HIS103Y1 Chapter 10: Empire: How and Why?
Ratification of de Brazza treaty and series of French naval
and consular initiatives in Guinea
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Strategies to trade (and prestige)
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Minimum of direct interference in local affairs
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Palm-oil trade was most lucrative sector
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Advance post at Bakel, expeditions to explore gold field
▪
Economic prospects of interior untapped still-failed
▪
1840s: new plan in Senegal, nothing working
▪
1851: imposition of political supremacy as essential
precondition for colony's economic development
▪
1853L governor of Senegal had to rebuild front at
Podor new at Medine, break Boorish control on gum
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Senegal: turn trading posts into plantation colony
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French advance South from Algeria opened a new route in
West African interior
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By 1847, Paris wants exclusive commercial / political
control --> immense French Empire
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Peaceful extension of trade was limit wanted loose
commercial empire, not political domination
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Drive into Sudan by force
▪
French weren't committed, money, busy elsewhere
▪
Franco-Prussian war: money devoted to internal
reconstruction
▪
Governor of Senegal: military advance beyond Medinee,
destruction of Tokelor empire, construction on Niger
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Developments along coast: forts built at Boffa, Boke-Benty
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Principle of support for trade --> political control as
corollary to economic activity
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Economic depression
▪
Abolition of metropolitan subsidy to budget - heavy
strain on local revenues
▪
Couldn't raise direct taxation, had to increase revenue
from trade --> fronted assault on liberal commercial
policies, pressed for application of differential duties
on foreign imports of cloth, barred from foreign traders
levied extra tonnage duties on foreign ships between
Senegal and France
▪
Reaffirmed French sovereignty, occupied new lands,
levied customs / duties
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Resolved Muslim uprisings
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Briere, new Governor of Senegal 1876
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Scramble for Africa begins in 1878
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Senegal: assaults, secures eastern frontier of Senegal,
clearing for advance to upper Niger
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Need for military advance
▪
Briere wants formal empire in West Sudan
○
Briere funds railway construction --> need for
communication
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French policy and the Origins of the Scramble for Africa
▪
Tutorial 2.3: Empire: How and why?
February 16, 2017
1:00 PM
READINGS Page 192
communication
Revival of faid herbes Niger plan - outposts, etc.
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Briere demonstrated inability to control determined local
subordinate --> France didn't want to dominate, but worried
about British expansion
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Didn't want local affairs to ruin relationship with Britain -
maintain foreign policy goals
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New colonial expansians --> link Algeria with Senegal
▪
Change in official policy to support expansion
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Overall support for railway constructiono
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Some French saw expansion as source of regeneration
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Belief in Judan's economic potential and exploitation
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Admiral Jaureguilarry: seized government expenditures
without parliamentary approval --> support construction
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Commission rejected railway proposal
▪
Jaure built new forts along Niger
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Placed Sudan under military control - imperialism
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Jaure: aims are political - extend French domination of
Niger, economic is secondary
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Couldn't build until Sahara completely occupied
▪
Did not see practical and political difficulties of advance
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Half money was used on railway, rest on military
fortifications and diplomatic missions
▪
Inadequate preparations, financial mismanagement, natural
disaster, railway construction became expensive and
difficult
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Jaure's successor Cloue disobeys orders to not advance on
Niger --> couldn't be controlled
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Fear of Tokolors, peace treaties to prevent advance
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1883: reached Niger, took Murgala, fortifying Bamako
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1882: Jaure approved plans to launch gunboats to patrol
Niger from Timbuktu and on
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Jaure would not permit extension of Lagos customs control
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Negotiation with Great Britain more difficult --> broke
down on issue of tariff equalization
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Ratufucatuib if Lower Niger --> challenge Britain's
supremacy in the Delta
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New front on Congo - 1882 treaty ratified
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Gave French new route into West Africa
▪
De Brazza treaty: no official powers to negotiate
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Pressure of public opinion forced government to act
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Movement not triggered by Britain, but domestic French
consideration
▪
Designed to protect the French in West Africa, ot to drive
the British out of Egypt
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Also assault for territorial empire in interior
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Coastal change also a motivator --> pressure to assume
territory
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Change in official thinking, made state principal agent
of expansion, political control as basis for economic
▪
Changes in French politics: nationalist / expansionist
movement stabilization of republic, popularity among
population, pressure from private interests (looking for
profit)
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READINGS Page 193
Document Summary
French policy and the origins of the scramble for africa. Ratification of de brazza treaty and series of french naval and consular initiatives in guinea. Advance post at bakel, expeditions to explore gold field. 1851: imposition of political supremacy as essential precondition for colony"s economic development. 1853l governor of senegal had to rebuild front at. Podor new at medine, break boorish control on gum. French advance south from algeria opened a new route in. By 1847, paris wants exclusive commercial / political control --> immense french empire. Peaceful extension of trade was limit wanted loose commercial empire, not political domination. Governor of senegal: military advance beyond medinee, destruction of tokelor empire, construction on niger. Developments along coast: forts built at boffa, boke-benty. Principle of support for trade --> political control as corollary to economic activity. Abolition of metropolitan subsidy to budget - heavy strain on local revenues. Reaffirmed french sovereignty, occupied new lands, levied customs / duties.
