Lecture notes
The British Empire, C
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Section 1: The development of imperialism: 1857- 1890Chapter 1: The expansion of the British Empire in Africa
Expansion in Africa
Traditionally expansion in Africa was fueled by the desire to gain foodstuffs + resources, however growth was
much more complex than this. → factors include; The swing to the east, trade and economic factors, personal
influence, strategic factors, + moral factors etc.
1. Swing to the east
- American colonies like the United States + Canada had caused growth however their loss to
independence prompted a 'Swing to the East'.
- British business + political interests strayed away from the Western hemisphere toward Africa + Asia,
→ Also change in outlook to prefer trade rather than pure conquest/control.
- This was made possible by the massive industrial revolution Britain underwent, with the emergence
of steamships + weapons, they were able to establish a foothold in the East.
2. Trade & economic factors:
- The key reason for British expansion in Africa during this period was down to trade + commerce, which
was a prospect once minerals/ resources had been discovered.
- In this period coal, iron + timber were sought in Africa to feed demands of British industry.
- As industrial production grew so did the need for sale markets. → In this way cycle of dependency
develops where Britain sought African resources in order to manufacture goods such as textiles/
weapons to sell back to Africa.
- This was very Important during the Great Depression of 1873 - 1896.
3. Personal influence
- Increasing trade led to a growth in personal influence of British merchants in Africa.
- Merchant imperialists e.g. Goldie + Rhodes recognised + capitalised on new commodities → in the
process found fame/fortune.
- British public + political interest in Africa was also stimulated by Victorian explorers who sought and
traced the continent's waterways, published findings, produced maps + spread exotic tales of
discovery/ adventure.
, 4. Strategic factors
- Britain’s coastal interests in West Africa demanded protection so a string of forts was built along the
Gold Coast, as were coastal defences in Sierra Leone + Gambia.
- Strategic interest in the establishment of a colony at the south tip of Africa → the Cape.
● The temperate climate + deep water port of the Cape held advantages over other harbours.
● It also protected sea route to Middle East, China, Australia + India giving Br considerable
power.
5. Moral factors
- The victorian era was one of strong moral principles and from 1860s Christian missionaries saw it their
duty to spread their faith among non-christian “heathen” peoples. This notion of “lighting the dark
places''
● The empire was thus a force for “civilisation” → e.g. David Livingstone, a missionary explorer
claimed he went to Africa in 1858 to “try and make an open path for commerce and christianity.”
● BUT it was achieved on a much smaller scale + tied to specific individuals. It was more of a
glorified rhetoric used for justifying ruthless actions.
The extent of british expansion in Africa 1857-90
Until late 19th century British presence in Africa was strictly limited
- Main assets included West African settlements [sierra leone + Gold coast], trading networks further
inland + Cape colony.
1857 - 1890 = Britain more reactive to initiatives of other powers [France], than aggressively seeking out new
lands for own sake.
- As the British tried to match the claims of others, they sought to define control of areas where British
traders had been operating already. → Thus, companies e.g. RNC, BEAC + BSAC were chartered to
implement British claims + ensure that other Europeans were excluded from lucrative British bases.
- BUT it was only after 1890s that British expansion in Africa really accelerated.
Between 1857 - 90 Britain extended its influence:
1868 Basutoland protectorate
1873 Griqualand West settlement
, 1877 Transvaal Occupied
1879 Zululand protectorate
1882 Egypt + sudan Client state
1884 Southern Nigeria Chartered company rule
British somaliland Protectorate
1885 Bechuanaland Protectorate
Northern Nigeria Chartered company rule
1888 Gambia Settlement
British East Africa Chartered company rule
Uganda Chartered company rule
- Settlements: an area containing British settlers under partial British control.
- Occupied: an area containing british settlers/ military forces but not under british control.
- Client state: an area with its own ruler but strong britain influence which restricted that rulers
independence politically militarily + economically.
- Chartered company rule: an area by a trading company [through native rulers] with a special licence
by the British government which gave it political + economic rights.
Egypt
Britain and Egypt:
1857: unexpected for British control over Egypt because even though it was used as an important trade route
between Europe + Asia + from the 18th century to India, British were hostile towards Muslim leaders of Egypt.
- Their interest revived after American civil war of 1861 - 1865 when British mills starved of cotton.
- Egypt had good quality cotton products so Br companies began investing heavily in its production + in
the modernising programme under Khedive Isma’il Pasha.
- Trading interactions consequently grew → by 1870s 40% of Egypts imports came from Britain.
The Suez Canal:
- Between 1854-56 Ferdinand de Lesseps obtained concession from Egypt to create a company to
construct a canal for international shipping. → The Suez Canal company set up in 1858.
- The SC was completed in 1869 + shares in the project made it available internationally.
- Outside France however limited interest → However it had a massive impact on world trade, reducing
, the profits of British traders in the Cape who operated warehouses for the storing of goods.
- Consequently Khedive Isma’il Pasha in 1875 was facing increasing debts thus sourced buyers for
Egypts shares in the canal for £4 million. → purchased by British PM Disraeli.
- SC helped Br to trade with India + China → the route to India was 6000 miles shorter than from the
cape + the travel time/ distance to India was cut by 43%.
Establishment of British control in Egypt:
- 1879: Ismail Pasha deposed due to economic mismanagement → his son, Tewfiq, became the new
Khedive + was kept afloat due to British money.
● In order to fix the ailing economy taxes were imposed on Egyptian food/ goods + 2/3s of its
army was reduced. → Such measures increased unemployment + led to nationalist rebellion
under colonel Arabi Pasha.
● Tewiq was forced to appoint Arabi’s allies to government positions where a fiercely
anti-european stance provoked British concerns over trade, investment, security of SC + of the
100,000 Europeans living in Egypt.
Violent developments:
- In June 1882, political tensions spilled out onto the streets of Alexandria, Egypt where violence
claimed the lives of 50 europeans.
- A series of further revolts across Egypt convinced Br PM Gladstone to intervene → Br naval forces
sent to bombard Alexandria.
- Arabi declared war but he was defeated by Commander Wolsey who had managed to secure the SC.
→ This enabled Br to retake Cairo and restore Khedive Tewfiq as a puppet ruler.
● Puppet ruler: has to act as directed by master, in this case Britain consul general.
● Evelyn Baring was installed as Consul General + Tewfiq was forced to create a government
amenable to Britain → had to employ British military personnel to supervise his army + rely on
British advisers.
● Despite it seemingly being informal by 1885 Convention of London secured an international
loan for the Egyption government confirming Br influence over Egypt.
● Egypt thus was a ‘veiled protectorate’ in which baring effectively ruled behind a screen of
Egyptian ministers aided by a group of English administrators.
Sudan
Colonel Charles Gordon sent by Br to act as Governor General of Egyptian administered Sudan on behalf of
Khedive Ismail Pasha between 1877 - 1880.
- However British administrators faced opposition from sudanese Islamic cleric Muammed Ahmed who
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