Movatterモバイル変換

Gambia Colony and Protectorate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

British colony and protectorate from 1821 to 1965

This article is about the British protectorate in modern-day the Gambia. For the British protectorate in modern-dayZambia, seeNorthern Rhodesia.

Gambia Colony and Protectorate

1816–1965

Flag

Coat of arms

Anthem: God Save the Queen (1837–1901; 1952–1965)
God Save the King (1816–1837; 1901–1952)

Status

Crown colony

Capital

Bathurst

Common languages

English (official),Mandinka,Fula,Wolof widely spoken

Religion

Christianity,Sunni Islam,Serer

Demonym

Gambian

Monarch

• 1816–1820

George III(first)

• 1952–1965

Elizabeth II(last)

Governor

• 1816–1829

Sir Alexander Grant

• 1962–1965

Sir John Paul(last)

Prime Minister

• 1962–1965

Dawda Jawara

Legislature

Legislative Council (1844–1866; 1880–1960)
House of Representatives (1960–1965)

Historical era

New Imperialism

• Establishment

17 October 1816

• Independence asThe Gambia

18 February 1965

Currency

Pound sterling (to 1912)
British West African pound (1912–65)

Succeeded by

The Gambia (1965–1970)

Today part of

Gambia

Part ofa series on the
History of the Gambia

Chronological
Timeline Senegambian stone circles Senegambia Mali Empire Kaabu Saloum Niumi Niani Wuli Curonian colonisation Albreda Gambia Colony and Protectorate Gambia Independence Act 1964 Coups d'état (1981 (unsuccessful) ·1994 ·2014 (unsuccessful) ·2022 (unsuccessful)) Senegambia Confederation 2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia
Gambia portal
v t e

TheGambia Colony and Protectorate was the Britishcolonial administration ofThe Gambia from 1821 to 1965, part of theBritish Empire in theNew Imperialism era. The colony was the immediate area surroundingBathurst (now Banjul), and theprotectorate was the inland territory situated around theGambia River, which was declared in 1894.

History

[edit]

The foundation of the colony wasFort James and Bathurst, where British presence was established in 1815 and 1816, respectively. For various periods in its existence it was subordinate to theSierra Leone Colony. However, by 1888 it was a colony in its own right with a permanently appointedGovernor.

The boundaries of the territory were an issue of contention between the British and French authorities due to the proximity toFrench Senegal.^[1] Additionally, on numerous occasions the British governmenthad attempted to exchange it with France for other territories, such as on the upperNiger River.^[2]

France and Britain agreed in 1889 in principle to set the boundary at 10 km (6.2 miles) north and south of the river and east toYarbutenda, the furthest navigable point on theriver Gambia. This was followed by the dispatch of a joint Anglo-French Boundary Commission to map the actual border. However, on its arrival in the area in 1891, the Boundary Commission was met with resistance by local leaders whose territories they were coming to divide. The commission could nevertheless rely on British naval power: British ships bombed the town of Kansala to force the Gambians to back off, and according to the 1906The Gambia Colony and Protectorate: An Official Handbook, men and guns from three warships landed on the riverbanks “as a hint of what the resisters had to expect in the event of any continued resistance.”^[3]

The colony ended in 1965 whenThe Gambia became an independent state within theCommonwealth of Nations,^[4] withDawda Jawara asPrime Minister.

Economy

[edit]

The economy of The Gambia, like other African countries at the time, was very heavily oriented towards agriculture. Reliance on thegroundnut became so strong that it made up almost the entirety of exports, making the economy vulnerable. Groundnuts were the only commodity subject to export duties;^[5] these export duties resulted in the illegal smuggling of the product toFrench Senegal.

Attempts were made to increase production of other goods for export: the Gambian Poultry Scheme pioneered by theColonial Development Corporation aimed to produce twenty millioneggs and one millionlb of dressed poultry a year. The conditions in The Gambia proved unfavourable andtyphoid killed much of the chicken stock, drawing criticism to the corporation.^[6]

Transport

[edit]

The River Gambia was the principal route of navigation and transport inland, with a port at Bathurst. The road network was mainly concentrated around Bathurst, with the remaining areas largely connected by dirt roads.

