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Slavery abolished across the empire
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If a local ruler's direct line ended, land/titles were passed to the East India Company.
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Began with a mutiny of sepoys in the Bengal Army. Resentment: pay, cultural insensitivity, land confiscation from nobility. Enfield rifles greased with beef/pork fat became rallying point/example of British indifference.
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Ferdinand De Lesseps, international shares
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Official explorations of eastern and central Africa (5 years). Was named Consul for the East Coast of Africa. Sent 2,000 letters home and became a sensationalized hero.
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Direct rule implemented in India after the Rebellion. East India Company dissolved, all property and army returned to the Crown. Govt of India Act: created a secretary of state for India, an India Council, rule by a Viceroy.
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Ended the 2nd Opium War. Compelled China to make concessions and open ports to preferential British trade. British traders began to take tea to grow in India (Darjeeling, Assam). Old summer palace in Beijing destroyed in October 1860.
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'On the Origin of Species'. Social Darwinists later used these ideas to justify white superiority- they were the fittest or most capable, had a duty to rule
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Some land/titles returned to nobility. 'Star of India' medal created. More investment in infrastructure and development. English teaching universities in Bombay, Calcutta etc. Combination of direct/indirect rule, e.g. Kashmir, Hyderabad were self-governing as they had remained loyal.
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Dramatic decrease in cotton imports to Britain
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After abolition of slavery, many black former slaves were poor, taxed highly, had little voting rights etc. Rose up against colonial oppression. Brutal suppression, over 400 deaths. Direct rule was established.
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Parliamentary select committee recommended withdrawing from West Africa due to high costs of maintaining administrations/trading posts. In the 1870s, attitudes began to shift, with a greater sense of national prestige/identity and strategic rivalries.
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Overcame height difference between Lakes Ontario and Eyrie to help transportation of goods to the coast. Damaged the ecosystem, created dependence on British infrastructure projects.
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Extended the franchise and created a larger electorate. Conservatives used support for empire to win votes in 1874, but were accused of dangerous 'jingoism'.
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Vaal River, West Griqualand near Kimberley. Triggered a diamond rush and increased British interest in annexation.
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Introduced by Disraeli, who won the 1874 election through this and his emphasis on empire. Appealed to the masses with national superiority arguments. Gladstone accused him of stirring up extreme patriotism ('jingoism'). 2.5 million voters
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Claimed that they had requested protection from the Boers.
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Official opening e.g. Verdi commissioned to write an opera.
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Increasing threat to Britain. Very industrialised, began to overtake Britain economically.
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2000 Griqua people left to establish Griqualand East in 1873, but this too was annexed the following year.
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World-wide economic slump. Revived chartered company rule as cost the government nothing.
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Methodist missionaries in Australia contributed significantly.
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Buys 44% shares from Khedive Isma'il for £4 million, without the approval of Parliament.
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Wants to create a federation of British, Boer and Zulu territory but the Boers refuse.
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King Leopold II of Belgium invited explorers and geographers to discuss his personal holdings in the Congo, how to extend control.
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Set up a palm oil business in the Niger basin. In 1879, joined 30 trading posts together to form the United African Company (refused a royal charter because of French influence in the region). Signed over 450 treaties with local leaders, helped assert right to protectorate in Nigeria at the Berlin Conference
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Implemented by Disraeli
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To protect British influence in South Africa. Followed discovery of gold and diamonds.
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At Alexandra Palace, animals and people from Sudan were exhibited. 124,000 visitors attended.
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British subdue neighbouring territories, merge them with Cape Colony, but the Boers struggle against the Pedi tribe, who maintain their independence. Boers reluctantly accept British help to fight the Pedi and Zulu tribes in 1877.
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Under Viceroy Lytton: fears of Russian influence in Central Asia, wish to consolidate/protect the British Raj. Huge losses of 10,000 British soldiers, but eventually controlled the North-West frontier.
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Due to poor economy, after attempted modernisation schemes. Replaced by his son Tewfiq. British and French ministers are brought in to handle the Egyptian economy, with British Commissioner Lord Dufferin placed in charge of government revenues.
