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Summary A* essay on strategic reasons for British empire expansion
A* British empire essay
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British expansion in Africa in the years 1890 to1914 was driven primarily by strategic motives
Essay Skills
'British expansion in Africa in the years 1890 to 1914 was
driven primarily by strategic motives.'
Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)
Introduction:
● Strategic factors were the most significant factor - became increasingly important
across the period 1890-1914.
● Britain became increasingly concerned as the period went on about the strength
of other powers and wanted to retain its world dominance. Many areas that were
added to the empire in this period had little value to Britain in terms of trade,
there were more valuable in their strategic benefit, either to protect their
interests or simply to prevent another power gaining that area.
Paragraph 1 - Strategic motives
Evidence:
● Berlin Conference began land grabbing in Africa. Declaring protectorate of British
East Africa in 1895 formed a buffer against German interests in Tanzania.
● France, Germany + King Leopold (Belgium) = principal rivals.
● ‘Effective occupation’, confirmed at the 1884-5 Berlin Conference: no power could
claim an area without establishing ‘effective occupation’ first and some degree of
administration = increased the competition and speed of colonisation.
● Removal of most chartered companies = gave way to more formal control from
the 1890s.
● Britain often motivated by protecting their empire from other powers, particularly
with German in South Africa (e.g. the quest for British confederation to counter
German territorial gains in the region).
● The ‘Fashoda incident’(1898) - highlights the tension between Britain and France.
● 1898 - reinforced its Somaliland protectorate to limit French and Italian ambitions
in the area.
● French, German and Belgium activities in EA lead to fears about blocking the
headwaters of the Nile so they tried to gain control in the Sudan.
● International rivalry with Germany contributed to hostilities in SA. Zanzibar seen
as key to defending the Indian ocean. Concern about losing their dominant
position in the world, especially due to the threat from Germany.
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