Indust. Rev. was a major factor Cotton factories needed improved raw
materials and India had those resources, in cheap supply
This led to expansion into India Opp. To increase trading opportunities
Sought to open up new trade routes Hunt for new markets increased as the mass-
manufac. Of new goods in the indust. Rev. increased the amt of trading
Benjamin Disraeli Jewish prime minister of Britain Brought India and the Suez Canal under
Brit. Empi. Control Promoted the glory of an empire on which
“the sun never sets” Marquess of Salisbury
Also promoted Disraeli’s ideas
The idea of Imperial glory reflecting on a gov’t was a clear motivating factor for EU Imperialism of the 19th century.
Justification and motivation Belief that the Christian religion and EU forms
of gov’t, education, and law would improve the lives of indigineous peoples of Africa, Asia, and Australia
Therefore it was seen as a duty to spread EU civilization
Major Eu powers divided up Africa w/o any African leaders present The EU leaders believed they were better,
and that the African ideas were unimportant.
Is necessary to preserve existing social orders in more developed countries, to secure trade, markets, maintain employment and capital exports, and channel the energies and social conflicts of the British onto foreign countries. Very strong assumption of Western
superiority- both racial and ideaological.
Policy choice, not inevitable consequence of capitalism
Increasing the concentration of wealth in richer countries leads to under-consumption for the mass of people. Overseas expansion reduces the costs, and
ups new consumption(although this is not inevitable)
Simply a manifestation of the balance of power
Is the process by which nations try to achieve a favorable change in the status quo
Purpose is to decrease the strategic and political vulnerability of the nation
Objectless expansion, a pattern simply learned from the behavior of other nations Industrialized into the domestic and political
processes of a state by a “warrior class” This class is created because of the need for
defense , but, over time the class will manufacture reasons to perpetuate its existence
Usually through the manipulation of crises.
Entrepreneurs and capitalists looked to engineering projects in Egypt
Muhammad Ali came as officer of reoccupation
Fought to gain governorship and found an independent kingdom
Abolished tax-farming, forced peasants to sell cotton for pittance and replaced craft guilds with slate factories
Under free-trade banner, Britain imposed the price of contrived friendship on Sultan
By 1860s Ali’s private interests were removed from economy
Cotton exports quadrupled in price and doubled in quantity
By 1870s Egypt had railways and a telegraph network
Modernization underway and independence from Britain in sight but by 1882, Egypt under British control again
Enfeeblement of Ottomans forced Britain to give it up
Regional Politics Before GB, Mughal rule was stable It was giving way to separate states British took advantage
Made alliances with states Fought with French and Dutch for Indian territory Crown and head of EIT Co. didn’t want more land, it was
individuals
Nov. 1st, 1858 --- Queen Victoria declares India under British crown
East India Trade Co. Formed under Elizabeth I Owned warehouses and trading posts in India 17th & 18th C
Sales in London up to £2 million Cotton and spice trade 20-30 ships per year
Flora Annie Webster Steel The Complete Indian Housekeeper and Cook Typical housekeeping book Describes typical Indian life
Lived in India for 12 yrs Wrote books regarding Indian culture as well as
British Very “prim and proper”
In 1768 the British government planned a South Pacific expedition Led by Captain James Cook His maps and descriptions of
Australia's eastern coast inspired the first settlements
1788: British ships arrived at Australia They carried over 700
British convicts First European settlers
Over time, the settlement grew More prison ships arrived, and later ships
containing British citizens Colony growth => Growth of Britain's control Britain laid claim to the entire continent in
1829 The wealthy in Europe invested in
profitable opportunities in other countries Investments were made in the construction of
railroads, ports, and utilities Allowed settlers to buy European rails
Developed sources of cheap food and raw materials
Native people (the aborigines) were decimated by expanding Western society
Throughout the 1800s, civilization spread vastly across the continent
Large growth due to: Sheep and cattle ranching Discovery of gold Expanding immigration
By 1859, six colonies were fully established Decided it was best to be unified In 1901 the colonies became a nation of
the British commonwealth, quickly and peacefully
Government Acts of Union of 1840, united the Lower
Canada colony(French-speakers) and the Upper Canada(English- speakers), forming the Province of Canada
In July 1, 1867, British North America Act created the Dominion of Canada
Resulted in: Postal System(1868) National Banking Act(1871) The first railway system, Intercolonial (1876)
Fur trade Expansion led to the first transcontinental
railroad Canadian Pacific Railway
• Timber trade (St. John River, New Brunswick, Ottawa River)
Bayly, C. A. Atlas of the British Empire. New York: Facts on File, 1989. 67, 73,137-41,145,189+. Print.
"Canada - British Rule to 1867." HowStuffWorks. Web. 03 Mar. 2012. <http://history.howstuffworks.com/canadian-history/history-of-canada4.htm>.
Dolce, Laura. "Australia and the World." Australia. New York: Chelsea House, 1990. 15-19. Print.
Galbraith, Catherine Atwater., and Rama Mehta. India, Now and through Time. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1980. Print.
Marshall, Peter. "The British Presence in India in the 18th Century." BBC News. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/east_india_01.shtml>.
McKay, John P. "The West and the World." A History of Western Society. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 850+. Print.