British Expansion into Africa

• From 1890-1914 British policy in Africa became more assertive. The Berlin Conference laid the groundwork for more effective and formal occupation of African territories.
• Ashanti land:

  • British forced King Prempeh of the Asante from his throne in 1896.
  • Officially annexed into the Gold Coast Colony in 1902.
• Nigeria:

  • The British government took over the responsibilities of the Royal Niger Company (George Goldie). Establishing direct control in the North in 1900 and in the South in 1906.
  • Unified the country in 1914.
• Zanzibar:

  • In 1890 Britain and Germany signed a treaty regarding spheres of influence, declaring Zanzibar as a British protectorate.
  • Brief uprising in 1896 was swiftly put down in a matter of hours.
• Uganda:

  • King Mwanga promised to hand his sovereignty to the Imperial British East Africa Company (Sir William Mackinnon).
  • Lord Lugard ceded the power of the company to the Crown in 1894.
  • Britain built 660 miles of railway track, taking 5 years and £ 5 million to build.
• Sudan:

  • The Mahdist Uprising in 1881.
  • Gladstone was intent on withdrawing British troops from Egypt but in 1885 Conservative Prime Minister Salisbury wanted to launch a campaign into Sudan.
• South Africa:

  • Cecil Rhodes BSAC established mining concessions followed by a large group of white settlers to create a protectorate.
  • This was resisted by the Matabele in the First Matabele War 1893-94 and the Second Matabele War 1895-96 which the BSAC won with relative ease.
• South Africa:

  • Southern Rhodesia protectorate established in 1901.
  • Northern Rhodesia protectorate established in 1911.