Although this trade grew to significant proportionspalm oil exports alone were worth 1 billion a year by 1840it was concentrated near the coast, where palm trees grew in abundance. The British captured Kano in 1903. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria. Balewa was called on to head an NPC-NCNC coalition government, and Awolowo became the official leader of the opposition. . it was on that faithful day, 1 st January 1914 that the The delegation was led by Balewa of the NPC and included party leaders Awolowo of the Action Group, Azikiwe of the NCNC, and Bello of the NPC; they were also the premiers of the Western, Eastern and Northern regions, respectively. The superior weapons, tactics and political unity of the British are commonly given as reasons for their decisive . Causes Of European Colonization In Africa | ipl.org He aroused political awareness through his newspaper, the Lagos Daily News. But in the 1700s, the Bight of Benin (also known as the Slave Coast) became the next most important hub. The early history of Lagos Colony was one of repeated attempts to end the Yoruba wars. Northern leaders committed to modernization were also firmly connected to the traditional power structure. Their forces, which were drawn from hundreds of Igbo youth from all parts of the region, created many problems for the British, but the British used forceful tactics and heavy armaments (destroying homes, farms, and roads) to prevail. There were numerous differences of detail among the regional systems, but all adhered to parliamentary forms and were equally autonomous in relation to the Nigerian federal government at Lagos. 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. A people with no knowledge of their past would suffer from collective amnesia, groping blindly into the future without guide-posts of precedence to shape their course. 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. British expansion was conducted primarily by commercialists and resulted in more solid economic potential than the French endeavor (Crowder, 1990). The British also created "divide and rule" policies, pitting Hindu and Muslim Indians against one another. From Conquest to Independence: the Nigerian Colonial Experience The Governor-General, in turn, was responsible for appointing the prime minister and for choosing a candidate from among contending leaders when there was no parliamentary majority. tamko building products ownership; 30 Junio, 2022; factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria . The NPC federal parliamentary leader, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, was appointed Prime Minister of Nigeria. Read suggested they be merged, and more use made of Nigeria's natural resources. The Fulani conquest and rule of the Hausa Kingdom of Northern Nigeria During the war, union membership increased sixfold to 30,000. 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. An extensive immigrant population of southerners, especially Igbo, already were living in the north; they dominated clerical positions and were active in many trades. [19] Although the Ijebu had some weapons they were wiped out by British Maxims, the earliest machine gun. In the north, the emirs intended to maintain firm control on economic and political change. Timeline of the British Empire - Historic UK Otherwise, the Governor-General's office was essentially ceremonial. The modern history of Nigeria - as a political state encompassing 250 to 400 ethnic groups of widely varied cultures and modes of political organization - dates from the completion of the. A Summary of British Rule in India - ThoughtCo 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. The council was headed by a Governor. This rate rose to 20,000 per year in the last quarter of the century. Although his own ambitions were limited to the Northern Region, Bello backed the NPC's successful efforts to mobilize the north's large voting strength so as to win control of the national government. Three of these posts were assigned to representatives from each region, and one was reserved for a delegate from the Northern Cameroons. [65], Half of all taxes went to the colonial government and half went to the Native Treasury. 4 Pages. It was colonized by the British in 1884 and the colony is established at the Berlin conference which divides Africa by European powers. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria 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. 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. September 1996. The Native Administration was headed by the traditional rulersmostly emirs in the north and often obas in the southand their District Heads, who oversaw a larger number of Village Heads. 