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Summary AQA A Level History: British Empire Notes Chapter 1-24
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AQA A Level History: British Empire Notes Chapter 1-24. Notes are fully concise with specific examples and everything needed to know in the course.
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Section 1: The development of imperialism 1857-1914Chapter 1:The Expansion of the British Empire in Africa
How did Britain Govern the Empire in 1857?
● 1857- Britain had a vast empire spreading throughout the world in Asia, North
America, Africa and Australia
● Largest, most powerful navy in the world
● Richest and most industrial developed economy
● Colonies of Settlement: Colonies largely populated by British white settlers
● Crown Colonies: Non-European countries that were governed by the British and
were developed mainly for trading purposes
● India: Country in southeast asia which was rich in spices and developed the British
Empire economically and geographically
● Protectorate: area with its own ruler but placed under the protection of the British
crown
● Chartered Company Rule: an area ruled by a trading company
● Veiled Protectorate: a state controlled by another indirectly
Reasons for Expansion in Africa
● Moral Factors: Missionaries saw it as their duty to spread the gospel and civilise
Africa
● Trade and the Economy: British merchants opened up new routes to travel for
trade and commerce. Discovered new materials such as rubber, gold, oil,
diamonds.
● Strategic Factors: France and Germany are threats as they are building empires.
Britain had just lost America which led to the Swing to the East. Forts built along
the Gold Coast to protect African colonies. Cape Colony protected Britain’s sea
routes to India and other parts of the Empire
● Personal Influence: George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes-Imperialists and Traders.
Britain’s involvement in Egypt
● Egypt was important for the route between Europe and Asia
● Britain had lost America as a colony which was rich in cotton. Egypt had vast
amounts of cotton which led to Britain going to Egypt
● Ismail Pasha- Suez Canal to cut through Egypt to connect the Mediterranean Sea
and the Red Sea. Allowed for quicker trading routes
● 1875- Benjamin Disraeli invested £4m into the Suez Canal
● Gave Britain more control over Egypt and there was further interest in Egypt
, How did Britain establish control in Egypt
● Suez Canal shares: Disraeli bought £4m worth of shares. Gave Britain a
large stake and say in its running
● Dual Control: Egyptian economy in large debts and led to France and
Britain controlling it in 1878
● Ismail Pasha deposed in 1879 and his son Tewfiq was the new Khedive
● British money kept the Egyptian economy running, and the Khedive Tewfiq
was heavily influenced by the British
● Unemployment in Egypt as the army was reduced to two thirds. Taxes
imposed on food and goods
● The British led a campaign to gain control over Egypt. Arabi Pasha was
defeated
● Tewfiq restored as a puppet ruler and had to govern in the way the British
wanted
Britain’s involvement in the Sudan up until 1885
● General Gordon- sent from Britain to act as a governor of
Egyptian-administered Sudan
● Muhammad Ahmad declared himself as the Mahdi-the savior of
Mankind
● Wanted to liberate Sudan
● 1883- British-Egyptian military expedition under the command of
General Hicks and Hicks was killed
● General Gordon did not retaliate and he died as he was beheaded
● No further campaigns took place until 1896
Chapter 2: Imperial and Colonial Policy
Berlin Conference 1884
● 80% of Africa under control
● Hosted by German chancellor Otto von Bismarck
● Purpose of the Conference was to secure agreements that both the basins and the
mouths of the Congo and Niger River would remain neutral and open to trade
● General Act: all nations can trade, free trade, protect the indigenous people,
support and protect the religious, scientific and charitable undertakings
● Effective Occupation: Country could assert their power to land that is effectively
occupied
, ● General Act led to a further Scramble for Africa
● By 1900, 90% of Africa was colonised
● Successful conference as European countries could expand their empire
Informal Empire
● Britain had no legal claim in these countries
● Places that were influenced by the British
● Allowed Britain to enjoy power around the world
● Some Britons settled in these countries like Argentina
China
● Treaty of Nanking(1842) and Treaty of Tientsin(1858)
● British gained trading bases in Shanghai and Hong Kong
● British sold Opium to the Chinese which originally funded the British East
India Company
Middle East
● Iran brought under British influence through treaties
South America
● Accounted for 10% of British exports and imports
● Threats of force used to maintain trade agreements
● Argentina- 10% of foreign investment there. Hundreds of miles of railway built and
strong British influence here
● Buenos Aires- Mutton, beef, wheat and maize
Chapter 3:Trade and Commerce
● The British traded with all countries around the world, not only their colonies
● Colonies traded with Britain due to a sense of loyalty and it was easier to trade
● Free trade saw imperial trade and investment grow enormously creating an
industrial empire
● The City of London became the world’s financial capital as British investment
overseas increased and the sterling became the main currency of international
trade
● There were technological advances in railways, steamships, underwater cables
and telegraph lines as well as innovations in banking and company organisation
● Cargo ships were built to carry goods
, ● Sailing ships were low volume and high profit goods such as opium, tea and spices
● These ships did not last long and had a life expectancy of about 20 years
● Steamships were used for bulky and heavy goods and were efficient when
travelling far away for trade
● From the 1850s, steamships increased their cargo capacity and could travel
between Britain and West Africa in less than three weeks.
● Railways were also important for transporting goods and provided the largest
investment
● Colonies like Canada, Australia and New Zealand had huge investments in
railways
● In India, new canals were developed on a huge scale after 1857, connecting cotton
and the jute market
● Britain imported £6m worth of cotton from India- 1876
● Between 1850-75, 20% of British imports came from colonies
● 70% of British investment was into railways
● Australia and New Zealand had vast tracts of land producing cheap, agricultural
raw materials like wool
● Tropical colonies like South Africa produced coffee, cocoa, groundnuts, palm oil
etc
● There were many tea plantations in India, sugar in Mauritius
● Tin in Nigeria, gold along the coasts and diamonds in Sierra Leone
● Gold in South Africa captured the most attention
● 1886 gold deposits were found in Witwatersrand in South Africa
● Discovery of diamonds as well in the area
● Gold was discovered in New South Wales, Australia in 1851
● By 1866, Victoria was producing £124 million worth of gold
● New South Wales produced a further £25 million
● More gold deposits were found in New Zealand, as the Australian mines began to
run dry
Chapter 4: Attitudes towards Empire- the role and influence of
individuals
● There were many explorers such as David Livingstone, George Goldie, William
Mackinnon and Cecil Rhodes
● John Kirk: Kirk’s efforts helped Britain in Zanzibar. Zanzibar was rich in clove and
ivory. He eradicated the slave trade in Zanzibar and kept it as a British client state
● Sir Richard Burton: Linguistic scholar, explorer and adventurer who became
famous in the 1850s due to his stories on Muslim life and he went to Mecca, where
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