Motives for British Imperialism in Africa

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Table of Contents

Conclusion
References
Footnotes

There were various drives for the European nations to compete against each other to get colonies in Africa. One of the core motives was that they believed that they would be more influential and important if they controlled more territories. additional motives for countries to compete included a lot of natural resources that were only found in Africa and a need for ready markets in regional places so that the manufactured goods could be traded for a large revenue. When the industrialized companies were put together in Europe, the raw resources from Africa were taken out and the owners of the companies developed an indigenous labor force, which was supervised by foreigners.

All these led to the countries in Africa being taken over by foreigners.

In the early 19th century, the monarchy of Zulu arose but by the end of the same century, it had buckled out¹. The arrival of the first British traders in eighteen twenty-four established territory to them in the area known as Natal by King Shaka. When the Boers arrived in (Eighteen ninety-three) they were immersed in a war with King Dingane. “From that minute beginning the pattern of relations amid the Zulu and the British was set”, with the elevated watermark of Zulu militarism the mass execution of the British in eighteen seventy-nine at Isandlwana, followed instantly thereafter by the delay at the mission station at Rorke’s Drift, where 100 odd redcoat defenders beat back four thousand Zulu warriors.

In the mid-eighteen hundreds, an anxious truce was well-known over the prevalent part of South Africa. By the stroke of the eighteen thirties the Boers who were by then the majority in South Africa, embarked on what has been called the Great Trek in order to run away from the colonial rule of the British. This trek commenced from ²Cape Colony across the river Vaal. At the end of this trek, two states were then founded – Free State. These states declared self-governance and for some time forged a harmonious relationship with the British government at Cape colony and cape Natal. Even so, there were still some rampant disagreements with the inhabitant states, notably the Zulus.

The British interest grew so much in this war for many reasons among them was that they wanted to aid the Boers in declaring Utrecht a republic in the northern Zulu Natal area, their intention to conspire with the colonies under the British, the republic of the Boer’s and self-governing African groups that were in the southern Africa areas that were being controlled by the British. If considered, the intensity of rivalry and this war grew out of Sir Henry Frere, a British officer active support and backing for the war and the Zulu nation’s resistance

Cetshwayo’s negative response was to accept the British and their management, their need for raw materials, cheap manual labor force, and set markets for their finished goods. Are some of the motives are discussed further below.

There was a need for raw materials to expand British wealth. The invention of diamonds at Kimberley and Witwatersrand distorted forever Britain’s earlier strategy of nonintervention in the affairs of South African. The British planned for steps to realize their purpose of uniting South Africans in an association that was directly under their rule and regulation in the eighteen seventies.

This move was aimed at acquiring and exercising stricter control of their interests and securing the safety of their investments especially the precious and expensive minerals that brought in large sums in return to the British government.

British officers, for instance, sir Theophilus, a policeman in the Natal Colony, were given orders by their government to persuade and even coerce the Afrikaans to accept British presence within them and subsequent British rule. The Afrikaners were unwilling to accept British domination, and so Shepstone pronounced the seizure of the Transvaal in eighteen seventy-seven. Though all the Afrikaners protested, it’s only the Zulus who offered strong resistance and stood in the way of the British plans of controlling South Africa.

The invention of gold in the Witwatersrand in 1885 was central for Britain. The Transvaal’s newfound riches meant the Cape’s prior economic supremacy was quickly eclipsed. ³ They resisted double efforts to incorporate them either as part of the Republic of the Boers or as a federation of a cape under British rule. This endangered the position of Britain in South Africa and more significantly, its power of the sea that was imperative for the safety of India.

The Transvaal completed the railway which offered them a free route to the sea. The revenue from gold enabled them to pay the Portuguese at Port Delagoa Bay in Maputo, Mozambique who were building the railway. In the 1890s war broke out between them and the Cape Railways because of Railway Tariffs and this fueled the ongoing war.

The Transvaal’s underdeveloped economy coupled with the myopic and fixed view of its citizens and the geology of the goldfields meant that these resources could only be exploited by foreigners and foreign mining firms. They could only raise the large-scale resources that were required in gold extraction.

Principal to this were men who already had experience in the lately revealed diamond grounds at Kimberley, the most vital of whom was Cecil Rhodes. The outlanders went into the goldfields that were surrounding the small town of Johannesburg and there developed an extensive shanty town full of bars and brothels. Such developments really went against the Calvinist ideology of the Boers in the rural areas. As such Paul Kruger, their then-president perceived Johannesburg as a place full of wicked people and evil practices. The outlanders though still considered a marginalized minority, the whole of the Transvaal, outgrew the number of the Boers in the rand

Another veiled intent of the British was their economic agenda. In financial terms, South Africa was basically not worth the effort of defeat, as before the invention of gold. In 1886 the region was underprivileged and unpromising. Total Cape export and import were prized at 7.5m pounds sterling in 1880, while the exports of Britain alone came to 286m pounds sterling. The economic interests that were at stake were offshore, in the 190 million pounds sterling yearly trade that went around the Cape, and the control of territory beyond Cape Town was not necessary for its security.