The only airport was atYundum, built inWorld War II.^[7] In the immediate post-war era it was used for passenger flights. BothBritish South American Airways and theBritish Overseas Airways Corporation had services, the former moving its service toDakar, which had a concrete runway (as opposed to pierced steel planking).^[8] The airport was rebuilt in 1963 and the building is still in use today.

Government structure

[edit]

This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.
Find sources: "Gambia Colony and Protectorate" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(August 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

During the later colonial period, especially in post-1901, The Gambia began to have a more developed colonial government. Roles in the government, though taken by white British officials, included examples such as theAttorney General, the Senior Medical Officer, the Controller of Customs, the Receiver General, and the Director of Public Works.

The colony was governed by the Executive Council primarily, but legislation came from theLegislative Council.

In 1919 the colony was hit by a scandal when it became known that Travelling Commission J K McCallum had passed his colonial administrative authority over to his common-law wife,Fatou Khan, who was an illiterateWolof woman.^[9]

Independence

[edit]

Meeting of the Gambia Constitutional Conference in London, July 1961.

In anticipation of independence, efforts were made to create internal self-government. The 1960 Constitution created a partly electedHouse of Representatives, with 19 elected members and 8 chosen by the chiefs. This constitution proved flawed in the1960 elections when the two major parties tied with 8 seats each. With the support of the unelected chiefs,Pierra Sarr N'Jie of theUnited Party was appointed Chief Minister.Dawda Jawara of thePeople's Progressive Party resigned as Minister of Education, triggering a Constitutional Conference arranged by theSecretary of State for the Colonies.^[10]

The Constitutional Conference paved the way for a new constitution that granted a greater degree of self-government and a House of Representatives with more elected members. Elections were held in1962, with Jawara's Progressive Party securing a majority of the elected seats. Under the new constitutional arrangements, Jawara was appointed prime minister: a position he held until it was abolished in 1970.^[11]

Following agreements between theBritish and Gambian governments in July 1964, The Gambia became independent on 18 February 1965.^[12]

References

[edit]

^"Hansard HC Deb 18 August 1887, vol 319, cols 944–955".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 18 August 1887.
^Thomas Pakenham (1991),The Scramble for Africa. London: Abacus. p. 675
^Atlas Obscura
^TheGambia Independence Act 1964, c. 93
^"Hansard HC Deb 25 March 1959, vol 602, cols 1405–1458".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 25 March 1959.
^"Hansard HC Deb 13 March 1951, vol 485, cols 1317–1375".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 13 March 1951.
^"Yundum". Britannica Online encyclopedia. Retrieved10 August 2012.
^"Hansard HC Deb 29 January 1947, vol 432, cols 202".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 29 January 1947.
^hassoum, ceesay (2012),"Khan, Fatou",Dictionary of African Biography, Oxford University Press,doi:10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-1069,ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5, retrieved16 January 2021
^"History of the Independence Movement".Gambia Information Site. 10 August 2012.
^"Constitutional Developments in The Gambia: Readying for a New Constitution".Law Hub Gambia. 18 February 2018. Retrieved12 January 2025.
^"British colonial rule — LawHuGnet".Law Hub Gambia. 9 August 2023. Retrieved12 January 2025.

External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toBritish Gambia.

FormerBritish Empire and currentBritish Overseas Territories

Legend: Former territory; Current territory; *CurrentCommonwealth realm; ^†Current member of theCommonwealth of Nations

Europe
Corsica 1794–1796 Gibraltar since 1713 Heligoland 1807–1890 Ionian Islands 1809–1864 Lordship of Ireland 1177–1542 Kingdom of Ireland 1542–1800(integrated into the UK) Free State 1921–1931 ^†Malta Protectorate 1800–1813 Colony 1813–1964 Minorca 1708–1757, 1763–1782 and 1798–1802

