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The development of imperialism, c1857- c1890: The expansion of the British…
The development of imperialism, c1857- c1890: The expansion of the British Empire in Africa
British expansion in Africa:
End empire in American continent = British ‘Swing to the East’ (influence in Asia/ Africa)
Massive industrial revolution- steamships/ weapons production = footholds in continents
Loss of Britain’s American colonies (end 18th century)
British Empire: product of a desire to seek out new foodstuffs and resources e.g. valuable minerals
The loss of the American colonies:
Disputes: taxes imposed Parliament London- colonists no control/ colonial resentment buy imports (e.g. tea) British merchants and export goods (e.g. tobacco) Britain
1775: war broke out- colonial ‘rebels’ led George Washington
18th century: well-established colonies east coast North America
1783: British defeated, former colonies joined United States of America
Reasons for British expansion in Africa:
Trade and the economy
1807: Brain outlawed slave trade, had overseen exportation 3 million Africans (US colonies/ British-owned plantations Caribbean)
(Second half) 19th century: trade/ prospect further trade opening new routes inland and subsequent discovery minerals/ resources e.g. coal, iron, timber Africa feed demands British industry
18th century: slave trade took precedence
Late 19th century: materials, markets, routes accessed- investment opportunities/ strategic interests
Acquire gold/ ivory from elephant tusks
Great Depression (1873-96): industrial productivity grew = need for sales markets (cycle of dependency)- Brain sought African resources manufacture goods e.g. textiles/ weapons sell back to Africa
British merchants traded West Africa since 1500s
Personal influence
Merchant-imperialists e.g. George Goldie/ Cecil Rhodes capitalised new commodities = fame/ fortune
British public/ political interest stimulated great mid-century Victorian explorers- traced continents waterways/ published findings/ produced maps/ exotic tales’ discovery
Increasing trade = growth personal influence British merchants Africa
Strategic factors
E.g. forts built along Gold Coast/ coastal defences Sierra Leone and Gambia
Strategic interests: establishment colony southerly tip Africa- the Cape
Temperate climate/ deep water port advantages over harbours
1806 Napoleonic Wars: Cape Colony British from Dutch allies of French
Protected sea route Middle East, China, Australia and India = power over seat routes to East
Britain’s coastal interests West Africa demanded protection
Moral factors
Empire force ‘civilisation’
E.g. David Livingstone (Africa 1858): ‘to try and make an open path for commerce and Christianity’
1860s: Christian missionaries’ duty spread faith non-Christian to ‘heathen’ people
Other- adventure/ exploration
1857: Africa mapped (1867: course Congo River charted Europeans)
Explorers: reserves raw materials e.g. gold, palm oil, diamonds merchants exploit/ trade
Expanding African empire
The Swing to the East:
Change in British business/ political interests away Western hemisphere towards Africa/ Asia
Preference trade than pure conquest/ control
Vincent Harlow introduced explain shift Britain’s imperial priorities in 19th century
The extent of British expansion in Africa 1857-90:
South: Cape Colony
1857-1890: British reactive initiates other powers e.g. France acquisition land
Trading networks inland: Niger River
British match others = sought define control areas British trades operating
West African settlements: Sierra Leone/ Gold Coast
Royal Niger Company/ Imperial British East Africa Company/ British South Africa Company chartered implement British claims/ ensure European powers excluded lucrative British bases
(Second half) 19th century: presence Africa limited
1868:
Basutoland- Protectorate (treaty)
1873:
Griqualand West- Settlement (absorbed Cape Colony 1880)
1877:
Transvaal- Occupied
1879:
Zululand- Protectorate (war/ annexed Natal 1887)
1882:
Egypt- Occupation, client state (ruler with strong British influence)
1884:
Southern Nigeria/ British Somaliland- Chartered company rule/ Protectorate (treaty)
1885:
Bechuanaland/ Northern Nigeria- Protectorate (treaty)/ Chartered company rule
1888:
Gambia/ British East Africa/ Uganda- Settlement/ Chartered company rule/ Chartered company rule