British Empire

What were Thugees?

Hindu followers of the goddess Kali engaged in human sacrifice of random victims typically through strangulation. Which now appears to have been more criminal than religious.

Give some statistics for the British industry between 1815-60

Responsible for 60% total growth in world manufacturing; whilst only being 2% of the world's population. In 1850, Britain accounted for 50% of world trade in coal, cotton and iron. 1/3 of all overseas trade was carried out by British ships.

What was the result of the Indian Mutiny for British control over the region?

Resulted in greater control with the establishment of the British Raj and the disbandment of the East India Company.

What were the consequences of the Indian Mutiny (1857)?

Retribution deliberately aimed to strike fear into the peasants to stop a general uprising. Entire villages suspected of supporting the mutineers were massacred, as were the Mughal Emperor's heirs to stop them from becoming figureheads Cawnpore Mutineers; forced to lick clean the blood soaked walls, eat pork or beef and then publically hanged or loaded into/against a cannon and blown apart.

What was the impact of the invention of the telegram?

Revolutionised world communication. Used to take 73 days to send a message to Australia by boat, now only took a number of hours.

What was the compensation for the loyalty of Princely states?

Rewarded with land and money.

Name some of the achievements of the British Empire?

Ruled over 1/4 of the world. Spread capitalism, English language, Christianity, law and order, technology and democracy the pillars of the modern world.

Mutiny's effect upon the army?

Sepoys reduced by 40% and Brits increased by 50%; 3:1 rather than 9:1 . Sepoys recruited from more loyal Sikh areas and adjacent regiments deliberately made of different faiths. The animosity remained. Sepoys given a choice of grease and cartridge made obsolete by 1867. Suez canal (1869) and telegram system (1870) made reinforcement, if needed, quicker. The British learnt not to meddle with religious custom. However, at home the mutiny had confirmed Social-Darwinist views of foreign savagery.

Give the history of the settlement of South America

Settled by Dutch, Spanish, French, Portuguese and British which led to tension and then war; main export sugar and tobacco; 1810 - wars of independence formed independent South American states .

Roughly how many castes were there in India?

2000

How much of India was still controlled by "Princely States" by the time of the Indian Mutiny?

25%-35%

How many Princely states were there in India?

562

What was the ratio of white:native populations in South Africa?

5:1

Why was free trade able to be so successful?

Britain had gained an enormous lead over economic rivals in industry trade and finance because of the industrial revolution.

When was a charter granted to the East India Company?

1600

From what point did the East India Company become the dominant power in India and until when?

1757 (after the French defeat at the Battle of Plassey, Seven Years War) until 1857 (Indian Mutiny).

Explain how Australia became a Dominion of Britain .

1788, Australia settled by 736 British convicts, women and guards; 1860, population rose to a million; tension is caused from an influx of Asian immigrants; gold rush in 1851, little competition with other countries; 1901 became federal dominion state and later a member of the Commonwealth .

When was the abolition of slavery?

1833

When was free trade in Britain introduced?

1846

When did South Africa become a Dominion?

1910

What impact did the British have on India's language?

200 different languages; originally Persian under Mughals, then English under the British Raj; then Hindi as India became independent. English still needed to reach higher level education.

Describe the course of the Indian Mutiny (1857)?

85 sepoys who refused to use cartridges were court-marshalled and humiliated in Meerut; this then incited mutineers who massacred all local Europeans (including women and children). Mutiny spread through the Bengal army although the Bombay, Madras and Sikh armies remained loyal. Whole swathes of India no longer under control as rebellion spread through the civilian population in an unorganised fashion. Rebel leaders started to emerge as some mutineers called for the Mughal Emperor to take control of all India. Multiple atrocities on both sides including the killing of 400 British men, women and children who had surrendered. A wave of revenge killing and arson attacks. A five month siege at Lucknow with 3000 troops and families. British press reported allegations of rape and abuse. Lucknow was eventually relieved by the non-sepoy British Army Order restored in June 1858.

What are the different motivations for the expansion of Empire?

A "state of indifference"; formal vs. informal empire & gentlemanly capitalism.

What occurred when Britain lost the War of American Independence?

A 'swing to the east'; founding a second British Empire which was more focused upon trade .

How did the East India Company's power grow?

A cycle of acquiring new markets and strategic locations to protect existing markets and pay for war meant the company's influence expanded.

How did Britain originally try to deter further Russian expansion in the East?

Alliance with Japan in 1902.

What were the causes of the Indian Mutiny (1857)?

