Colonial Rivalries

Britain

Singapore, Aden, Hong Kong, Lagos became British
The cost of defending India, unlike the other colonies, was bourne from local revenues
After the Indian Mutiny of 1857, British government took over admin from the East India Company
Spread influence in South America

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French imperialism was mainly a quest for prestige, although sometimes encouraged by interest groups such as the Lyon Silk Industry
Algeria became a colony of settlement in two decades following its conquest in 1830
Well-trained senegalese tirailleurs (sharpshooters) laid the base for French military imperialism in West Africa
In the 1860s French control in Indo-China was being asserted

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Cape Colony regarded as vital base en route to India, both before and after the opening of the Suez Canal
Suez Canal opened 1869
1872 Cape Colony granted self-government
Jihads (holy wars) of the Islamic empires taking place in northerly parts of West Africa; mfecane (Zulu depotism) in South Africa
To the defeated and displaced tribes, Europeans may have seemed lesser evils

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North Africa more closely integrated into the economy of Europe than most of sub-Saharan Africa
In West Africa the ban on slavery was enforced by British navy
West Africa traded in palm oil (lubricant for machines; soap), vegetable oils, timber, ivory and gum
From Sierra Leone Britain enjoyed an informal empire cheaply
In the Congo and Angola, where British naval patrols were few, the slave trade actually expanded for some decades. Cessation of this trade in the 1950s actually disrupted the economy of the region
East Africa's commercial links were with Arabia and India, not Europe

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Accomplished in 20 years from 1880 to 1900
In 1880 only 1/10 of Africa under European rule
By 1900 only 1/10 of Africa not under European rule
Most colonial governments were weak
Anti-British feelings from other powers
Britain had used her sea-power over most of Africa's coast during the 18th century

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