What was the importance of the acquisition and retention of key strategic bases around the globe? Flashcards
Why was Gibraltar key?
It is situated between Europe and Africa
Separated French Atlantic and mediterranean
Was a major obstacle for France’s ability to move warships and supplies
When did Britain gain Gibraltar?
1704
When did Britain gain Minorca?
1708 after the spanish war of succession
When was Minorca officially given to the British?
Ceded in 1718 to secure British withdrawal
When did France occupy Minorca?
During the 7 years war from 1756 to 1763
Why were there tensions in the Navy?
Funding had been cut and ships were poorly built
Why was France becoming a threat?
In 1778 they entered a war with Britain to regain territory in the West Indies
What happened at Toulon?
The French slipped through the straits of Gibraltar before war was declared
The British did the same and undermined its position in America
How did France secure Spain involvement?
Secured Spain to by promising to help them reconquer the Mediterranean
When did France land in Minorca?
In 1781
How did garrisons at Minorca and Gibraltar stay in contact?
Through small fats ships
Failures of the Franco-Spanish
Unable to prevent a resupply due to the poor sailing skills and adverse winds
How did Britain win?
Admirality made Gibraltar a priority
What happened to the British in Minorca?
Garrison had blockaded itself with the fortress of St Phillip’s castle
Lack of food and supplies led to scurvy
Surrendered after 5 months in February 1782
What was the attempted attack on Gibraltar?
5000 Franco-Spanish sent 18 ships of the line over
Accurate canon fire from the British garrison sunk 3 ships
Held out until the end of the war in 1783
Significance of the retention of Gibraltar?
Showed the importance of strategically placed port
Line of defence which the enemy failed to subdue
Who did Ceylon belong to?
Dutch colony, after multiple wars with Portugal, France and the Natives
Who was the interior of Ceylon controlled by?
The independent kingdom of Kandy, cut off after 1765
Why was Ceylon valuable?
One of the few sources of cinnamon in the world
EIC began to cultivate it in 1767 but Ceylon remained the main producer
How did Britain gain Ceylon?
In 1794 the Netherlands were conquered by the French and Dutch royals fled to England
They surrendered their colonies in return for protection
What happened with the British and the interior kingdom of Kandy?
The people of Kandy hoped that the British would restore some coastline to them but this didn’t happen and sporadic warfare broke out
How did Britain take control of Kandy?
There was fragile peace until governor Brownigg took advantage of a situation within the Kandyan court and supported the nobles.
When did the British occupy Kandy?
1815
What was the rebellion in Ceylon?
It was brutally suppressed
Confiscation of land
Burning of villages
Destruction of rice paddles
Ceylon was annexed as a British colony
When were the rebellions in Ceylon?
1817-1818
Why did we want the Cape?
It was a stopping point for shipping between Europe and the East Indies
Valuable as a naval fleet as there could be a major trade route cut
When did we try to capture the Cape?
In 1781 but were prevented by the French
How did we capture the Cape?
1795: navy was in ascendency and seized strategic colonies
Demanded surrender for “safekeeping”
How long did we occupy the Cape for?
Occupied until the peace of Amiens in 18-2
What happened after 1802 in regards to the Cape?
It was returned to the Dutch and war broke out
Britain reoccupied it to prevent France in 1806
Maintained a permanent presence there
Who inhabited Malta?
Napoleon had captured from the Knights Hospitaller 1798 after they refused to supply his ships on the way to Egypt
How did Britain get involved in Malta?
Local population rebelled and asked the British for help
How did Britain gain Malta?
Nelson blockaded Valletta in 1799 and the French surrendered in 18000
What was the significance of Malta?
Had a deep water port so was useful to obtain
Became a naval base after the opening of the Suez Canal
When did the British leave Malta?
1802 but maintained a presence
What were the Falklands useful for?
South Atlantic sealing ships
Britain had 70+ sealing ships
What was the nature of involvement in the Falklands?
There was a settlement in 1766 but it was abandoned in the American war of independence
British and US claimed sovereignty
Struggled to make it a financial success
What did Vernet want to do in the Falklands?
