factors that led to the british conquest of nigeriafactors that led to the british conquest of nigeria

Amalgamation of Nigeria was envisioned from early on in its governance, as is made clear by the report of the Niger Committee in 1898. David Richardson, "Background to annexation: Anglo-African credit relations in the Bight of Biafra, 17001891"; in Ptr-Grenouilleau. Local rulers continued to administer their territories, but consular authorities assumed jurisdiction for the equity courts established earlier by the foreign mercantile communities. Harding, director of Nigerian affairs at the Colonial Office, defined the official position of the British Government in support of indirect rule when he said that "direct government by impartial and honest men of alien race [] never yet satisfied a nation long and [] under such a form of government, as wealth and education increase, so do political discontent and sedition". These organisations were primarily urban phenomena that arose after numerous rural migrants moved to the cities. It was replaced by a new coalition government led by David Lloyd George featuring Conservatives and Lloyd George's supporters in the Liberal Party, while Asquith and the remainder of the Liberals entered opposition.[69]. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria. Afeadie, Philip Atsu. Park reached the upper Niger the next year by travelling inland from the Gambia River. This scheme proved unpopular and confusing to many involved parties and was phased out. Uneasy with the amount of latitude allowed traditional rulers under indirect rule, Clifford opposed further extension of the judicial authority held by the northern emirs. Azikiwe had less interest in purely Nigerian goals than did Davies, a student of Harold Laski at the London School of Economics, whose political orientation was considered left-wing. But by providing for comparable regional governments exercising broad legislative powers, which could not be overridden by the newly established 185-seat federal House of Representatives, the Macpherson Constitution also gave a significant boost to regionalism. In-text citation: Direct taxation on men was introduced in 1928 without major incidents. Macbeth) in the essay title portion of your citation. Herbert Richmond Palmer developed details of this model from 1906 to 1911 as the Governor of Northern Nigeria after Lugard.[66]. A revelatory account of British imperialism's shameful impact on Africa's most populous state. Initially, most palm oil (and later kernels) came from Igboland, where palm trees formed a canopy over the densely inhabited areas of the Ngwa, Nri Kingdom, Awka and other Igbo peoples. the British Government completed their assignment of conquest and came up with what they called the Amalgamation of Nigeria . [13], The Colonial Office accepted Lugard's proposal that the Governor would not be required to stay in-country full-time; consequently, as Governor, Lugard spent four months out of the year in London. Agents also collected intelligence for the colonial officials; they gathered information on public opinion and the military resources of the local polities; they also spied on rival colonial forces in foreign territories. There was virtually no pressure for greater unity among the regions until after the end of World War II. [11] In 1891, the African Banking Corporation founded the Bank of British West Africa in Lagos.[33]. He said that he did "not consider that their past traditions and their present backward cultural conditions afford to any such experiment a reasonable chance of success". Three years later internal divisions arose that was dominated by major ethnic loyalties. As a further step toward independence, the Governor's Executive Council was merged with the Council of Ministers in 1957 to form the all-Nigerian Federal Executive Council. In April 1927, the British colonial government in Nigeria took measures to enforce the Native Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance. The legitimate trade in commodities attracted a number of British merchants to the Niger River, as well as some men who had been formerly engaged in the slave trade but who now changed their line of wares. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria In consideration of the foregoing, the said National African Company (Limited) bind themselves not to interfere with any of the native laws or customs of the country, consistently with the maintenance of order and good government [and] agree to pay native owners of land a reasonable amount for any portion they may require. The French had abolished slavery following the French Revolution, although it briefly re-established it in its Caribbean colonies under Napoleon. British Colonize Nigeria Essay - 979 Words | Bartleby The search for oil, begun in 1908 and abandoned a few years later, was revived in 1937 by Shell and British Petroleum. The Action Group, which staged a lively campaign, favoured stronger government and the establishment of three new states while advocating the creation of a West Africa Federation that would unite Nigeria with Ghana and Sierra Leone. [72], The Influenza pandemic made its way to the port of Lagos by September 1918 by way of a number of ships including the SS Panayiotis, the SS Ahanti, and the SS Bida. The small contingent of northerners who had been educated abroada group that included Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Aminu Kanowas allied with British-backed efforts to introduce gradual change to the emirates. Summary