Western History 175: How did the British Empire develop in the 19th century?

We have already looked at how the British Empire had grown from early beginnings to its global  status that existed at the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars (1815). The Empire was continually transforming itself often motivated by both internal and external socio-political developments. In 1807 the slave trade had been abolished in the British colonies and by 1833 slavery as an institution was banned throughout the Empire (Slavery Abolition Act of 1833).

The British Empire (1898). Where the Sun never settled source: British Empire.co.uk

The Period after 1815 - leading up to the Anglo-Boer War of 1899  - is often referred to as Pax Britannica and represents a high point in British history certainly with respect to the tiny Island’s political and economic clout on an international level. Rivalries though with competing Empires was fierce and was characterized by the Great Game as each power jockeyed for an edge of superiority. British interests were driven by its Colonial office that traces its origin to 1801 as part of the Board of Trade, but became more active in its own right from 1850 onward reaching a peak between 1895-1900,  when it was headed by Joseph Chamberlain.

Joseph Chamberlain - arch Imperialist - Headed the Colonial Office  source: Britannica

Predictably the British clashed with other powers namely the Russians in Crimea but there were also further challenges within the Empire as was characterized by the Indian Mutiny. Splendid Isolation guided British political thought at the time but invariably resources would be stretched as they were over the Scramble of Africa. China was often a hotbed for foreign trading inroads with Britain at the forefront of the initiatives here. Local resistance was overcome by gunboat diplomacy that the Empire wielded through the tremendous advantage of the Royal Navy. Both the First and Second Opium Wars (1839-1842 and 1856-1860 respectively) were decided in British favour resulting in an expansion of London’s footprint although the backlash to this power grab would result in the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)..

In 1875 British fortunes took a sharp upswing with the government of Benjamin Disraeli buying  the 44% share that the Egyptian ruler Isma’il Pasha had in the Suez Canal (which had opened in 1869 under French Emperor Napoleon III). Britain would move to consolidate her control of Egypt and cement her joint partnership with France regarding the management of this vital waterway. As a short cut to India the Suez Canal’s utility could never be underestimated.

In 1885 there was however a turn for the worse when British troops were defeated by a much larger Mahadist force led by Muhammad Ahmad of Sudan. The latter were victorious at the Siege of Khartoum  resulting in the death of General Charles George Gordon. The war in Sudan had followed the British conquest of Egypt in 1882. London’s fortunes were restored  in 1898 when British forces under Sir Herbert Kitchener defeated the Mahadist troops at the Battle of Omdurman.

Charles Gordon under attack by Mahadist forces: source: Britannica

British advances continued with men such as Cecil John Rhodes taking the initiative to expand the Empire from the Cape to Cairo. In doing so they acquired more territory for the Empire in Southern Africa (what would eventually become Rhodesia) in the 1880s and 1890s. A conflict with France in Fashoda (on the Nile) in 1898  British would also resolve itself along British preferred lines.

The steamship and later the telegraph rapidly improved transportation and communication throughout the Empire. A cable network, known as Red Line, linked several sites in 1902 easing the challenges of a broader administration.

The Network of Atlantic Cables that greatly expanded the communication capabilities of the Empire. source: Atlantic Cable

Territories that Britain acquired during the 19^th century include New Zealand (1840), Fiji, Tonga, Burma, Punjab, Brunei, Sarawak, Hong Kong, Sudan, Nigeria, Gold Coast (Ghana), Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Egypt, Sudan, Cape Colony, Basutoland (Lesotho), Bechuanaland (Botswana), Natal, Mauritius, Gambia, British Guiana, Cyprus, Malta,  Malacca and Zanzibar.