Africa

Basutoland (^†Lesotho) 1868–1966
Bechuanaland (^†Botswana) 1884–1966
Cameroons¹³ 1919–1961
Cape Colony 1795–1803
Cape of Good Hope 1806–1910
Central Africa 1891–1907
East Africa 1895–1920
Egypt 1882–1922
^†The Gambia 1816–1965
Gold Coast (^†Ghana) 1874–1957
^†Kenya 1920–1963
Lagos 1862–1906
Madeira 1807–1808
^†Mauritius 1810–1968
Natal 1856–1910
Niger Coast 1884–1900
^†Nigeria 1914–1960
Northern Nigeria 1900–1914
Northern Rhodesia¹⁵ 1924–1964
Nyasaland 1891–1964
Orange River 1900–1910
^†Seychelles 1903–1976
^†Sierra Leone 1792–1961
Somaliland 1884–1960
^†South Africa 1910–1931
South-West Africa¹² 1915–1931
Southern Rhodesia¹⁴ 1923–1965 and 1979–1980
Southern Nigeria 1900–1914
^†Swaziland 1893–1968
Sudan 1899–1956
Tanganyika¹³ 1922–1961
Transvaal 1900–1910
^†Uganda 1890–1962
Zanzibar 1890–1963
Zululand 1887–1897

¹²Now^†Namibia
¹³League of Nations mandate. British Cameroons is now part of^†Cameroon andNigeria, while Tanganyika is part of^†Tanzania.
¹⁴Self-governing Southern Rhodesiaunilaterally declared independence in 1965 (asRhodesia) and continued as anunrecognised state until the 1979Lancaster House Agreement. After recognised independence in 1980, Zimbabwe was a member of the Commonwealth until it withdrew in 2003.
¹⁵Now^†Zambia

Asia

Aden Colony 1839–1967
Afghanistan 1839–1842
- Protectorate 1879–1919
Akrotiri and Dhekelia since 1960 (before as part ofCyprus)
Bencoolen 1685–1824
Banka andBilliton 1812–1824
Bengal 1757–1947
Bhutan (protectorate) 1907–1949
Borneo 1874–1963
British Indian Ocean Territory since 1965 (before as part ofMauritius andSeychelles)²⁶
Burma 1824–1948
^†Brunei 1888–1984
^†Ceylon 1795–1948
^†Cyprus 1878–1960
Hong Kong 1841–1997
^†India¹⁸ 1858–1947
Java 1811–1816
Kuwait 1918–1961
Labuan 1848–1946
Malaya 1819–1826
- Federated States 1895–1946
- Unfederated States 1885–1946
- Union 1946–1948
- Federation 1948–1957
Malacca 1824–1946
- Crown Colony 1946–1957
^†Maldives 1796–1965
Manila and Cavite 1762–1764
Mesopotamia¹⁹ 1920–1932
Muscat and Oman 1891–1971
North Borneo 1882–1963
- Crown Colony 1946–1963
Padang 1781–1784 and 1795–1819
Palestine¹⁹ 1923–1948
Penang 1786–1946
- Crown Colony 1946–1957
Pulo Condore 1702–1705
Sarawak 1841–1946
- Crown Colony 1946–1963
^†Singapore 1946–1963
South Vietnam 1945–1946
Straits Settlements 1826–1946
Transjordan 1921–1946
Trucial States 1892–1971
Weihai 1898–1930

¹⁸Now^†India,^†Pakistan and^†Bangladesh
¹⁹League of Nations mandate. Iraq's mandate was not enacted and replaced by theAnglo-Iraqi Treaty
²⁶Legitimacy of territorial establishmentdisputed