of course material Economic freedom in Muslim countries an Other commercial crops, such as cocoa and rubber, were encouraged, and tin was mined on the Jos Plateau. Empty cart. British staffs in each region continued to operate according to procedures developed before unification. [51], Guidelines for running the Nigerian colony were established in 1898 by the Niger Committee, chaired by the Earl of Selborne, in 1898. In all three regions, minority parties represented the special interests of ethnic groups, especially as they were affected by the majority. It was suspended in 1950 against a call for greater autonomy, which resulted in an inter-parliamentary conference at Ibadan in 1950. Because of the hazards of climate and tropical diseases for Europeans and the absence of any centralized authorities on the mainland responsive to their interests, European merchants moored their ships outside harbours or in the delta, and used the ships as trading stations and warehouses. The influence of Christianity and the establishment of schools made the nationalists realize that after all God created everyman equal . In 1907, the corporation received a loan of 25,000, repayable upon discovery of oil. The Reconquista, or reconquest, refers to the 800 years of violence and expulsion of Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula after the failed Crusades. Unification meant only the loose affiliation of three distinct regional administrations into which Nigeria was subdividedNorthern, Western and Eastern regions. In the south, by contrast, traditional rulers were employed as vehicles of indirect rule in Edoland and Yorubaland, but Christianity and Western education undermined their sacerdotal functions. His mission failed, but Park and his party covered more than 1,500 kilometres (930mi), passing through the western portions of the Sokoto Caliphate, before drowning when their boats overturned in rapids near Bussa. [59], Following the order recommended by the Niger Committee, the Colonial Office merged Lagos Colony and the Southern Nigeria Protectorate on 1 May 1906, forming a larger protectorate (still called the Southern Nigeria Protectorate) which spanned the coastline between Dahomey and Cameroon. [18], In 1807, the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted the Slave Trade Act, prohibiting British subjects from participating in the Atlantic slave trade. The primary motives of European explorers were economic. A Hurst Publication. 1. Under the Political Department of the Civil Service were Residents and District Officers, responsible for overseeing operations in each region. By extending the elective principle and by providing for a central government with a Council of Ministers, the Macpherson Constitution gave renewed impetus to party activity and to political participation at the national level. The NCNC backed creation of a midwest state and proposed federal control of education and health services. The movement brought to public notice a long list of future leaders, including H.O. On 9 May 1913, Lugard submitted a formal proposal to the Colonial Office in which Northern and Southern provinces would have separate administrations, under the control of a "strongly authoritarian" Governor-General. As before, Aro merchants dominated trade in the hinterland, including palm products to the coast and the sale of slaves within Igboland. A "house" included the extended family of the trader, including retainers and slaves. Sir Richmond Palmer, acting as Lieutenant Governor in the North, disagreed with Clifford and advocated the principles of Lugard and further decentralisation. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria In time they captured Oba Ovonramwen and sent him into exile to Calabar, a town east of Benin. [73] The colonial government would enact new legislation in reaction to the pandemic including, travel passes for individuals in the colony, increased usage of sanitary practices, and door to door checks on indigenous Nigerian households. In practice, British administrative procedures under indirect rule entailed constant interaction between colonial authorities and local rulersthe system was modified to fit the needs of each region. Vice consuls were assigned to ports that already had concluded treaties of cooperation with the Foreign Office. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria The conquest and colonization of the Nigerian territory stirring up nationalist sentiments among the few educated elements mostly foreign educated Africans and liberated slaves, and later African students in Britain. Protestant sects had flourished in Christianity since the Protestant Reformation; the emergence of independent Christian churches in Nigeria (as of black denominations in the United States) was another phase of this history. They were helped by two major factors; the discovery of quinine as a preventive drug against malaria and the armory the British possess which was superior compared to those of the Nigerians. it was on that faithful day, 1 st January 1914 that the In the 1920s, Nigerians began to form a variety of associations, such as professional and business associations, like the Nigerian Union of Teachers; the Nigerian Law Association, which brought together lawyers, many of whom had been educated in Britain; and the Nigerian Produce Traders' Association, led by Obafemi Awolowo. Why was Britain able to establish an Empire in India The Action Group was thus the heir of a generation of flourishing cultural consciousness among the Yoruba and also had valuable connections with commercial interests that were representative of the comparative economic advancement of the Western Region. brighton grey motion loveseat; waterford, ct obituaries; jane wymark children. In the main the following factors contributed to the growth of colonies: Firstly, in the first place the discovery of new lands encouraged the various colonies to establish their colonies there. Some African Christian communities formed their own independent churches. By demonstrating the heavy reliance on West African soldiers for the 'European' conduct of the Great War campaign in the region, it shows how West Africans helped determine the outcome of war in the region. 