, caused the ‘swing to the east’.
> Forts were built along the Gold Coast, to protect Britain’s coastal interests.
> The Cape Colony protected sea routes to India and other areas.

Question 4

1) How did moral factors cause British expansion into Africa?

Answer 4

1) > Christian missionaries saw it as their duty to spread their faith among non-Christians.
> Empire was a source for ‘civilisation’ and ‘enlightenment’, and there was a powerful body of Christian philanthropists.
> David Livingstone went to Africa in 1858, to make an open path for commerce and Christianity.

Question 5

1) How did exploration cause British expansion into Africa?

Answer 5

1) > Victorian exploration often resulted in colonisation.
> By 1857, most of Africa was added to European maps, however the course of the Congo wasn’t charted until 1867.
> Explorers located vast reserves, which European merchants sought to exploit and trade.

Question 6

The extent of British expansion in Africa 1857-90:

1) Before the second half of the 19th century, how far did Britain’s formal control extend?

Answer 6

1) The West African settlements, trading networks further inland (the Niger River) and the Cape Colony.

Question 7

1) In what period, did Britain extend its Empire?

2) In what period did formal British expansion really accelerate?

Answer 7

1) 1857 and 1890.

2) The 1890s.

Question 8

1) How did the UK react to France as a rival?
2) Which companies were chartered to implement British claims, and to make sure that other Europeans were excluded from their bases?
3) Where was intervention more direct?

Answer 8

1) By formalising control in areas where British traders had been operating.
2) The Royal Niger Company, the Imperial British East Africa Company and the British South Africa Company.
3) In Egypt, but even here the British claimed to be acting defensively.

Question 9

1) What is a protectorate?

Answer 9

1) An area that has its own ruler, but is placed under the protection of the crown, which controlled its military and influenced foreign policy through advisers.

Question 10

1) What is a settlement?

Answer 10

1) An area containing British settlers, and under British control.

Question 11

1) What does the term occupied mean?

Answer 11

1) An area that contains British settlers, but is not under British control.

Question 12

1) What is a client state?

Answer 12

1) An area that has its own ruler, but strong British influences restrict the ruler’s independence.

Question 13

1) What is Chartered Company Rule?

Answer 13

1) An area that is ruled by a trading company, that has a special license from the government, which gives it economic and political independence.

Question 14

1) What is a Veiled Protectorate?

Answer 14

1) A state controlled by another in an indirect manner.

Question 15

What was Britain’s attitude to Egypt in 1857?

1) What was laughable?
2) What had British traders used Egypt as?
3) Who was Britain hostile to?

Answer 15

1) That Egypt would fall under British control.
2) A route between Europe and Asia.
3) The Muslim rulers of Egypt.

Question 16

Why did Britain’s interest in Egypt grow?

1) Why was British interest revived, during the American Civil War of 1861 to 1865?
2) What were some of Isma’il Pasha’s modernising programs, which the British invested in?
3) When did he come to power, and which Ottoman ruler initiated modernisation?
4) In the 1870s, how much of Egypt’s imports came from Britain?
5) What was Ismail’s most ambitious project?
6) How did this affect the trade route to India?
7) When was the Suez Canal company set up, and who set it up?
8) When did construction begin, and how long did it take?
9) Why did Britain not buy many shares?
10) What caused Isma’il Pasha to sell his shares, and for how much?
11) Who bought shares, and how did this benefit them?
12) Who still has the majority of shares?

Answer 16

1) Britain became starved of cotton, so therefore began investing in the production of Egyptian cotton.
2) Irrigation, railways, schools and street lighting.
3) 1963, and Muhammad Ali Pasha started the process (ruler from 1805 to 1848).
4) 40%.
5) Cutting the Suez Canal through Egypt to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
6) It became 6000 miles shorter.
7) It was set up in 1858, by a Frenchman (Ferdinand de Lesseps).
8) Began in 1859, and was completed 10 years later.
9) They were sceptical, as they believed it would be unsuitable for large ships.
10) He was facing increasing debts, so he sold his share for £4 million.
11) Disraeli, offering Britain more control over its passage to India, and also providing income from tariffs.
12) France

Question 17

How did Britain establish control in Egypt?