Annexation has created resentment and joblessness for advisors in former princely states. Railway carriages and stations without segregation would lead to higher castes (Brahmin) having to mix with lowers castes (Untouchables) thus religious disrespect and pollution. Brahmin sepoys were ordered to deploy outside their home region and overseas which conflicted with their respectability. The final spark; Sepoys were outraged by rumours the newly issued cartridges were greased with beef fat (sacred to Hindus) or pork fat (prohibited by Islam, seen as filthy) which would have involved having to bite packets. Thus as already there war pay and conditions disputes in army. Landowners frustrated by annexation and peasants by taxation the mutiny occurred.

Who were the main groups campaigning for free trade?

Anti-Corn League (1839) Free trade economists; Adam Smith, David Ricardo and James Mill Bankers and financiers from the City of London.

List events leading to the Abolition of Slavery Act

Anti-slavery and humanitarian pressure groups, mostly in the UK, pressed the government to act. 1811; movement of slaves made illegal, enforced by the Royal Navy. 1831 ; slave uprising in Jamaica (500 killed). 1834 Abolition of Slavery Act; all slaves under the age of 6 made free, then the rest in 1838.

Popular Imperial Policy?

Benjamin Disraeli: Architect of Empire, harnessed jingoism and bought Suez. Annexed Transvaal Empire tied to national pride, Boer war damaged reputation (conditions of concentration camps). Joseph Chamberlain; (ideas of tariff reform and imperial preference fell flat) oversaw Jameson Raid. National efficiency turned focus from external to internal health. Focused changes from Empire's security to Europe's security (Triple Entente)

Who were the main beneficiaries of the expansion of British influence?

British industrialists and traders.

What were the dates for colonies gaining self-government?

Canada; 1867. New Zealand; 1856. Cape Colony; 1872.

In what way were self-governing colonies still reliant on Britain?

Colonies became much more dependent on British investment, trade, expertise and defence.

What was the condition of self-government for colonies?

Could only be granted to 'politically advanced colonies' ; well established colonies with large white populations.

What was Sati?

Hindu custom requiring widows of notable Hindu men to throw themselves upon the funereal pyre and hence sacrifice herself.

What social factors led to the expansion of the British Empire and how did they influence imperial policy?

Curzon; annexation and partition of Bengal; a failure; religious reason. Reformation led to appeasement of locals. Milner and Barings' Attempts to anglicise; 'Milner schools' outlaw Karbash. India; support for the caste system and religious split; divide and conquer. Pork and beef fat used to grease gun cartridges sparked Mutiny, 1857. Philosophy of the "White Man's burden." (Social Darwinism) Pride in Empire: 1886 Colonial and Indian Exhibition; living exhibits. Christianity, Civilisation, Commerce (Livingstone). Saving the heathen. Education reform: Further education in India and Milner schools. DOMESTIC PRESSURE TO ACT.

What was the importance of the caste system?

Determined the amount of power and influence people had. A person's place in the caste system was pre-determined. Could be used by the British to put themselves in charge.

What are the arguments for informal/formal empire?

Development of formal empire driven by the economic dominance of British industry, trade and finance. Attempts to gain a dominant position within the worldwide trade and finance system; 'Trade with informal control if possible, trade with rule where necessary.' After 1815 Britain looking for new markets, new investment, stable sources for raw materials thus gentlemanly capitalism.

What was the Islamic approach to the caste system?

Did not care much for it, mostly followed by Hindus. Many converted to Islam to escape their low status within the caste system.

What were the terms of the The Government of India Act (1858)?

East India Company's territories and administrative duties passed on to the queen and government. A position of Secretary of State of the Indian office (a cabinet post) was created; given responsibility for governance of India and the Indian Civil Service. An Indian Council of 15 advisors on Indian affairs was created to assist the Secretary. A Viceroy who exercised the direct authority of the monarch replaced the Company's Governor General.

What geographical features made India valuable?

Fertile and cultivable land. Huge land mass; same size as Europe, excluding Russia. Hot climate - able to grow exotic goods i.e. tea, sugar, Indigo. Natural barrier of the Himalayas. Many sites for strategic trading ports.

Who were Britain's main colonial rivals?

France; Spain; Portugal; Holland; Germany; Italy (although joined late as only unified in 1860).

What was the major economic reform between 1815 and 1870?

Free trade.

Who proposed the idea of an informal and formal empire?

Gallagher and Robinson .

What use was the Empire to Britain?

Gave Britain status as a great world power. Provided reliable sources of food and raw materials; Britain imported 31% of its food and 61% of its raw materials in 1815 Provided a large number of naval bases and strategic forts.