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Under George Goldie. 30 trading posts jointed together in Central Africa, but were refused a royal charter due to fears of French influence in the area. Signed over 450 treaties with local leaders.
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Under Arabi Pasha. Aimed to depose Tewfik and remove foreign influence in Egypt. Followed increasing unrest about the amount of taxes British ministers had imposed on Egypt, and the cutting of the army by 2/3, creating unemployment. Britain sent gunboats to Alexandria after 50 Europeans were killed in riots. Garnet Wolseley won the Battle of Tel El Kebir on Sep 13 and Arabi was captured. British troops occupied Egypt.
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Provoked by Bartle Frere to attempt to control South Africa and create a British federation. Eventual victory, but suffered embarrassing defeats at Isandlwana in late Jan. After reinforcements are sent, they are able to defeat the Zulu at their capital Ulundi, which they burn to the ground. Zululand is incorporated into Natal. Gladstone recalled and denounced Frere in 1880.
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Boers announce independence from Britain and attack Army garrisons across the Transvaal. British suffer a humiliating defeat at Majuba Hill in Feb 1881 where 150 Britons are killed. Forced to sign the Convention of Pretoria, recognizing Boer's right to self-government, but retaining control of external affairs.
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Gladstone (and French) sent combined gunboat fleet to intervene. The bombardment of Alexandria resulted in Tewfik being restored as puppet ruler. Consul-General Evelyn Baring was set up to rule indirectly and British troops remained in Egypt.
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Cleric Muhammad Ahmad proclaimed himself the Mahdi in June, created a jihadist army. After they defeated Anglo-Egyptian forces at the Battle of Shaykan, Gladstone sent Gordon to oversee withdrawal. Gordon chose to stay, called for reinforcements. Public pressure for Gladstone to provide relief: sent soldiers, but they arrived too late. Khartoum under siege March 84- Jan 85. Beheaded, became a national martyr, e.g. painting 'General Gordon's Last Stand' (George William Joy).
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Egypt is a defacto British colony under nominal Ottoman rule. Various puppet rulers are put in place.
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First machine gun.
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Called by Bismarck, attended by 14 state reps. Africa was divided into European spheres of influence. Congo and Niger rivers to remain neutral, free trade. General Act signed: prevent slavery, support missionaries. Principle of effective occupation.
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Gladstone unwilling to intervene, but Premier of Queensland Thomas MacIlwraith occupied the south-west after the Germans tried to claim it.
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Under Gladstone. Additional 5.5 million voters.
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Extended the electorate to 5.5 million voters
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Gladstone ordered troops to evacuate Sudan in 1884 but Governor-General Charles Gordon was beheaded after mahdists overran defences. Gladstone did not react.
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Secured international loans for Egypt, solidified British economic influence. Military personnel and political/economic advisers put in place.
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Result of increased demands for Indians in government. Discussed public affairs etc.
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Triggered by the creation of German South West Africa in 1884. Fears that the Boers and Germans might ally and combine their colonies. 4,000 British and local troops asserted control in Bechuanaland (between Boer and German colonies) with the north becoming a protectorate and the south a crown colony.
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In Transvaal. European imperialists and investors arrived, created further instability
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Discussed if there should be special trading relationships between colonies, rather than only between individual colonies and Britain. Rejected by Britain.
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After discovery of diamonds in 1866, Rhodes established a monopoly in Kimberly, South Africa. Controlled 90% of the world's diamond supply. He merged multiple companies to form the Diamond Syndicate in 1890.
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After gold discovery at Witwatesrand (near Transvaal capital of Pretoria), there was an influx of European traders. Cecil Rhodes set up the British South Africa Company. His aim was to establish a land route from Cape Town to Egypt and created a fort at Salisbury in Mashonaland in sep 1890
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Sultan agreed to British rule to prevent a German take-over
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Rhodes controlled mining companies in South Africa. British South Africa company given a royal charter in 1889.
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One of the many Russian railway projects, aiming to exert influence in central Asia and eastern Europe.
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First Anglican African bishop, but accused of being too lax on 'heathen' practices.
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British South Africa Company took over land in the interior of Africa.