- Colonies under indirect British rule were economically developed by Britain to increase value to Empire and improve living standards, though most initiatives were funded by African taxpayers as Britain expected these colonies to be self-financing.
- The Great Depression also affected Africa however as resources were sucked out of the country and little imperial development initiatives occurred. Protests in Northern Rhodesia were common.
- Several initiatives included:
- The British government allotting £3 million to Sudan in 1920 for Gezira Cotton Scheme to increase cotton production.
- The British government allocating £10 million for improving rail and dock facilities in Eastern Africa.
- Investment in schools and educational facilities in Western Africa
- Agricultural research stations set up across the continent.
- Colonial Development Act of 1929, which gave £1 million for development projects across British colonies in Africa.
- White settler colonies pushed for self-government.
- Pressure put on British government to give Kenya self-government in 1920. Kikuyu dominated and mistreated.
- Power given to 20-30,000 strong white-settler community. Dominated Legislative Council and used influence to exclude Indian settlers and Kikuyu. Tea and coffee taxed heavily from black-settlers and some banned. Many migrated to major cities such as Nairobi.
- Stirrings of nationalism amongst Kikuyu angered Colonial Office in London, which issued ‘Devonshire Declaration’ in 1923 which proclaimed rights of Africans had to be respected.
- Southern Rhodesia also saw dominant white settler population
- Took political power and won self-government in 1923.
- Union of South Africa where respect of ethnic minorities had been implemented into granting of Dominion status in 1910 were disrespected.
- Pressure put on British government to give Kenya self-government in 1920. Kikuyu dominated and mistreated.
White minority had established control over internal affairs by 1930s and Statute of Westminster in 1931 gave Dominions legislative autonomy à white dominance continued.