AQA A-Level History – Unit 1J: The British Empire, c1857-1967
Part One (AS and A-Level): The high-water mark of the British Empire, c1857-1914
Section 1: The development of imperialism, c1857-1890
What was the British empire like before 1857?
a) What had caused the growth of the British Empire before 1857?
● American colonies like the United States and Canada had caused growth, however loss of
these prompted ‘Swing to the East’ as prominent historian Vincent Harlow had put it.
o Concept that explained a shift of British imperial priorities to India, Asia, Africa and the East
>Western hemisphere with more desire for trade rather than conquest and control
● Slave trade had led to growth in control in Africa
● Mercantilist policies that benefited Britain over its colonies
b) What were the territories of the British Empire in 1857?
● Much of Canada
● India
● Most of Australia
● British Guiana & Caribbean
● Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Union of South Africa
c) What were the differences between these territories?
● Territories like Britain, Canada and Australia were known as dominions
o White-settler colonies that exerted a certain amount of self-governance and control
● India was governed under the Raj after the Indian Mutiny.
o Governed under East India Trade Company on behalf of the British formerly
● Informal control in territories like Argentina and British Guiana
● Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Union of South Africa governed as British colonies
Why did the British expand in Africa from 1857 – 1890?
●Concept of ‘Swing to the East’ by Vincent Harlow
o As a result of loss of American colonies, Britain grew with renewed interest to Africa and India.
●Industrial revolution
oProduction of steamships and weapons allowed for Britain to easily establish foothold in different continents.
● Scramble for Africa and ‘old diplomacy’
o Historian Dane Kennedy cites ‘growing political power’ of rivals and competitors for reasons in expanding in Africa.
o Companies like the Royal Niger Company, the Imperial British East Africa Company and the British South Africa Company
were chartered to protect the Crown’s interest in those areas.
▪ Done to protect claims against other European companies and powers.
● Trade and economy
o As a result of Industrial Revolution, prices plummeted due to ease of access and Empire was seen with ‘renewed interest’ as
Dane Kennedy puts it.
o New trading partners helped during The Great Depression of 1873-1896
▪ Coal, iron and timber sought to feed demands of British industry.
, ▪ As British industry developed, need for trade partners developed. British bought resources from Africa to manufacture into
goods such as weapons and textiles and sold them back to Africa.
o Expansion in Africa led to opening of inland routes and discovery of mineral and resources. Investment opportunities followed.
o British Foreign Office Memorandum cites interest in East Africa for reasons such as:
● ‘mineral wealth’
● ‘unlimited capacity for the production of cattle’
● ‘a European climate within easy reach of the coast’
● ‘natives are more naturally industrious than most of the West Coast tribes’
● ‘the establishment of any Government strong enough to enforce good order and prevent the raids of more turbulent tribes’
● Strategic factors
o Cape Colony had warm waters, deep ports - allowing for bigger harbours and giving access to Middle East, India, Australia,
New Zealand and China.
o Interests in West Africa protected by building coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia.
● Idea of ‘moral superiority’ and religion
o Christian missionaries saw it as a ‘duty’ to educate ‘heathen’ people
▪ David Livingstone is a prime example.
▪ Historian Lawrence James suggests there was ‘general agreement that the Empire was a powerful force for the spread of
civilisation’
● Adventurers, explorers and success stories
o Explorers and adventurers told stories of gold and raw materials.
o Merchants like George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes vetted success stories of business in Africa. British rule often followed.
How did Britain expand into Egypt and why?
a)Why were the British originally interested in Egypt?
● Need for cotton during the American Civil War. British mills were starved of raw cotton, Egypt’s was of good quality.
o British companies began investing in Egyptian cotton and in modernising programme of ruling Khedive, Isma’il Pasha.
o By the 1870s, 40% of Egypt’s imports were coming from Britain.
b)What was the Suez Canal and why was it important to the British?
oProject led by a Frenchman to construct a canal for international shipping with company known as The Suez Canal Company. Set
up in 1858 and was completed in 1869. France and Egypt had ownership of shares.
o Became crucial to the British due to the Panic of 1873 and interest grew.
oKnown as ‘The Great Depression’ of its time, British trade plummeted due to goods being transported around Cape of Good
Hope and having to be stored in warehouses.
o5000 miles longer than with Suez Canal.
oIn 1875, Benjamin Disraeli bought Egypt’s shares in the Suez Canal for around £4 million.
oThis became of huge importance to the British because it gave them a passage to India and income from shipping tariffs.
c)How did the British come to take control of Egypt?
o Purchasing of Suez Canal sparked further interest.
o Led to need for British interest in the region.
oThe British began to wield considerable influence over Egypt due to its failing economy.
oIn 1879, Ismail Pasha was deposed due to economic mismanagement and his son, Tewfiq, became new Khedive. British money
and resources kept Egypt afloat and British Commissioner, Lord Dufferin, wielded considerable influence in Egypt.
oTo keep Egypt’s economy afloat, taxes were imposed on Egyptian food & goods, army reduced by two thirds → increased
unemployment.
