The British Empire and the Scramble for Africa
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how British imperialism in Africa changed during the 19th century.
Key learning points
- Britain's African colonies were mostly confined to coastal areas in the early 19th century.
- Trade was a key British interest in Africa.
- British colonisation in Africa was limited by resistance, disease and the unwillingness of some officials.
- Britain's empire in Africa grew significantly during the Scramble for Africa.
- Rivalry with other European empires was a key motive for British colonisation during the Scramble for Africa.
Keywords
African interior - areas of Africa beyond its coastlines were often referred to as the African interior
Abolitionism - abolitionism refers to the movement which supported abolishing slavery and the slave trade
Missionaries - missionaries are people who travel to foreign countries to spread Christianity
Colonisation - colonisation is the process of taking over and ruling new areas as colonies
Common misconception
Britain ruled over large areas of Africa throughout the 19th century.
British colonies were mainly confined to coastal areas in the first half of the 19th century. It was only later that British rule extended into the African interior.
Teacher tip
Visual demonstration can help support pupils comprehension of the transformation in scale of British rule in Africa. Students struggling on task C could be prompted with two images (i.e. those from slides 8 and 33) to support them.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. diplomacy involves the use or threat of force against other countries to achieve foreign policy aims.
Q2.What colony in East Asia did Britain gain official control over in 1842?
Q3.How was British trade with the Qing Empire affected in the years after the Opium Wars?
Q4.Write the missing word. empire involved a country gaining significant influence over another but not actually ruling that other country.
Q5.Which statement is most accurate?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the terms to their correct definitions.
areas of Africa beyond its coastlines
movement which supported abolishing slavery and the slave trade
people who travel to foreign countries to spread Christianity
process of taking over and ruling new areas as colonies
Q2.Which of the following was a British colony before 1850?
Q3.Write the missing word. During the first half of the 19th century, British rule in Africa was mainly restricted to areas.
Q4.Write the missing word. Britain gained colonies such as Egypt and Nigeria during the for Africa.
Q5.What did Lord Palmerston, British Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, say about colonisation in Africa?
Q6.Which example best demonstrates the role of European rivalry in motivating British colonisation in Africa?
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The British Empire and the Scramble for Africa, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The British Empire and the Scramble for Africa, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The British Empire: how far was it transformed in the mid-nineteenth century? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.