What role was the metropole in the expansion of the British Empire and how did it influence imperial policy?

Gentlemanly capitalists influence; Boer War 'a conspiracy of financiers' (Hobson); the role of the Rand millionaires and City of London; refused Transvaal loans. Queen appointed empress of India. Gladstone 'the reluctant imperialist' (forced by circumstance, however more expansion occurred because of his colonial policy). DOMESTIC PRESSURE TO ACT.

What were the main ethnic/religious/linguistic groups in India and where were they located?

Hinduism the prevalent religion. Some areas more specifically Islamic, Sikh, or Buddhist. Some ethinicities fought for further independence, such as the Tamils. North spoke mixture of English, Scandinavian and Mediterranean languages. Himalayan regions spoke Tibetan.

How was the policy of annexation used to expand the control of the East India Company's control of formerly princely states?

If a ruler of a Hindu state died without a heir then the province was declared British territory.

What was Britain's new main source of income after the abolition of slavery?

India

How much did Britain trade with India by 1900?

India consumed 1/5 of British exports.

How did change in the colonial peripheral lead to the expansion of the British Empire and how did it influence imperial policy?

Indian mutiny, 1857; led to Government of India Act. Ismail Pasha and nationalist revolt in Egypt, 1882; (Response to killing of Europeans) - forced Gladstone to act. Defence of Europeans; Mahdist rebellion in Sudan, Mad Mullah (Somaliland), King Mwanga, 38 min war in Zanzibar. British annexation of Africa forced tribes to move (Zulu war, Xhosa). Voting rights for the Uitlanders; role of Kruger; Boer relations. Chinese forced labour. Sierra Leone: War because of hut tax. Indian nationalism (Kaal). Denshawei incident. Tough response to mutiny; Indian Mutineers fired with cannon.

What advance in empire was achieved?

Irrigation in Egypt and India Companies given royal charters: B.S.A.C Cotton in Egypt, Wool New Zealand, diamonds in Sierra Leone. GOLD in Transvaal (1886), G Coast and Oz Importance of India as the main trading colony; 60% of imports British by 1913. British consumer market; tea, coffee sugar. INVESTMENT; £2 to £4 billion between 1900-13; 4th largest RAILWAY in the world UGANDA 660z

What religion were the Mughals?

Islamic.

What was the significance of the slave trade to Britain?

It had in some ways defined the Empire and was it's main source of profit.

What was the importance of self-government?

It secured the loyalty of the white colonies.

In what ways did the East India Company take on a governing role?

It took on duties such as public administration and tax collection.

What happened to the East India Company after the Indian Mutiny?

It was disbanded.

How did the E.I.C consolidate its power?

Large private armies (100,000 troops) and fortifications in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.

What was the stance of the Princely states at the time of the Indian Mutiny 1857?

Largely loyal to the British.

Who proposed the idea of a period of indifference?

Lenin .

How did British imperialism influence affected Indian society during the East India Company's rule?

Liberal beliefs known as Westernisation led to British attempts to change Indian culture. For instance: Criminalisation of Sati in 1829, (wife burning.) Police suppression of Thuggee by 1837. Education, railway and telegram systems established; without regards to locals' concerns about the pace and methods of change. English was made the official language of law, administration and government. The controversial policy of annexation.

Where was the main centre of Mughal power?

Mainly based in the north-west.

What were the different forms of government throughout the British Empire?

Major decisions made by the Colonial Office however, day-to-day administration ran by local administrators such as: Private Chartered Companies. Captain of the Royal Navy - Ascension Islands. Appointed Governors.

What was the general state of the East India Company's armies before the mutiny?

Many Indians believed that the British were seeking to destroy traditional Indian social, religious and cultural customs, a view shared by the sepoys of the Bengal Army, a substantial number of whom were high-caste Brahmins. Discipline, administration and command in the Bengal Army had for some time been inferior to that in the Company's other two armies and matters were brought to a head by the introduction of the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle.

What were the strengths of having such a widespread empire?

Many resupply stations for ships.

What was the main principle with which early European empires were run?

Mercantilism .

What can be seen as a primary reasons for British expansion between 1815-70?

New territories acquired to protect other areas under control. Safeguarding of trading interests. Assist British nationals (missionaries & traders) in the area.

Explain how Canada became a Dominion of Britain .

Originally settled by the French; there were the difficulties of governing both French and British settlers; 1837, a revolt from both groups; 1867, an Independent Federal State established .

Give economic/financial reasons for why the British Empire expanded

Protection of trade interests in profitable regions; taking control of scarce resources - gold, diamonds etc. East India Company starts involvement in India. The informal Empire became more formal as mercantilism moved to free trade. Industrial revolution (bought new technology, steamship, telegram).