North America

Anguilla since 1650
*Antigua 1632–1860
*Antigua and Barbuda 1860–1981
^†*Bahamas 1670–1973
^†Barbados 1624–1966
Bay Islands 1643–1860
^†*Belize 1871–1981
Bermuda since 1619
British Arctic Territories 16th c.–1880
British Columbia 1858–1866
- 1866–1871
Cape Breton Island 1754–1820
^†Dominica 1763–1978
East Florida 1763–1783
^†*Grenada 1762–1974
^†*Canada
- Lower 1791–1841
- Upper 1791–1841
- Province 1841–1867
- Dominion 1867–1931
Carolina 1663–1712
Cayman Islands since 1670
Columbia District/Oregon Country 1818–1846
Connecticut 1636–1776
Delaware 1701–1776
East Jersey 1674–1702
Georgia 1733–1776
^†*Jamaica 1655–1962
Leeward Islands 1671–1816, 1833–1960
Massachusetts Bay 1629–1691
- Province, 1691–1776
Maryland 1632–1776
Montserrat since 1632
Mosquito Coast 1655–1860
Nevis 1628–1983
New Albion 1579
New Brunswick 1784–1867
New England 1686–1689
New Hampshire 1680–1776
New Haven 1637–1662
New Jersey 1665–1674 and 1702–1776
New York 1664–1776
Newfoundland 1907–1949
Newfoundland and Labrador 1583–1907
North Carolina 1712–1776
North-Western Territory 1859–1870
Nova Scotia 1713–1867
Paulet affair 1843
Prince Edward Island 1763–1873
Pennsylvania 1681–1776
Plymouth 1620–1691
Quebec 1763–1791*Queen Charlotte Islands 1853–1863
Rhode Island 1636–1776
Rupert's Land 1670–1870
Saint Croix 1625–1650
Saint Kitts 1623–1983
^†*Saint Kitts and Nevis 1882–1983
^†*Saint Lucia 1605–1979
^†*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1627–1979
Saybrook 1635–1644
South Carolina 1712–1776
Stickeen 1862–1863
^†Trinidad and Tobago 1889–1962
Turks and Caicos Islands since 1799
Vancouver Island 1849–1866
Virgin Islands since 1666
Virginia 1607–1776
West Florida 1763–1783
West Indies Federation 1958–1962
- Associated States 1967–1983
West Jersey 1674–1702
Windward Islands 1833–1960

South America
Providence Island 1631–1641 Willoughbyland 1651–1667 Saint Andrew and Providence Islands⁴ 1670–1688 ^†Guiana 1831–1966
⁴Now adepartment ofColombia

Oceania

New South Wales 1788–1901
Van Diemen's Land/Tasmania 1803–1901
Auckland Islands²⁰ 1807–1863
New Hebrides²¹ 1824–1980
Queensland 1824–1901
Swan River/Western Australia 1829–1901
South Australia 1836–1901
Pitcairn Islands since 1838
New Zealand 1841–1907
North Australia 1846–1847
Victoria 1851–1901
^†Fiji 1874–1970
Western Pacific Territories 1877–1976
Papua 1884–1902
Rarotonga/Cook Islands²⁰ 1888–1901
Union Islands²⁰ 1889–1948
Gilbert and Ellice Islands²² 1892–1979
^†*Solomon Islands 1893–1978
^†Tonga 1900–1970
Niue²⁰ 1900–1974
^†*Australia 1901–1942
^†*New Zealand 1907–1947
^†Samoa 1914–1962
^†Nauru 1919–1942 and 1945–1968

²⁰Now part of the^†Realm of New Zealand
²¹Now^†Vanuatu
²²Now^†Kiribati and^†*Tuvalu

Antarctica and the South Atlantic

Saint Helena²³ since 1658
Ascension Island²³ since 1815
Tristan da Cunha²³ since 1816
Falkland Islands⁵ since 1833
^†Australian Antarctic Territory(transferred to theCommonwealth of Australia) 1841–1933
^†Ross Dependency(transferred to theRealm of New Zealand) 1841–1947
British Antarctic Territory²⁴ since 1908
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands²⁵ since 1908

⁵Occupied by Argentina during theFalklands War of April–June 1982.
²³Since 2009 part ofSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Ascension Island (1922–) and Tristan da Cunha (1938–) were previously dependencies of Saint Helena.
²⁴Claimed in 1908; territory formed 1962; overlaps portions of Argentine and Chilean claims, borders not enforced but claim not renounced under theAntarctic Treaty.
²⁵Claimed in 1908; territory formed 1985