British Conquest in Nigeria – JSS3 Nigerian History Lesson Note (Second Term)

The British conquest of Nigeria was the process by which Britain took control of the kingdoms and territories of present-day Nigeria, mainly between the 1860s and 1903.

• Period: it happened step by step over several decades in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Why “conquest”: many takeovers happened without the free consent of the peoples involved.
• Two main methods: treaties and warfare.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what is meant by the British conquest of Nigeria;
2. state why Britain wanted to take control of Nigerian territories;
3. describe how the British used treaties to take control of Nigerian territories;
4. give examples of kingdoms conquered through warfare;
5. state reasons why Nigerian rulers and peoples resisted British conquest;
6. list the consequences of British conquest for Nigeria.

Why did Britain want to conquer Nigerian territories?

Britain wanted Nigerian territories mainly for trade, raw materials and political advantage over other European powers.

• Trade: British merchants wanted to control trade in palm oil and other goods along the coast and the Niger.
• Raw materials: British industries needed raw materials, and Nigeria could also be a market for British goods.
• Rivalry: Britain wanted to stop France and Germany from taking the same lands.
• Berlin Conference (1884 to 1885): European powers agreed that a power must show real control over a territory to claim it.

What were the methods of British conquest?

The British used two main methods to take control of Nigerian territories: treaties and warfare.

What is conquest through treaties?

A treaty is a formal written agreement between two or more rulers, states or governments.

• How it worked: British agents approached kings and chiefs with documents written in English.
• Language problem: most Nigerian rulers could not read English and depended on interpreters.
• Weak explanation: interpreters often did not explain the full meaning of the treaties.
• Wrong belief: many rulers thought they were only agreeing to trade or friendship.

Many treaties contained clauses that:

• Trading rights: gave Britain exclusive rights to trade in the area.
• Protection: allowed Britain to “protect” the territory, which in practice meant control.
• Foreign powers: stopped the ruler from making agreements with other European powers.
• Interference: gave Britain the right to step into local affairs.
• Sovereignty: sometimes handed complete control (sovereignty) to the British Crown.

Examples of territories acquired through treaties:

• Lagos: King Dosunmu signed a treaty in 1861 that gave Lagos to Britain.
• Niger Delta: many local chiefs signed protection treaties with Britain.
• Niger and Benue areas: agents of the Royal Niger Company signed trade and protection treaties with local rulers in the 1880s.

What is conquest through warfare?

Conquest through warfare means the use of military force against rulers who refused treaties or resisted British influence.

• Weapons: the British had maxim guns (early machine guns), artillery and rifles.
• Nigerian forces: they mostly used traditional weapons, which gave them a serious disadvantage.
• Punitive expeditions: the British called these attacks “punitive expeditions”, meaning they were punishing resistance.
• Damage: towns were attacked, homes and farms were destroyed, and many people died.

The Ijebu Kingdom (1892)

• Cause: the Ijebu refused to open their territory to British traders.
• Result: British forces defeated the Ijebu army and the land came under British control.

The Kingdom of Benin (1897)

• Cause: a British party led by Acting Consul-General James Phillips was attacked on its way to Benin, and many of its members were killed.
• Attack: Britain sent a large force that captured Benin City and burned much of it.
• Looting: the royal palace was looted and many Benin bronzes and other treasures were taken to Britain.
• Result: Oba Ovonramwen was exiled and Benin came under British control.

The Aro Confederacy (1901 to 1902)

• Who: the Aro were an influential group in eastern Nigeria.
• Result: after months of fighting, British forces broke Aro power and destroyed their famous oracle at Arochukwu.

The Sokoto Caliphate (1903)

• Who: the Sokoto Caliphate was a large Islamic state in northern Nigeria.
• Attack: British forces under Frederick Lugard, the High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria, defeated its armies in 1903.
• Result: the Sultan was replaced and British authority was set up over the territory.

What is the difference between treaties and warfare as methods?

What is the timeline of British conquest?

Why did Nigerians resist British conquest?

Nigerian rulers and peoples resisted because they wanted to keep their freedom, culture and trade.

1. Independence: they wanted to keep their sovereignty.
2. Culture: they wished to protect their traditions and ways of life.
3. Trade: they wanted to keep control of their own trade and income.
4. Fear of change: they feared what foreign rule would bring.
5. Examples elsewhere: they had seen other territories suffer under European control.

What were the consequences of British conquest?

British conquest ended the independence of Nigerian states and changed their politics, economy and culture.

1. Loss of independence: Nigerian kingdoms and states lost their sovereignty and came under foreign rule.
2. Political reorganisation: traditional political systems were disrupted as the British set up their own administration.
3. Economic changes: the economy was reorganised to serve British interests, with a focus on raw materials for British industries.
4. Cultural impact: traditional cultures faced pressure from European influences such as Christianity and Western education.
5. Creation of Nigeria: the conquered territories were amalgamated in 1914 into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
6. Nationalism: conquest and colonial rule later led to nationalist movements that demanded independence.

When was the British conquest completed?

The British conquest was largely complete by 1914, when the northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated.

• Amalgamation: in 1914 the two protectorates were joined to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
• Leader: Frederick Lugard became the first Governor-General of the united territory.
• End of British rule: Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960.

Evaluation

1. What is a treaty?
2. Why did many Nigerian rulers not understand the treaties they signed?
3. Name three territories conquered through warfare and state the year each was attacked.
4. Give three reasons why Nigerian rulers resisted British conquest.
5. State the year the northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated.

Assignment

Explain in your own words how the British used treaties and warfare to take control of Nigerian territories. Then list four consequences of British conquest for Nigeria.