Difficult position diplomatically
Wanted to preserve seals for his own use
Confiscated 3 American ships
How did Britain deal with Vernet?
A single ship was sent in 1833 and Vernet surrendered without a fight as he was occupied in Buenos Aires.
How was the Falklands developed?
Developed for ship repair and provisioning from 1843
Loading station from 1855
Port Stanley opened up as the capital in 1843
Deep water and supply of fresh drinking water
Sheep farming in 1852
The growing importance of Aden?
The red sea increased in importance as steamships stopped at Aden to refuel
A steam route via the Suez Canal would be faster for transportation and communications
Help secure British interests in the reigon
How did the EIC get the government on board?
The government had to pay half of the costs of 6 voyages per year with 2 steamers in 1837
What happened in 1829 in regards to Aden?
Surveying of Arabian coast, Lord Auckland said that any involvement should be peaceful and legal
What happened with Socotra?
The British occupied it in 1835 but negotiations feel through with the local ruler
How did they justify the occupation of Aden?
They argued that the sultan as no better than a pirate
What happened with the Duria Dowlat?
Sultans forced plundered the merchantman Duria Dowlat after it ran aground
Put pressure on Lord Auckland to allow commander Stafford Haines to act
How did the British invade Aden?
Haines arrived in Aden in 1837 with a mandate to secure satisfaction for the outrage over the Duria Dowlat and to use it as a coal depot
What did the Sultan say about British involvement in Aden?
“You can then make houses or forts or do what you like: the town will then be yours”
How did negotiations deteriorate?
Sultans son was rumoured to be planning on kidnapping Haines
Letter were sent between Bombay, Calcutta and London
John Hobhouse and Lord Palmerston encouraged grant to seize Aden
Lord Auckland was reluctant
Seizing of Aden
Grant died and his deputy Farish sent 2 frigates and 700 men
He didn’t get approval from the government or general in Calcutta but through private letters from Hobhouse
Haines presented a fait accompli
EIC had no choice but to accept their new territory
Aden under the British
It was ran on a budget and bribes with local people kept the peace
Did not sit on the crossroads of trade of have the Royal Navy
Coaling of mail steamers did not produce enough to be financially viable
Outcome for Haines
Worked for 15 years without holiday
Ran up a deficit of £28,000 and was sent to jail for 6 years for fraud and embezzlement
Why did Britain want to extend their influence?
In order to protect territory
Imperialism had become pooler in the conservative party
Fear of Russia
What were the liberal party’s views?
Less expenditure and minimal overseas involvement
Washington Treaty of 1871 secured peace and paid for damages over American shipping sunk by confederate privateers sailing from British ports
What was the outcome of the 1874 election?
Liberals had 189,000 more votes and won the majority of the seats
What were the Conservative party’s views?
Limit Russia by supporting powers bordering Russia
Suez Canal shares under Disraeli in 1775
British involvement in the Ottoman empire
Lord Salisbury was sent to Constantinople to negotiate support for the ottomans
Failed to persuade to occupy the Balkans
When was the Russo-Turkish war
1877
What was the Russo-Turkish war
Threatened to take Constantinople which would have given them access to the Mediterranean and the black sea
Russia expansion
1878 peace treaty with Ottoman empire ceded the majority of the Balkans to Russia
Disraeli’s reaction to the Russo-Turkish war
Persuaded the government to approve £6 million to prepare the army and navy
Allied with Bismarck to force Russia to abandon the territory and they accepted
Why did Britain gain Cyprus
Monitor and counter Russia
Provided a link to India
Intervene in Egypt if necessary
Territorial reasons over economic
How did Britain gain Cyprus?
Through the Cyprus convention where it was technically leased to them for £92,799 annually
Did Britain pay Cyprus for their occupation?
No the money was raise through taxing the people but was never paid to the Ottomans
It was used to pay debts from the Crimean war instead
Ottoman’s had no choice but to accept
Gladstone’s views
Led the anti-imperialist party 1868-1894
Tried to cut back Naval expenditure but was med with criticism as it was already underfunded