What policy did mercantilism support?

Protectionism .

Give the history of the settlement of New Zealand .

Settled by Whalers & escaped convicts who traded with the indigenous Maori tribes; 25,000 settlers in 1850 to 300,000 in 1875; main export wool, 10 million sheep; invention of refrigerated ships allowed exportation of meat; 1907, became self-governing Dominion .

What was the impact of the steamship?

Sped up naval voyage significantly; e.g. only 22 days to make Atlantic crossing by 1833. Vessels could now travel upstream meaning regions could be opened to trade; explorers and coaling stations became strategic necessities to the Navy.

What were the strategic/military factors that led to the expansion of the British Empire and how did they influence imperial policy?

Suez Canal Company shares; £4 million, this intervention in Sudan and Egypt for strategy. India; protection of the 'jewel in the crown'. Somaliland; protection of route to the Indian Ocean. Distrust caused failure of Brussels conference (H. M. Stanley signed over 450 treaties). Berlin conference; international rivalry and competition; "effective occupation" was the starting gun for competition; 90% colonised. Rivalry with French (West) and Germans (East) in Africa; Germany funded Kenyan forces, Scramble for Africa. Fashoda incident deal struck over Sudan and Nigeria. Attempt to stop influence of rivals. The great game with Russia Railways built for military reasons also for trade and communication.

Give example of innovations which furthered Britain's development

Telegraph Steamship Railway New international banking and finance systems, based in London.

What is the advantage of self-government in terms of maintenance?

That it was cheaper than more direct forms of governance and control.

Which Indian army revolted?

The Bengal Army.

Who were the highest members in Indian society?

The Brahmins.

Why was the East India Company disbanded after the Indian Mutiny?

The British government deemed it too powerful and decided to take formal control of the company and the Mughal Empire.

What people originally settled in South Africa before the British?

The Dutch Boers .

What did the Indians refer to the India Mutiny as?

The First War of Indian Independence.

Which Parliament Act was passed in order to give the government control over India?

The Government of India Act (1858) .

What major event occurred in India during 1857?

The Indian Mutiny.

What major change promoted Britain to leading superpower status?

The Industrial Revolution.

What major event ensured that Britain had almost worldwide dominance?

The Napoleonic Wars .

Who were the lowest members in a caste society?

The Untouchables.

What was the primary social reform that took place between 1815-70?

The abolition of slavery.

What was the reason for the so-called period of indifference?

The advent of free trade .

What was the opinion of politicians on Empire, during the period of indifference?

The complete independence of British colonies was no only inevitable but desirable .

What major political reform occurred during 1815-70?

The development of self-government.

What about self-government argues that it was not part of a goal to break empire?

The evidence, that shows self governance was simply a mode of saving money to compensate for a growing defence budget and in some cases to appeasement of settlers.

What are the reasons for this opinion of Empire, during the state of indifference?

The maintenance of the colonies was becoming costly to the taxpayer; claimed people "in the highest quarter" had no wish to preserve the Empire.

What was the most dramatic step in the move towards free trade?

The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846.

What is the argument against the period of indifference?

Theory based upon the writings, speeches and letters of free-trade liberals who had little influence over government policy, the Colonial Office, or the two major political parties, failed to explain why the empire expanded; annexation or occupation of New Zealand, Gold Coast, Lauban, Hong Kong, Natal, Lagos, Sierra Leone and the Traansvaal.

Why did the British government take more steps to gain greater control of the E.I.C's activities?

There was the concern that it was becoming too powerful.

How did political control in India originally grow?

Through agreements with Nawabs and princes as the Mughal Empire started to decline.

Why did the British refer to the Indian Mutiny as a mutiny?

To play down the breadth of the uprising and scapegoat military leaders. In reality it was the first major insurgency against British rule.

What evidence is there to support the view of the period of indifference?

Troop withdrawal from New Zealand, Canada and Australia; 1861 recommendation by a Parliamentary Select Committee of the abandonment of British possessions in West Africa; the granting of self-government to all settled colonies - apart from West Indies and Western Australia.

What were the disadvantages of such a widespread empire?

Very difficult to protect.

In what way was the British government different to other empires?

Very little in common in empire; no single constitution, religion, language, or system of law. Wide variation in governance; most importantly it allowed self-government. Preference to rule indirectly.

What can an interpretation of the development of self-government be in favour of the empire?

Yes, self governance was part of a grand scheme to spread civilisation; thus there was the eventual goal of breaking Empire.