As for the case that Zululand was needed as a source of labor, the Zulus had a profitable business in supplying Tsonga labor to Natal and it was always far unproblematic and economical to import Indian indentured labor than to battling a war. As to British motives, “the main supporter of their imperialism in Natal was Bishop Colenso” ⁴, but his pressure was inadequate due to his unpopularity among the colonists.

They also had a motive of occupying the Zulu royal kraal at Ulundi. Pietermaritzburg, the capital city of Natal became the new headquarters of the British forces in South Africa after it was moved from Cape Colony. Measure was taken to reinforce the British forces, some of which included the transfer of troops, for example, the 24^th brigade was transferred from the Eastern Border

In every one-off the multitude of standard British contingent were accessible, given support by some batteries of Royal Artillery and increase colonial volunteers, additionally blacks recruited in Natal, the later to form the Natal Native Contingent. “When resistance and hostility was mounted higher, the army was positioned, ready to move into action to invade Zululand after such a plan was hutched⁵,”.

The intention was to take the Zulu noble kraal at Ulundi by moving on from three routes, in a procedure similar to the Zulu tactic of assaulting from three sides by the main force in the centre and extensive left and right horns on both sides. The first battalion/ column, as detailed by colonel Pearson, was expected to cross river Tugela in the lower side and move through Eshowe towards Ulundi. The foremost force, the second Column, started from Pietermaritzburg to Helpmekaar. As of this juncture it entailed traversing Zululand and steadily advance to the royal kraal.

The forth Column, that was authorized by Brevet Col Sir H. Evelyn Wood, were concentrated at Utrecht with the objective of getting to Ulundi from the North West. Two minor forces watched over the borders, the second Column at Krantzkop, under the leadership of Brevet Col A. W. Durnford to stop the Zulus from crossing the Tugela drifts and the fifth Column at Luneberg to watch over the Transvaal that had been invaded by the British in eighteen eighty seven. A provocation was subject the nation of the Zulus at the float above the subordinate Tugela on 11th December eighteen seventy eight but since no respond was received after twenty days had run out a compromise was approved until 11th January eighteen seventy nine, subsequent to the existence of the war.

The declaration of the Republic of Utrecht was another British interest motive. Zululand in the 18^th century covered the present Durban. It was ruled by Mpande’s father who was later succeeded by the son. It was Mpande who gave the Boer setters a legal document of cession for a part that bordered the Republic of the Transvaal and Zululand.

This was to become the state of Utrecht. In 1860 a commission was set up to carry out two things. It was charged to formally mark a boundary for the new republic and secure land for aroad from the Zulu. This road was Intended to run from Uretch to the northern coast of St. Lucia bay.Unfortunately the commission was not successful and the area turned to be an unclear territory a no man’s land to say the least. For almost twenty years pressure stuck between the Zulu and the Boers over this land.

Rows also emerged internally within the kingdom. Mpande’s three sons had a conflict. Cetshwayo had a great desire to rule and even killed his younger brother, a favorite of the father Mpande. He chased his older brother who he perceived as a threat into Utrecht. In 1861 Ceshtwayo made a promise to an army of the Republic of the Boers that he would give them a strip of land on the border if only they could hand over his bother to him. ⁶,

The Boers were ready to meet his demand if he spared the life of Umtonga. Mpande signed an agreement giving the Boers the extra land he had promised to them. The extra land was absolute from Rorke’s float to Panola River.

In east Africa the birthing interest had successful penetration with the resistance from the nandi oloinbon who was called koitolel arap samoei. he offered stiff resistance to the supported ethical rules therefore was gunned down and died as a result of his strong retreat and failure to acknowledge the British army as a sovereign ruler in their land to this.

Britain forward policy was another motive for imperialism. In the year eighteen forty five, there was a deviation by the British in this year the colonies were in as great account of trying hg to form new ones. Most like South Africa’s, most of the British imperialist had to undergo serious and radical changes so as to understand the concept of being the verbal ruler’s thought In 1877 the Transvaal was taken possession of by Britain and all the troubles between the Zulus and the Boers now became troubles amid the British and the Zulu.

In the communication of the deliveries of freed slaves for east Africa, they were taken to work to the large industrialize world bawler He was determined to resolve the border heated discussion over the additional strip of land between the republic of Utrecht and Zululand. In eighteen seventy eight July there was there were the plans of attacking the Zulus ⁷, He saw the Zulus as a danger and wanted to use them as a model for all other people.

Ina all the case , the Zulu had a great deal of trying to embrace an alliance that took into accounts cape colony and the sloe nation that consisted of the Transvaal a place that was originally found by shake the great king of the Zulu. in eighteen seventy seven some of the chosen factions were not in as resultant competition therefore all the material that the imperialists required were to be obtained at rage specific time especially where the Zulus showed immense resistance toward most o their attackers.

