title: Patterns of Development in British West Africa, 1874-1914
Creators: name: Talbot, Samuel
Publisher: name: University of Kent
Year: 2024

description: British imperial development in West Africa was a highly systematic process in which the major colonial estates all followed a distinct pattern of development. The colonies were separated by hundreds of miles of territory, they were settled by disparate peoples with distinct ethnic identities containing long and rich histories, with conditions on the ground varying highly from colony to colony. Despite these extensive differences, the political, fiscal, and social strategies employed by the colonies’ administrative leadership were essentially identical. In areas where Britain did not have the necessary resources to extend comprehensive administrative structures and personnel, African chiefs retained political control at local levels, working subserviently under British District Commissioners in a system known as indirect rule. Colonial administrations were funded through the collection of customs receipts on goods exchanged at ports of entry. The adoption of customs receipt fiscal strategies led to colonial economies being moulded to directly facilitate and serve this process. Increasing trade was of paramount importance and the economic infrastructure established by Britain was essential to success in this area. Social provisions were largely decentralised as financial constraints hampered British productivity in the area. Missionary groups filled this gap with evangelising vigour, as these institutions became hotbeds for spiritual and social development along European ideals of civilisation and personal growth. This thesis will argue that Britain’s major colonial possessions in West Africa followed the same pattern of development. In doing so, it will be structured around three case studies that show that areas under active British jurisdiction, referred to as the ‘colony’ or ‘metropole’, experienced significant development under British rule. The political and administrative structures that were created were advanced and relatively comprehensive. The port city emerged as the area of greatest British influence and political power was concentrated within them. These cities were the political, economic and military base of operations and British expansion grew outwards from these locations. Colonies received the lion’s share of investment, their transport and communications infrastructures were the most extensive, aiding in the movement of products to the coast for export on the global market. Industrial development in British West Africa was minimal, however some mining operations and other small industries were established in the metropolitan colonies. The development of European social institutions also primarily served the colonies. Large networks of primary schools, hospitals serving major populations 9 centres, and Christian religious institutions were all established under British rule. The colony was the area of greatest metropolitan influence, and as a result of its close connection with Britain experienced development to the largest degree. Whilst the colonies encountered significant development under British rule, the adverse was experienced in the satellite protectorates. British military conquests of these areas were often not complete until later in the period and the regions they were conducted in were devastated. Satellite regions were vast, expansive pieces of territory, governed by multiple political organisations and the British did not have the fiscal or human resources to extend comprehensive systems of administration over them. The satellites functioned as the major productive regions, utilising the existing predominance of agriculture to grow cash crops for export and serving as a market for imported European goods. Even though the major part of colonial revenues derived from goods grown in these areas, the money was seldom reinvested. This stagnated and stunted their development. European social provisions also did not develop to a great extent. The number of schools established by missionary groups were low and they were underfunded. They lacked sufficient hospitals and institutional Christianity struggled to grow in the face of existing spiritual identities. Metropolitan and satellite areas, despite sitting next to one another, developed in stark contrast.