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. Many Muslims resorted to migration as a form of resistance, a tactic known as the hejira, in which those perceived as infidels are avoided. The British Conquest and Resistance of Sokoto Caliphate, 18971903 [11], By the 1880s, the National African Company became the dominant commercial power, increasing from 19 to 39 stations between 1882 and 1893. The CMS pioneered trade on the Niger by encouraging Scottish explorer and merchant Macgregor Laird to run a monthly steamboat, which provided transportation for missionary agents and Sierra Leonean traders going up the Niger. Both Africans and Europeans found illegal supplies such as secret stills, obtaining colonial liquor permits, and smuggling. The delta masked the mouth of the great river, and for centuries Nigerians chose not to tell Europeans the secrets of the interior. Deadly battles broke out sporadically through 1906. [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. [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. British soap and cosmetics manufacturers tried to obtain land concessions for growing oil palms, but these were refused. Combining the three jurisdictions would reduce administrative expenses and facilitate deployment of resources and money between the areas. To raise additional revenues, Lugard took steps to institute a uniform tax structure patterned on the traditional system that he had adopted in the north during his tenure there. [27] To produce all this oil, the economy of the southern region crossed over from mostly subsistence to the production of palm oil as a cash crop.[28]. 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. 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]. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeria Wartime experiences provided a new frame of reference for many soldiers, who interacted across ethnic boundaries in ways that were unusual in Nigeria. He insisted on maintaining the territorial integrity of the Northern Region. The nationalism that became a political factor in Nigeria during the interwar period derived both from an older political particularism and broad pan-Africanism, rather than from any sense among the people of a common Nigerian nationality. British colonialism created Nigeria, joining diverse peoples and regions in an artificial political entity along the Niger River. Order. 4. A revelatory account of British imperialism's shameful impact on Africa's most populous state. Public works, such as harbour dredging and road and railway construction, opened Nigeria to economic development. His government guided the country for the next three years, operating with almost complete autonomy in internal affairs. Afeadie, "The Hidden Hand of Overrule" (1996), p. 1719. Taxes became a source of discontent in the south, however, and contributed to disturbances protesting British policy. For some time, missionaries operated in the area between Lagos and Ibadan. Ethnic cleavages intensified in the 1950s. The superior weapons, tactics and political unity of the British are commonly given as reasons for their decisive ultimate victory. The neglect of traditional institutions. THE FULANI CONQUEST AND RULE OF THE HAUSA KINGDOM 235 from 1804, the date of the Hegira. The history of Nigeria can be traced to the earliest inhabitants whose remains date from at least 13,000 BC through early civilizations such as the Nok culture which began around 1500 BC.Numerous ancient African civilizations settled in the region that is known today as Nigeria, such as the Kingdom of Nri, the Benin Empire, and the Oyo Empire. Some of them also manned Company stations and served as District Agents.". Reasons for the development of the slave trade - BBC Bitesize With this victory, the British went on to conquer the rest of Yorubaland, which had also been weakened by sixteen years of civil war. In time, they built depots onshore and eventually moved up the Niger River to establish stations in the interior. With one man in practical control of the Executive and Legislative organs of all the parts, the machine may work passably for sufficient time to enable the transition period to be left behind, by which time the answer to the problemUnitary v. Federal Statewill probably have become clear. ", Simon Heap, "'We think prohibition is a farce': drinking in the alcohol-prohibited zone of colonial northern Nigeria. The Reconquista, or reconquest, refers to the 800 years of violence and expulsion of Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula after the failed Crusades. In 1950 Aminu Kano, who had been instrumental in founding the NPC, broke away to form the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), in protest against the NPC's limited objectives and what he regarded as a vain hope that traditional rulers would accept modernization. [17] In 1767, British traders facilitated a notorious massacre of hundreds of people at Calabar after inviting them onto their ships, ostensibly to settle a local dispute. [79][80], Much of the colony's budget went to payments of its military, the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF). The rapid expansion in exports, especially after 1830, occurred precisely at the time slave exports collapsed. 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. During World War II, Awolowo reorganized it as a predominantly Yoruba political party, the Action Group. Support for broad Nigerian concerns occupied a clear second place. [53] The first five heads of the Nigeria Department (18981914) were Reginald Antrobus, William Mercer, William Baillie Hamilton, Sydney Olivier, and Charles Strachey. Afeadie, "The Hidden Hand of Overrule" (1996), p. 1921. [35] However, the company did accept that local kings could act as partners in governance and trade. Local rulers continued to administer their territories, but consular authorities assumed jurisdiction for the equity courts established earlier by the foreign mercantile communities. Herbert Richmond Palmer developed details of this model from 1906 to 1911 as the Governor of Northern Nigeria after Lugard.