Part One (AS and A-Level): The high-water mark of the British Empire, c1857-1914
Section 1: The development of imperialism, c1857-1890
What was the British empire like before 1857?
a) What had caused the growth of the British Empire before 1857?
● American colonies like the United States and Canada had caused growth, however loss of
these prompted ‘Swing to the East’ as prominent historian Vincent Harlow had put it.
o Concept that explained a shift of British imperial priorities to India, Asia, Africa and the East
>Western hemisphere with more desire for trade rather than conquest and control
● Slave trade had led to growth in control in Africa
● Mercantilist policies that benefited Britain over its colonies
b) What were the territories of the British Empire in 1857?
● Much of Canada
● India
● Most of Australia
● British Guiana & Caribbean
● Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Union of South Africa
c) What were the differences between these territories?
● Territories like Britain, Canada and Australia were known as dominions
o White-settler colonies that exerted a certain amount of self-governance and control
● India was governed under the Raj after the Indian Mutiny.
o Governed under East India Trade Company on behalf of the British formerly
● Informal control in territories like Argentina and British Guiana
● Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Union of South Africa governed as British colonies
Why did the British expand in Africa from 1857 – 1890?
●Concept of ‘Swing to the East’ by Vincent Harlow
o As a result of loss of American colonies, Britain grew with renewed interest to Africa and India.
●Industrial revolution
oProduction of steamships and weapons allowed for Britain to easily establish foothold in different continents.
● Scramble for Africa and ‘old diplomacy’
o Historian Dane Kennedy cites ‘growing political power’ of rivals and competitors for reasons in expanding in Africa.
o Companies like the Royal Niger Company, the Imperial British East Africa Company and the British South Africa Company
were chartered to protect the Crown’s interest in those areas.
▪ Done to protect claims against other European companies and powers.
● Trade and economy
o As a result of Industrial Revolution, prices plummeted due to ease of access and Empire was seen with ‘renewed interest’ as
Dane Kennedy puts it.
o New trading partners helped during The Great Depression of 1873-1896
▪ Coal, iron and timber sought to feed demands of British industry.
, ▪ As British industry developed, need for trade partners developed. British bought resources from Africa to manufacture into
goods such as weapons and textiles and sold them back to Africa.
o Expansion in Africa led to opening of inland routes and discovery of mineral and resources. Investment opportunities followed.
o British Foreign Office Memorandum cites interest in East Africa for reasons such as:
● ‘mineral wealth’
● ‘unlimited capacity for the production of cattle’
● ‘a European climate within easy reach of the coast’
● ‘natives are more naturally industrious than most of the West Coast tribes’
● ‘the establishment of any Government strong enough to enforce good order and prevent the raids of more turbulent tribes’
● Strategic factors
o Cape Colony had warm waters, deep ports - allowing for bigger harbours and giving access to Middle East, India, Australia,
New Zealand and China.
o Interests in West Africa protected by building coastal defences in Sierra Leone and Gambia.
● Idea of ‘moral superiority’ and religion
o Christian missionaries saw it as a ‘duty’ to educate ‘heathen’ people
▪ David Livingstone is a prime example.
▪ Historian Lawrence James suggests there was ‘general agreement that the Empire was a powerful force for the spread of
civilisation’
● Adventurers, explorers and success stories
o Explorers and adventurers told stories of gold and raw materials.
o Merchants like George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes vetted success stories of business in Africa. British rule often followed.
How did Britain expand into Egypt and why?
a)Why were the British originally interested in Egypt?
● Need for cotton during the American Civil War. British mills were starved of raw cotton, Egypt’s was of good quality.
o British companies began investing in Egyptian cotton and in modernising programme of ruling Khedive, Isma’il Pasha.
o By the 1870s, 40% of Egypt’s imports were coming from Britain.
b)What was the Suez Canal and why was it important to the British?
oProject led by a Frenchman to construct a canal for international shipping with company known as The Suez Canal Company. Set
up in 1858 and was completed in 1869. France and Egypt had ownership of shares.
o Became crucial to the British due to the Panic of 1873 and interest grew.
oKnown as ‘The Great Depression’ of its time, British trade plummeted due to goods being transported around Cape of Good
Hope and having to be stored in warehouses.
o5000 miles longer than with Suez Canal.
oIn 1875, Benjamin Disraeli bought Egypt’s shares in the Suez Canal for around £4 million.
oThis became of huge importance to the British because it gave them a passage to India and income from shipping tariffs.
c)How did the British come to take control of Egypt?
o Purchasing of Suez Canal sparked further interest.
o Led to need for British interest in the region.
oThe British began to wield considerable influence over Egypt due to its failing economy.
oIn 1879, Ismail Pasha was deposed due to economic mismanagement and his son, Tewfiq, became new Khedive. British money
and resources kept Egypt afloat and British Commissioner, Lord Dufferin, wielded considerable influence in Egypt.
oTo keep Egypt’s economy afloat, taxes were imposed on Egyptian food & goods, army reduced by two thirds → increased
unemployment.
