The role and influence of individuals Flashcards
What was late Victorian period known as?
the age of “high imperialism”
Much of Victorian society immensely confident in the strength of empire and certain that it ought to be made stronger still
Victorian Britain = an era of social mobility where individuals beyond the traditional elites could rise to much greater power and wealth than before
Who was Joseph Chamberlain?
Colonial secretary from 1895-1903
Pro-imperialist and supported Rhodes ambitions into South Africa and was responsible for the 1902 Colonial Conference as well as the attempt to introduce “imperial preference”
Who was Cecil Rhodes?
Trader with interests in South Africa
-1871-1888 Buys up Kimberly Diamond Mines and creates De Beers
-forms British South Africa Company which was chartered in 1889
-1890 to 1896 PM Cape
-1890 Conquers territory North of Transvaal which becomes North Rhodesia and sends Jameson Raid
Who was George Curzon?
Viceroy of India 1899-1905
-Believed in the moral duty of imperialism
-Created the North West province in 1901
-Divided Bengal in 1905
-worked hard to strengthen british india
reforms included:
-irrigation projects
-construction of 6000 further miles of railway
-founded Imperial Cadet Corps
-Taj Mahal restored
= Believed Indians inferior to the British men
Who was Evelyn Baring?
Consul- General of Egypt 1883-1907
imperialist who believed in Christian moral duty towards empire
-established Granville Doctrine allowed him to dismiss Egyptian ministers who refused to accept British directives
-created the Veiled Protectorate and thus effectively control Egypt until 1907
-Did believe that British Rule would have to end at some point , though only when Egyptians capable of self-rule
However, in 1892 Khedive Tewqik dies and succeeded by Abbas Hilmi II who wanted to get rid of British rule, but Baring bullied him into submission
-Baring saw Egypt as battle ground between Christianity and Islam, which he viewed as an outdated set of Arabian customs
therefore he…..
-stop the slave trade
-abolished forced labour
-closed gambling houses
Though forced to resign after the Denshawai Inccident in 1906
Baring rewarded for his “eminent service” in Egypt = indication of Victorian imperialism/ popularity
Who was Alfred Milner?
British High Commissioner for Southern Africa 1897-1905
Imperialist believed in British superiority over the Boers and Africans
-When Kruger re-elected as President of the Transvaal in 1998 Milner concluded that there was no way out of the political troubles South Africa except for the reform of the Transvaal or war
-while Milner did introduced some Milner schools, he is mostly remembered for taking Britain into the Boer war.
Milner had demanded full citizenship for the Uitlanders after 5 years of residency however relations broke down and Kruger declared war in 1998. When Britain annexed the former Boer territories of the Orange Free state and the Transvaal in 1901 Milner left his post of Governor of the Cape and took over administration of the area
-He negotiated the Peace of Veereniging in 1902 alongside Lord Kitchener and was awarded as Viscount in 1902 for his service