“In this year, sir Henrys was ordained as the overall leader of the Transvaal, acquired the extended boiling border conflict between the Boers and the Zulu.” ⁸,. Frere concluded that the Zulu Nation was a hindrance to his victorious amalgamation and additional growth and, without the permission of the British government, embark on a sequence of programs that were aimed at bringing about its demise Zulu throne was held by Cetshwayo kaMapande. He later came up with his conclusion that the attributes of the fearful Zulu nation. As the main obstacle for the attainment of the needed materials and in order to succeed winning the hearts of the entire population, they had o first pass through the grates obstacles and massive terrain to reach the target destination

He was baffled by Frere’s enmity to the Zulus and, even before he was able to react, events had already come to a head. Some miss happening occurred later in the year eighteen seventy eight where in this case, the wife’s or the famous sihayo were caught up and this prompted him to take some stunt actions. He latter opted to go and bring his wife back through the required procedures that entailed to prevent any harm from happening at he time where the two women ere being released from side of the natal.Occurrences of authorities crossing the borders in search of people, who had escaped, while unusual, were not unfamiliar to either side.

An accord by Cetshwayo was synonymous to the ending of the homeland that belonged to the zulu. In addition, the summer of eighteen seventy eight and1879 was tremendously wet. The resultant impact of this situation was that there was a delay in the delivery of the information since it had taken over as period of two weeks for the massage to be delivered to the Zulu of the invasion.this actually began in the eve of January eleventh eighteen seventy nine⁹. His preparation to invade Zululand composed of a three pronged attack with a target to take Cetswayo into custody.

Conclusion

Other part of the e continent were also experiencing the impact of the Britons imperials to the overall Africa economies was a great loss in that the raw materials were being extracted and money was issued out. This extraction of raw materials caused adverse climate changes and the increasingly potential possibility of loosing the things that are being focused upon prior to the Europeans commencing the New Imperialism in Africa, incredibly little was known about the interior parts of the continent.

Nevertheless, after some explorers explored deeper into the continent of Africa, the Europeans soon become conscious of how economically imperative this area was, and how much they could earn from it. By that time Britain had only less occupation of land in Africa, but once they realized that they could make a lot of money from the affluent resources from the interior regions of Africa, they wanted to occupy the African countries and take over. This led to the jumble and eventually, the division of Africa.

During the period of Imperialism that was from eighteen seventy to nineteen fourteen. “Britain was a chief country, which demonstrates to be true in the division of Africa and carving up” ¹⁰ Britain had the power to take over much of the most precious lands with the most rich and plentiful supplies of raw resources and other possessions. Among the main reasons for their imperialism included armed interests, and most importantly, financial interests. Therefore the British interest was geared towards depriving the countries that they had some inters upon their absolute development capacity and advancing theirs.

The overall concept of imperialism was based on undermining the efforts of the era that was during the time, industrial revolution was the main contributor of this aspect since it was through it that the imperialist sough to fin out when the raw materials were found in Africa a factor that has clearly resulted into the changes in the climatic conditions unwillingly. It is evident that all went on well for the benefits of the imperialist but nit for the countries being exploited.

References

Hall, Catherine. “Opposing Masculinities: the Case of director Eyre. – New York: 1992, 260-280.

Hopkins, A. British Imperialism: modernism and growth London and New York Longman 1847-1920. p 586-589.

Knight, I., The Sun twisted Black: Isandlwana and Rorke’s waft – 1879, Rivonia, RSA: William Waterman journal, 1996. 151-165 (p. 152).

Knight, I., Rorke’s Drift 1879, fastened resembling pests in a fissure,’ Oxford: Osprey.

Morris, D. R., The swab of the Spears: A narration of the increase of the Zulu population NY: Da Capo Press, 1998. pp. 279 – 352.

Smyth, G. The confrontation of the Zulu Sloane Park, RSA: Rainbird, 1996.

Publishing, 1996. Pp.285-292.

Footnotes

A. Hopkins. British Imperialism: modernism and growth London and New York Longman 1847-1920.
A. Hopkins. British Imperialism: modernism and growth London and New York Longman 1847-1920.
G. Smyth The confrontation of the Zulu Sloane Park, RSA: Rainbird. Publishing, 1996.
Morris, D. R., The swab of the Spears: A narration of the increase of the Zulu population NY: Da Capo Press, 1998.
I., Knight, The Sun twisted Black: Isandlwana and Rorke’s waft – 1879, Rivonia, RSA: William Waterman journal, 1996. p. 152.
G. Smyth, The confrontation of the Zulu Sloane Park, RSA: Rainbird, 1996. Publishing. Pp.285-292.
D. R Morris, The swab of the Spears: A narration of the increase of the Zulu population NY: Da Capo Press, 1998. pp. 279 – 352.
Catherine Hall, “Opposing Masculinities: the Case of director Eyre. – New York: 1992, p 271.
A. Hopkins, British Imperialism: modernism and growth London and New York Longman 1847-1920. p 577.
A. Hopkins, British Imperialism: modernism and growth London and New York Longman 1847-1920. p 586-589.

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Motives for British Imperialism in Africa

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