West Africa in the British Empire

What was West Africa in the British Empire?

Areas of West Africa became part of the British Empire, and remained part of the Empire until decolonisation in the late 20th century.

When was West Africa brought into the British Empire?

West Africa was brought into the British Empire in the early 19th century.

Why was West Africa brought into the British Empire?

There were economic reasons for bringing West Africa into the empire.

• ❖ After the slave trade was abolished in 1807, British merchants lost a significant source of income. They needed to replace this.
• ❖ One of the resources found in West Africa was palm oil, which had many uses, including as an ingredient for soap, and as lubrication for machinery.
• ❖ By 1895, Britain was importing 635,000 tonnes of palm oil from West Africa.
• ❖ After the Second World War, Britain saw an opportunity to industrialise West Africa, to help rebuild Britain's economy.