The expansion of the British Empire in Africa ? Flashcards
How did competition lead to British expansion in Africa ?
Other countries caught up to Britain due to rapid industrialism.This made other countries fierce competitors.The global spread of cheap and reliable railway allowed many products to enter the British market causing price to plummet.Competition forced Britain to expand into Africa.
Why were the British able to expand into Africa ?
Massive Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth , steamships and weapon production made it possible to establish footprints there.
How did trade lead to British expansion in Africa ?
Key reason for expansion was trade in particular the prospect of further trade given the new opening of inland routes and subsequent discovery of minerals and resource.Once materials, markets or routes have been accessed , further considerations emerged such as investment opportunities and strategic interests.
How did Strategic factors lead to expansion in Africa.
Sometimes colonies were secured for strategic importance .Sometimes it was necessary to conquer a territory in order to prevent an European power to have it
Evidence that strategic factors led to the colonisation of Africa ?
Britain’s costal interests in West Africa demanded protection and a string of forts were built along the Gold Coast.Sometimes stare tic factors were predominated for example in the establishment of a colony, the Cape.The temperate climate and the deep water port held advantages over other harbours.Cape colony protected sea routes to the Middle East, China, Australia and India thus giving Britain considerable power and preventing rivals.
Importance of Cape colony ?
The temperate climate and the deep water port of the Cape held advantages over other harbours.It also protected sea routes to the Middle East, China, Australia and India giving Britain power and influence in the areas.
How did personal influence lead to expansion in Africa ?
Increasing trade led to an increase in British merchants in Africa.Merchant imperialists such as George Coldie and Cecil Rhodes recognised and capitalised on new commodities and in the process of found fame and fortune.British public and political interest was also stimulated by the great mid century victorian explorers who sought and traced continents waterways, publishing their findings , producing maps and spreading tales of adventure.
How dd the economy lead to British expansion in Africa ?
In the second half of the 19th century, coal, timber and iron were sought in Africa to feed the demands of the the British industry so the economy could keep growing.
On the other hand, as Industrial productivity grew so did the need for sales markets
How did Industrial Revolution influence expansion of British empire in Africa?
. Need for markets and raw materials
. Britain dropped old attitude of free trade and informal political control for trade monopoly and colonial imperialism.
What is one basic way the British empire can be viewed?
As the product of a desire to seek out new foodstuffs and resources (such as valuable minerals)
Why did the British empire get involved in trade overseas?
. Britain had been a sea-faring nation before 1857
. Britain imported raw materials such as cotton to develop industry
. As industry grew, more raw materials were needed
. Colonisation led to a cheap, steady supply of these raw materials
. Goods from Britain were sold back to people in these colonies via trading companies such as the East India Company
What were the religious/cultural reasons for expansion of the empire, particularly in the 19th century?
. Many Brits had to spread the word of God to ‘uncivilised savages’ (missionaries)
. Christian missionaries travelled to colonies to set up churches, schools to convert people
. Religion heavily important in 19th century
How did competition with other nations influence expansion of the empire?
. Growing imperial policies in Europe meant a ‘land grab’ in Africa came about as each country wanted power (Britain, France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Germany)
- French controlled a large part of West Africa just for the status even though it was mostly just desert
Why was there a renewed interest in the empire in the late 19th century?
Others countries catching up with Britain (industrialisation)
. France and Russia were a growing political power
. Agriculture first market to fully compete
. Global spread of cheap railway and shipping systems allowed new good such as New Zealand butter to flood British markets, causing prices to plummet
How did trade and the economy influence British expansion into Africa?
New discovery of minerals and resources
. Unlimited capacity for the production of cattle and cereals.
. Mountain ranges of Kilimanjaro and Kenya held European climates close to the coast
. Natives were more industrious than west coast tribes so welcomed new governments that would protect them from raids from threatening tribes
. More British industrial productivity meant there were more need for sales markets
What was Britain’s ‘cycle of dependency’ that came about in the late 19th century in Africa?
Britain used African resources to manufacture textiles to sell back to Africa, particularly during the Great Depression
How did moral factors influence expansion into Africa in late C.19?
From 1860s, Christian missionaries felt they had to spread their faith as the Empire was a force for ‘civilisation’
. David Livingstone went to Africa in 1858 to ‘try and make an open path for commerce and charity’
. First half of C.19 saw morality divide ‘good’ and ‘evil’
- seen in Charles Dickens novels as morally ‘good’ characters were protected from consequences unlike the bad characters
- world became split into ‘civilised’ and ‘non-civilised’ spheres’