24. Local leaders, cognizant of the situation in the West Indies, India, and elsewhere, recognised the risks of British expansion. tamko building products ownership; 30 Junio, 2022; factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria . The colonial economic policies in Nigeria, for instance, discouraged indigenous industrialization, but promoted export crop and mineral production to feed the British factories. In the Eastern Region, appointed officials who were given "warrants" and hence called warrant chiefs, were strongly resisted by the people because they lacked traditional claims. Accordingly, as the volume of trade increased, merchants requested that the Government of the United Kingdom appoint a consul to cover the region. British business interests wanted to use this to create a monopoly over the industry, but Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's Liberal government and subsequent war coalition favored allowing international free trade. Its program reflected greater planning and was more ideologically oriented than that of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons. They selected an increasingly high proportion of African clergy for the missions. Most internal problems were concealed, and open opposition to the domination of the Muslim aristocracy was not tolerated. In November 1908, Bergheim reported striking oil; in September 1909, he reported extracting 2,000 barrels per day. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria. To establish settled government in the newly won districts; To improve and extend native footpaths throughout the country; To construct properly graded roads in the more populated districts; To clear the numerous rivers in the country and make them suitable for launch and canoe traffic; and. [78], After establishing political control of the country, the British implemented a system of taxation in order to force the indigenous Africans to shift from subsistence farming to wage labour. What are the factors that attracted the British to conquer India Motivations for Colonization - National Geographic Society Lugard's governmental model for Nigeria was unique and there was apparently not much planning for its future development. Rivalry between the Royal Niger Company and the Lagos Protectorate over the boundary between the emirate of Ilorin and the empire of Ibadan was resolved with the abrogation of the charter of the Royal Niger Company on January 1, 1900, in return for wide mineral concessions. [32], In 1880, the British Government and traders demonetised the Maria Theresa dollar, to the considerable dismay of its local holders, in favour of the pound sterling. The policy of indirect rule used in Northern Nigeria became a model for British colonies elsewhere in Africa. 1839 - The Opium Wars between China and Britain, resulting from the trade of opium leading to widespread addictions. In 1851 deposed king Akintoye of Lagos sought British help in restoring him to the throne. They gathered information which was needed for policy-making in administration. Offers a bold rethink: a clear-eyed, unromanticized history of colonial Nigeria written by a Nigerian. The British led a series of military campaigns to enlarge its sphere of influence and expand its commercial opportunities. To reduce costs, Lagos was administered first from Freetown in Sierra Leone, along with Gold Coast forts such as Elmina, and later from Accra (in present-day Ghana); only in 1886 did Lagos become a separate colony. In one year, Lugard recruited 2600 troops, evenly split between Hausa and Yoruba. Beecroft agreed on condition that the slave trade be abolished, and British merchants have a monopoly in commodities. The Factors That Led to the Colonization of Africa by the Europeans Olatunji Ojo, "The Organization of the Atlantic Slave Trade in Yorubaland, ca.1777 to ca.1856", Bouda Etemad, "Economic relations between Europe and Black Africa, Giles D. Short, "Blood and Treasure: The reduction of Lagos, 1851", "Northern Nigeria: The Illo Canceller and Borgu Mail" by Ray Harris in. The Emirs and chiefs who are appointed will rule over the people as of old-time and take such taxes as are approved by the High Commissioner, but they will obey the laws of the Governor and will act in accordance with the advice of the Resident. Segments of the Yoruba community had their own animosities and new rivalries arose. Britain withdrew from the slave trade when it was the major transporter of slaves to the Americas. The conquest was personal to William. [11][12], The amalgamation of different ethnic and religious groups into one federation created internal tension which persists in Nigeria to the present day.