Assess the Significance of Strategic Factors in Bringing About Change in Relation to Expansion and Dismantling of the British Empire in Africa in the Period C1870 – C1981
Assess the significance of strategic factors in bringing about change in relation to expansion and dismantling of the British Empire in Africa in the period c1870 – c1981
The British expansion into the Dark Continent rose as fast as it declined, although there were many contributing factors to expansion, those same factors then contributed to the decolonisation of the continent. Historian Bernard Porter argues that formal imperialism for Britain was a symptom and an effect of its relative decline in the world, and not of strength. Therefore it was strategic policy that influenced Britain’s expansion in Africa, more so than economic or moral aims. Strategic policy, in definition, is the foreign policy of Britain changing due to internal and external pressures. However, I believe the dismantling of the Empire was also due to the economic difficulties Britain was faced in the 20th century.
A strategic factor that began expansion is the Suez Canal. Disraeli bought the Egyptian ruler Ismail’s shareholding in the Suez Canal to secure control of this strategic waterway. During this time Britain was under intense political pressure from colonies within the empire. This is displayed with the Indian Mutiny in 1857, where the British wanted to secure this waterway to gain quick access to India and can therefore stop rebellion in India if necessary. Thus, securing the waterway between East and West Africa was crucial to deter encroaching rivals and secure important trade between continents. This is displayed in 1882, not only was 80% of Suez traffic British, but 13% of Britain’s entire trade passing through the Canal. Therefore Robinson and Gallagher suggest British military intervention into Egypt was due to ‘crucial changes that took place in Africa itself’ this signaled the end of Anglo-French financial control over Egypt that had once existed and ended in outright British occupation as British Military seized control over the country to ensure it’s trading
The British expansion into the Dark Continent rose as fast as it declined, although there were many contributing factors to expansion, those same factors then contributed to the decolonisation of the continent. Historian Bernard Porter argues that formal imperialism for Britain was a symptom and an effect of its relative decline in the world, and not of strength. Therefore it was strategic policy that influenced Britain’s expansion in Africa, more so than economic or moral aims. Strategic policy, in definition, is the foreign policy of Britain changing due to internal and external pressures. However, I believe the dismantling of the Empire was also due to the economic difficulties Britain was faced in the 20th century.
A strategic factor that began expansion is the Suez Canal. Disraeli bought the Egyptian ruler Ismail’s shareholding in the Suez Canal to secure control of this strategic waterway. During this time Britain was under intense political pressure from colonies within the empire. This is displayed with the Indian Mutiny in 1857, where the British wanted to secure this waterway to gain quick access to India and can therefore stop rebellion in India if necessary. Thus, securing the waterway between East and West Africa was crucial to deter encroaching rivals and secure important trade between continents. This is displayed in 1882, not only was 80% of Suez traffic British, but 13% of Britain’s entire trade passing through the Canal. Therefore Robinson and Gallagher suggest British military intervention into Egypt was due to ‘crucial changes that took place in Africa itself’ this signaled the end of Anglo-French financial control over Egypt that had once existed and ended in outright British occupation as British Military seized control over the country to ensure it’s trading