british empire

When did the Indian Mutiny occur and why was it significant?

It occurred in 1857. It was significant because it ended the East India Company's rule and led to the Government of India Act 1858, which established direct Crown rule (The Raj).

What did the Government of India Act 1858 establish?

It abolished the East India Company, transferred its powers to the British Crown, and created the position of Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy.

What was the Suez Canal's impact on British strategy in 1875?

Britain purchased a 44\% stake in the canal for £4 million under Disraeli, securing the "Lifeline to India" and increasing British influence in Egypt.

Who was Benjamin Disraeli and what was his stance on Empire?

A Conservative Prime Minister who championed the "New Imperialism." He aimed to expand the Empire for prestige and trade, naming Victoria "Empress of India" in 1876.

How did William Gladstone's imperial policy differ from Disraeli's?

Gladstone was a Liberal who was more cautious and critical of "Jingoism," though he was ultimately forced to intervene in Egypt in 1882 for financial and strategic reasons.

What was the significance of the Berlin Conference (1884-1885)?

It regulated European colonization and trade in Africa and established the principle of "Effective Occupation" to resolve competing claims during the Scramble for Africa.

Define "Effective Occupation."

A rule established at the Berlin Conference stating that a power could only claim a territory if it actually possessed administrative and military control on the ground.

Who was Cecil Rhodes?

A British businessman and politician who founded De Beers, established Rhodesia, and served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony (1890-1896).

What was the "Cape to Cairo" dream?

A grand imperial vision, championed by Cecil Rhodes, to build a continuous railway line through British-controlled territory from South Africa to Egypt.

What triggered the Second Boer War (1899-1902)?

Tensions over the treatment of British residents ("Uitlanders"), competition for gold in the Transvaal, and the refusal of Boer republics to accept British suzerainty.

What were the "Concentration Camps" in the Boer War?

Camps established by the British to house Boer women and children during their "scorched earth" policy, which led to approximately 27,000 deaths due to disease and malnutrition.

Define "Jingoism."

Extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy, characterized by public enthusiasm for imperial expansion and military strength.

What happened at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898?

British forces under Lord Kitchener used Maxim guns to decisively defeat the Mahdist army in Sudan, avenging General Gordon's death.

Who was Lord Curzon?

The Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905 who implemented administrative reforms but caused significant backlash with the Partition of Bengal.

Why was the Partition of Bengal in 1905 controversial?

It divided the province along religious lines (Hindu/Muslim), sparking mass protests and the "Swadeshi" (boycott) movement among Indian nationalists.

What is "Dominion Status"?

A form of self-government granted to "white settler" colonies like Canada (1867), Australia (1901), and New Zealand (1907), where they managed internal affairs while remaining loyal to the Crown.

What was the British North America Act of 1867?

The act that united the provinces of Canada into a single Dominion, creating a template for future self-governing colonies.

Define "The Great Game."

The strategic rivalry and diplomatic conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia during the 19th century.

What is an "Informal Empire"?

British influence in regions like China or Latin America through economic dominance and trade treaties without formal political control or annexation.

Who was Joseph Chamberlain?

The Colonial Secretary (1895-1903) who advocated for "Imperial Preference," tariff reform, and closer economic ties between Britain and its colonies.

What was "Tariff Reform"?

A proposal by Joseph Chamberlain to end free trade and introduce taxes on imported goods, with lower rates for products from the British Empire to encourage internal trade.

Define the role of "Chartered Companies."

Private businesses, such as the Royal Niger Company or the British South Africa Company, granted royal charters to administer and develop territories on behalf of the British government.

What was the Fashoda Incident of 1898?

A diplomatic standoff between Britain and France in Sudan that almost led to war; it ended with France withdrawing and paved the way for the Entente Cordiale.

What was "Splendid Isolation"?

The British foreign policy during the late 19th century of avoiding permanent alliances with other European powers to focus on the Empire.

What and when was the Entente Cordiale?

A 1904 agreement between Britain and France that resolved colonial disputes, particularly regarding Egypt and Morocco, ending centuries of rivalry.

What was the significance of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902?

It marked the end of "Splendid Isolation," as Britain sought an ally to counter Russian influence in the Far East.

What was the "Veiled Protectorate" in Egypt?

The period from 1882 to 1914 when Britain effectively ruled Egypt behind the scenes through "Advisors" while it technically remained part of the Ottoman Empire.

Who was Evelyn Baring (Lord Cromer)?

The British Consul-General in Egypt from 1883 to 1907 who overseen the country's finances and administration during the Veiled Protectorate.

What was the Jameson Raid (1895)?

A failed attempt by British-backed raiders to stir up an uprising among Uitlanders in the Transvaal, which humiliated the British and worsened relations with the Boers.

Explain the concept of "The White Man's Burden."

A term popularized by Rudyard Kipling representing the moral justification for imperialism, suggesting that Europeans had a duty to "civilize" non-white populations.

Who was David Livingstone?

A Scottish missionary and explorer whose travels in Africa combined the goals of "Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization."

What was the Imperial Federation League?

An organization founded in 1884 that aimed to unite Britain and its colonies into a single federal state to maintain global power.

How did John Hobson (Imperialism, 1902) view the Empire?

He argued that imperialism was driven by the interests of financiers seeking new markets for surplus capital because of "under-consumption" at home.

What was the National Efficiency Movement?

A political and social movement in Britain following the Boer War, aiming to improve the health and education of the British population to maintain imperial greatness.

Why was General Gordon's death in Khartoum (1885) significant?

It was seen as a major national humiliation for Britain and led to Gladstone's government being criticized for failing to send a relief force in time.

Name the two Boer republics.

The South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State.

What was the Treaty of Vereeniging (1902)?

The peace treaty that ended the Second Boer War, where the Boer republics were annexed as British colonies but promised eventual self-government.

What were the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)?

The Indian Councils Act which introduced the elective principle to legislative councils in India and provided separate electorates for Muslims.

When was the Indian National Congress (INC) founded?

It was founded in 1885 by Indian professionals to advocate for greater Indian participation in the government of the Raj.

Who was "The Mahdi"?

Muhammad Ahmad, a religious leader in Sudan who led a successful revolt against Egyptian and British rule in the 1880s, establishing a religious state.

Why was the discovery of diamonds at Kimberley in 1867 important?

It triggered an influx of British investment and migrants to South Africa, leading to increased conflict over land and labor with Boer and African neighbors.

Why was the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand (1886) important?

It turned the Transvaal into the economic center of South Africa, threatening British regional hegemony and leading to further imperial intervention.

What was the "All-Red Line"?

The network of telegraph cables that connected the entire British Empire, largely passing through British-held territories (marked in red on maps).

What was the Round Table Movement?

An association founded in 1909 that promoted closer union between Britain and its self-governing Dominions.

What was the Colonial Loans Act (1899)?

Legislation that allowed the British government to provide low-interest loans to crown colonies for infrastructure development like railways.

What was the Anglo-Russian Entente of 1907?

An agreement that settled colonial disputes in Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet, effectively ending the "Great Game."

Define a "Protectorate."

A territory that is not formally annexed but is protected diplomatically or militarily by Britain, often with a local ruler remaining in place.

By 1914, what proportion of the world's land area did the British Empire cover?

The British Empire encompassed approximately 25\% (one-quarter) of the world's total land area.

What was the significance of the Naval Defense Act (1889)?

It established the "Two-Power Standard," requiring the Royal Navy to be equal in strength to the combined navies of the next two strongest powers.

Who was Mary Kingsley?

A British writer and explorer who traveled through West Africa and challenged traditional imperial attitudes by advocating for respect for indigenous cultures.