1.1.3
Expansion into Africa
Britain's Expansion into Africa
Britain's Expansion into Africa
The loss of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 forced Britain to look elsewhere to grow its wealth and political control.
First British Empire
First British Empire
- By the 18th century, Britain had gained control of parts of North America, the Caribbean as well as territories within Europe such as Gibraltar.
- The East India Company was a British company separate to the government which controlled the Indian subcontinent.
Swing to the East
Swing to the East
- Britain failed to keep control of its colonies in North America following its loss in the American Revolutionary War 1783.
- This loss triggered a 'Swing to the East' as coined by Vincent Harlow (1952).
- Britain responded losing the war by expanding its reach into Africa and Asia to maintain its wealth and status as a global power.
Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
- The Industrial Revolution armed Britain with advances in methods of transport and weaponry, which helped in obtaining new territories for its empire.
Britain's Motives for Expanding into Africa
Britain's Motives for Expanding into Africa
The loss of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 forced Britain to look elsewhere to grow its wealth and political control.
Economic factors
Economic factors
- The African continent had a wide variety of natural resources that were known due to Britain's involvement with the transatlantic slave trade, where people were taken from West Africa and transported across the Atlantic ocean to be sold as slaves.
- After the transatlantic slave trade was abolished by Britain in 1807, Europeans became aware of precious commodities like gold, ivory and diamonds discovered across the continent.
- This offered an opportunity to replace the wealth obtained from the slave trade.
Strategic factors
Strategic factors
- Occupying new territories in Africa became increasingly important to secure trade routes.
- The Cape (in present-day South Africa) was an important port for ship voyages to the Indies.
- There was competition among other European colonial powers such as the French and Dutch to secure these routes for themselves.
- Each new colony required protection, and further defenses created a knock-on effect as Britain gained control of more and more regions in Africa.
Muscular Christianity
Muscular Christianity
- Muscular Christianity was a type of British cultural supremacy, which viewed the native traditions of potential territories as inferior and uncivilized.
- Muscular Christianity placed importance on Christian values, masculinity, and athleticism.
- This movement occurred mostly within all-boys' public schools in England.
- At the time, most government and military officials had attended such schools.
Exploration
Exploration
- Many British explorers survey to explore the interior regions of Africa that were undocumented by European maps, like the Congo Basin and the Great African Lakes
- Prominent British explorers include David Livingstone, Sir Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke.
- Livingstone became the first European to visit Victoria Falls (which he named after Queen Victoria), and Burton and Speke were the first Europeans to visit the Great African Lakes.
Missionary
Missionary
- Many explorers were also missionaries.
- They sought to reach people in the heart of Africa who had been previously uncontacted by Europeans in order to convert them to Christianity.
- The missionaries viewed traditional African religions as savage and uncivilised.
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
Jump to other topics
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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