Colonisation and the building of

The construction of the Suez Canal and

Britain’s role
the British Empire The colonisation of Australia and its impact on
the Indigenous people
1.Caracteristics 1. The establishment of penal colonies in Australia
Ferdinand de Lesseps is the father of the Suez Canal which is Discovered and annexed by James Cook in 1770.
in Egypt, built from 1859 to 1869, 193 km long, produces over Originally used as a penal colony where democracy and
8 billion $ (2022) and 22% of the ships go through it. liberalism didn’t exist and where the living conditions were
2. History harsh, thus the colony’s development demanded democratic
Ferdinand de Lesseps had the idea of constructing this canal change which led to internal conflicts.
but it was too expensive so the French government financed 2. The expansion into Aboriginal lands
it, Egypt provided workforce (over 20,000 people/month) Conflicts with the Natives as well : the most known being the
and on the 17th November 1869 : Suez Canal was opened and Black War which was brutal, opposing Tasmanian Aboriginal
The Opium Wars and British Imperialism in China
was 164 km long and 56 km wide. people against the British colonisers between 1804 and 1830.
In 1882, Britain invaded Egypt, became the most important (1839-1842) (1856-1860) The setting up of mines (copper/silver...), hunt (kangaroos...),
investor and controlled the canal. raising livestock all led to the destruction of Aboriginal lands
3. Importance of the Suez Canal 1. What led to the opium wars ? and it deeply affected the lives of Aboriginal people.
70 % of the boats passing through are British, it reduced the British were selling cotton to China in exchange of tea. However, 3. Effects on indigenous communities
average journey by 8,200 km and 5 weeks, it improved British Northern Chinese merchants saw an opportunity to sell their own Indigenous population decline : from around 180000 in 1861 to
profits on the extraction and importation of ressources. cotton to the south. Thus, the British used the Bengal opium to less than 95000 in 1901
Ottoman sovereignity was maintened but Britain held actual trade. The latter was made illegal so British bribed officials, Starting in 1814, Aboriginal children were taken away from their
power (finances, military, political) but in 1956, Egypt handed free samples and helped the Chinese plan smuggling families to be “civilised” which strengthened the cultural
nationalised the Suez Canal company. themes to get it into the territory. Further to the government suppression. Moreover, the Aboriginal people were further
attempt to end all opium trade, the British thus decided to declare marginalized by the 1901 Constitution which left them no rights.
war on China.
2. The consequences of the opium wars for China
The East India Company and the Indian The first opium war ended on august 29th 1842 with a unequal
peace treaty because China had to cede the territory of Hong The scramble for Africa and the Boer Wars
Rebellion of 1857
Kong, pay war indemnities and establish commerce roads. (late XIXth century)
1. The rise and fall of the East India Company (EIC) However the British and the French were still unsatisfied and
It was an English company used to export goods from India caused the 2nd opium war (1856-1860) which then legalized opium. 1. Territory
which enriched the Empire and allowed more colonial 3. Britain’s global imperial ambitions
conflicts for African spaces between Europeans powers
power for Britain but led to negative consequences for British wanted more land overseas in order to build colonies that
provide them valuable goods. such as France, Germany, Britain, Spain, and so on...
India (brutal laws, increasing tensions etc.).
In 1708, the company was merged into the United Opium wars allowed them to dominate trade in Asia as they 2. Money
Company of Merchant of England and began to lose managed to establish commerce and be in charge of the territory British wealth came from diamonds and gold mines in
power. It was then dissolved in 1873. of Hong Kong. which they made African slaves work under harsh
2. The Rebellion of 1857 conditions.
It started in 1857 in Bengal because the British were 3. Increasing influence
accused of not respecting the Hindu’s religious beliefs. Cecil Rhodes: owner of mines and political imperialist
It was however unsuccessful, instead the British even took who wanted to build a North-South railroad (from Cape
advantage of it by taking over India afterwards.
Town to Cairo).
3. How the British Empire definitely took control over India
Further to the East India Company dissolution, the Crown African revolts such as Boer Wars (1880-1881 & 1899-1902)
took direct control of India. which succeeded only at first.
These events marked India’s transition from a dominion to
a colony under direct administration.