[66]. [73] In direct reaction to the epidemic, colonial authorities allowed African doctors and medical personnel to work with influenza patients due to the severity of the situation. [11], Britain's imperialistic posture became more aggressive towards the end of the century. [22] Many locals remained unconvinced of the Crown's authority to completely reverse the legal and moral attributes of a social institution through fiat. The Sokoto jihad and the Yoruba wars stimulated the slave trade at a time when the British were actively trying to stop it. Britain subsequently lobbied other European powers to stop the slave trade as well. factors that led to the british conquest of nigeriaannalise mahanes height. "Specifically, the Company sought to secure the cooperation of the traditional rulers in ensuring peaceful conditions for trade. In the immediate post-World War II period, Nigeria benefited from a favourable trade balance. The British and the French fought the Carnatic Wars, which the British won decisively - making the British the foremost colonial power. The NPC was called on to form a government, but the NCNC received six of the ten ministerial posts. It continued to enjoy special privileges and maintained a de facto monopoly over commerce. Observers have pinned the 'humanity's worst mistake' label on several of history's major institutions, ranging from the adoption of agriculture to twentieth-century communism (Diamond Reference Diamond 1987; Economist 2009).In our assessment, the institution of modern colonialism - meaning the exploration, conquest, settlement, and political dominance of distant lands by European and . Under Goldie's direction, the Royal Niger Company was instrumental in depriving France and Germany of access to the region. [43][44] The British forces began annual pacification missions to convince the locals of British supremacy. Some of them began to migrate back from Sierra Leone in search of home and trade. The federal government retained specified powers, including responsibility for banking, currency, external affairs, defence, shipping and navigation and communications, but real political power was centred in the regions. His objective was to conquer the entire region and to obtain recognition of the British protectorate by its indigenous rulers, especially the Fulani emirs of the Sokoto Caliphate. 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. 11 Effects Of Colonialism In Nigeria - Information Guide in Nigeria Britain also encouraged the formation of the Muslim League of India in 1907. Other firms applying for licenses were rejected. In Europe, Britain sent troops to help its ally, Prussia, which was surrounded by its enemies. Free shipping for many products! Birth of the Nigerian Colony Google Arts & Culture (Specifically it would enable direct subsidy of the less profitable Northern jurisdiction.) [50] In the same year, the British created the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF or WAFF), under the leadership of Colonel Frederick Lugard. [49], Concrete plans for transition to Crown ruledirect control by the British Governmentapparently began in 1897. 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. The conference drafted the terms of a new constitution. Out of reverence for traditional kingship, for instance, the Oba of Benin, whose office was closely identified with Edo religion, was accepted as the sponsor of a Yoruba political movement. What Were Reasons for European Exploration of the Americas? [73], Africa as a whole was hit by three waves of H1N1 influenza A, the first and second would be the most deadly for the colony of Nigeria. [73], Due to the failure of the sanitation officers in Lagos, the virus would continue to spread throughout the southern provinces throughout September and finally make its way into the hinterlands by October. Lugard, replacing Egerton as Governor, aborted the project in May 1913. If the emirs accepted British authority, abandoned the slave trade, and cooperated with British officials in modernizing their administrations, the colonial power was willing to confirm them in office. Officials of the Sokoto Caliphate considered these treaties quite differently; from their perspective, the British were granted only extraterritorial rights that did not prevent similar arrangements with the Germans and the French and certainly did not surrender sovereignty. In general, the regional constitutions followed the federal model, both structurally and functionally. Joining the Royal Niger Company in 1894, Lugard was sent to Borgu to counter inroads made by the French, and in 1897 he was made responsible for raising the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) from local levies to serve under British officers. God, Gold, and Glory. Both claimed in 1908; territories formed in 1962 (British Antarctic Territory) and 1985 (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). Some were deposed, some were defeated in battle, and others collaborated. A.J. A lack of interest in extending the NPC beyond the Northern Region corresponded to this strictly regional orientation. Islam reached Nigeria through the Bornu Empire . by How Africa 6 years ago. Similar status was acquired by the Northern Region two years later. The Nigeria Regiment of the RWAFF, integrating troops from the north and south, saw action against German colonial forces in Cameroon and in German East Africa. In 1958 exportation of Nigerian oil was initiated at facilities constructed at Port Harcourt. [70], Lugard's immediate successor (19191925), Sir Hugh Clifford, was an aristocratic professional administrator with liberal instincts who had won recognition for his enlightened governorship of the Gold Coast in 19121919.