1) Deposition of Isma’il: Why was he deposed?
2) Who replaced him?
3) How did British Commissioner Lord Dufferin gain influence?
4) To prop up the economy, what changes were made to taxing?
5) These measures led to the Arabi Pasha Revolt, what was this?
6) What were Britain’s concerns?
7) What were the Alexandra riots?
8) How did William Gladstone intervene?
9) How did the war between Arabi Pasha and Britain, culminate?
10) Who was made puppet leader?
11) How was a ‘Veiled Protectorate’ established?
12) Who became Consul-General?

Answer 17

1) He was deposed in 1879, by the Ottoman Sultan who accused him of economic mismanagement.
2) His son, Tewfiq.
3) This is because British money and support kept Egypt’s economy afloat, giving Dufferin considerable influence over Tewfiq.
4) Taxes were imposed on foods and goods, and the Egyptian army was reduced to 2/3, causing unemployment.
5) The Arabi Pasha Revolt was led by Arabi Pasha. It caused Tewfiq to appoint Arabi’s allies to government positions - they were anti-European.
6) Safety of the 100,000 Europeans, and the security of the Suez.
7) In June 1882, these riots led to the deaths of 50 Europeans and 125 Egyptians.
8) British naval forces bombarded Alexandria, killing hundreds of civilians.
9) Despite initial successes as Kafr el-Dawwar, Arabi Pasha was defeated at Tel el-Kebir, and Cairo was retaken.
10) Tewfiq
11) Tewfiq was forced to create a government that facilitated British interests. He had to employ British personnel to supervise the Egyptian army, and he relied on British advisors.
12) Evelyn Baring, who ruled Egypt from behind the scenes.

Question 18

What was Britain’s Involvement with Sudan up to 1885?

1) Who was Governor-General of Egyptian-administered Sudan, on behalf of Khedive Isma’il?
2) What was he against?
3) How did ministers and officials in London see him?
4) Describe his personality and character:

Answer 18

1) Colonel Charles Gordon was Governor-General, he was a military leader.
2) The slave trade.
3) As a ‘mad Christian lunatic’.
4) He was courageous, and his personality glowed with the beauty of holiness.

Question 19

Who was the Mahdi, and what did his followers want?

1) Who was the self-proclaimed Mahdi?
2) Which resentments caused the Mahdi to transform an emerging political movement, into a jihadist army?
3) By 1882, which area did they take control of?
4) Who sympathised with the Mahdi?

Answer 19

1) The Sudanese Islamic cleric Muhammad Ahmad.
2) Hostility towards Egyptian rule, and a resentment of British influence.
3) The area surrounding Khartoum.
4) Gordon and Gladstone.

Question 20

What did Gladstone order Gordon to do after the death of Hicks?

1) How was Hicks killed?
2) What did Gladstone order General Gordon to do?

Answer 20

1) In 1883, during a joint British and Egyptian expedition to counter the Mahdi, General Hicks was killed.
2) Evacuate the Egyptian and British troops from Khartoum, in 1884

Question 21

What happened to Gordon and his garrison?

1) Did Gordon act on Gladstone’s orders?
2) How did the public react?
3) What was the ‘Gordon relief expedition’, and did it work?
4) What happened to the Garrison, and Gordon?
5) How did Gladstone’s image suffer?

Answer 21

1) No, he stayed in Khartoum.
2) They were angry at Gladstone for not sending relief.
3) They were a group of 15,000 troops. led by Wolseley. They arrived 2 days after Gordon’s death.
4) The entire Garrison was killed, and Gordon was beheaded.
5) He went from Grand Old Man, to Murder of Gordon.

Question 22

Why didn’t Gladstone retaliate?

1) What was he anxious about?
2) When did the next campaign happen?

Answer 22

1) Further loss of life and money.

2) 1896