U1 (1857-1890) - Expansion of the British Empire in Africa Flashcards
Why was Britiain interested in Africa?
Loss of american colonies causing a swing to the east, looking for influence in Asia and Africa
What facilitated the expansion?
steamships and weapon production following the industrial revolution made it possible to establish footholds in Asia and Africa
What were the four main reasons for expansion in Africa?
1) Strategic Factors
2) Personal Influence
3) Trade and economy
4) Moral factors
Why did they expand? Personal influence
- Merchant imperialists capitalised on new commodities, finding fame and fortune.
- Explorers stimulated public and political interest by seeking and tracing the continents waterways and publishing findings, producing maps and spreading tales of adventure
Why did they expand? Strategic factors
West and South Africa
West: Coastal interests demanding protection.
- string of forts built along the Gold Coast, and coastal defences in Gambia and Sierra Leone
South: Temperate climate and deep water ports of the Cape was superior to other harbours
- Cape Colony protected the sea route to the Middle East, China, Australia, and India - giving Britian control over the sea route to the East
Why did they expand? Trade and the economy
Opening of new routes inland, and discovery of raw minerals and resources
- provided investment opportunities and the prospect of further trade was appealing
Why did they expand? Moral Factors
Christian missionaries saw it as their duty to spread their faith and the public saw the empire as a source of ‘civilisation’ and ‘enlightenment’
What was the attitude toward Egypt in 1857?
British traders would use Egypt as an important trade route, but Britain was largely hostile toward the Muslim rulers
Why did Britain become interested in Egypt
Following the American civil war, Britain became starved of cotton and companies began investing in the production of Egyptian cotton.
By 1870s what percentage of British imports came from Egpyt
40%
Isma’il Pasha
when he came to power and his committments
Came to power in 1863
- committed to intensive modernisation, everything from streetlights and schools, to railways and irrigation
**Most importantly aimed to cut the Suez Canal through Egypt, to connect the Meditteranean with the Red Sea and Arabian Penninsula **
How much shorter was the route to India via the canal
6000 miles shorter than the route via the cape
The Suez Canal
important dates, british interest and the effect
- Production of the canal began 1859 and opened in 1869
- Britain was not initially interested as they believed the canal would be unsuitable for large vessels, and only bought a few shares
- canal had an immediate and dramatic effect, and reduced the profits of british traders in the Cape
When did Isma’il face debts and how much were Egypts foreign debts?
Faced debts in 1875, which amounted to £100 million
What did Egypt’s shares in the Suez Canal amount to
£4 million
Who bought Egypt’s shares and why
Benjamin Disraeli - to give Britain greater control over the route to India, and control over shipping tariffs
When was Isma’il deposed and who replaced him
Deposed in 1879 by the Ottoman Sultan, following Anglo-French pressure
- was replaced by his son Tewfiq
What kept Egypt afloat?
British money and political interference
- British commissioner Lord Duffin wielded considerable influence
Tewfiq’s actions and their consequences
- imposed taxes on egyptian foods and goods and reduced the army by 2/3
- increased unemployment and resulted in a rebellion, led by Colonel Arabi Pasha
What was Tewfiq forced to do and why was Britain worried
- forced to appoint Arabi’s allies into government
- Britain became concerned over trade and investment, the canal route to India, and the 100,000 Europeans in Egypt at the time
when and where did violence hit Egypt, what were the casualties, and how did the PM react
who was prime minister at the time
- June 1882 in Alexandria, Egypt
- casualties included 50 europeans and 125 egyptians
- PM Gladstone responded by sending British Naval forces to bombard Alexandria - destroyed residential areas, killed hundereds of civilians and reduced defence forts.
Who was made consul-general in Egypt
Major Evelyn Baring
Who defeated Arabi’s forces after he declared war, how long did the war last, and what did this enable Britain to do?
Sir Garnet Wolsely, in a battle lasting little over an hour
- enabled Britain to take back Cairo and restore Tewfiq as puppet ruler
How did Britain confirm influence in Egypt
By securing an international loan for the Egyptian government at the convention of London in 1885