[13]. [72] In the south, he saw the possibility of building an elite educated in schools modelled on a European method (and numerous elite children attended high-ranking colleges in Britain during the colonial years). Alan Lennox-Boyd, M.P., the British Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 8(04), 563. doi:10.1017/s0022278x00023909. A third type of organisation that was more pointedly political was the youth or student group, which became the vehicle of intellectuals and professionals. Trained as an army officer, he had served in India, Egypt and East Africa, where he expelled Arab slave traders from Nyasaland and established British presence in Uganda. Great Britain was the leaders at this time in colonizing the land filled with rich natural recourses. necessitated by several factors. Elliot J. Berg, "The Development of a Labour Force in Sub-Saharan Africa"; France sold Louisiana to the United States, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Military history of Nigeria during World War II, National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, discovery and exploitation of petroleum deposits, "The Nigeria (Constitution) Order in Council, 1954", "Gombe-Abba: Historic emirs' town ruined by the British", A Very Bloody Transaction: Old Calabar and the Massacre of 1767, The Impact of the Slave Trade on African Economies, "Managing Epidemic: The British Approach to 19181919 Influenza in Lagos", "The Nigerian Victory Against The 1918 Influenza Pandemic and 1897 Smallpox Epidemic", "African Pentecostalism and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: The Supernatural Amid the Fearful and Implications for the COVID-19 Pandemic", "The influenza pandemic of 191819 and the spread of cassava cultivation on the lower Niger: a study in historical linkages", Google Cultural Institute: Birth of the Nigerian Colony, 18511914, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonial_Nigeria&oldid=1136412842, Former British colonies and protectorates in Africa, 1914 establishments in the British Empire, 1960 disestablishments in the British Empire, States and territories established in 1914, States and territories disestablished in 1960, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the flag caption or type parameters, Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the symbol caption or type parameters, Articles needing additional references from July 2019, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Men British soap and cosmetics manufacturers tried to obtain land concessions for growing oil palms, but these were refused. In an economy with many qualified applicants for every post, great resentment was generated by any favouritism that authorities showed to members of their own ethnic group. oriented. At the same time it is feasible by degrees to bring them gradually into approximation with our ideas of justice and humanity. The company interfered in the territory along the Niger and the Benue, sometimes becoming embroiled in serious conflicts when its British-led native constabulary intercepted slave raids or attempted to protect trade routes. It was supported not only by the income from huge agricultural surpluses but also by a new range of direct and indirect taxes imposed during the 1950s. The country was divided politically, lacking European rivals, and no sense of national unity. For this objective, the Company chose to administer the African inhabitants of the Niger Sudan through their traditional rulers and their political institutions. He argued that the division into two separate colonies was advisable unless a stronger central government could bind Nigeria into more than just an administrative convenience for the three regions. Native Administration was responsible for police, hospitals, public works and local courts. [32] This included a river fleet which it used for retaliatory attacks on uncooperative villages. [55], Under the Colonial Office was the Governor, who managed the administration of his colony and held powers of emergency rule. In a sense, you can say that the British were the cause of the Biafran Civil War which happened in Nigeria from 1967 to 1970. If adopted, his proposals can hardly be a permanent solution and I gather that Sir F. Lugard only regards them as temporaryat any rate in part. A lack of interest in extending the NPC beyond the Northern Region corresponded to this strictly regional orientation. In pursuance of the above general principles the chief civil officers of the provinces are to be called Residents which implies one who carries on diplomatic relations rather than Commissioners or Administrators. Lugard, replacing Egerton as Governor, aborted the project in May 1913. The Igbo redirected slaves into the domestic economy, especially to grow the staple food crop, yams, in northern Igboland for marketing throughout the palm-tree belt. It was British colonialism which was the ultimate cause of the war . [67], The Colonial Office, where Lugard was still held in high regard, accepted that changes might be due in the south, but it forbade fundamental alteration of procedures in the north. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria. In some cases, British assignment of people to ethnic groups, and treatment based along ethnic lines, led to identification with ethnicity where none had existed before.[84]. British exploitation of their fatherland. The first known encounter between the British and the people of the region of modern-day Nigeria was on April 1, 1600, when English sailors landed on the Niger River near Katsina, the largest city in northern Nigeria.
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