How were the British able to maintain their power over the Zulu following the Zulu War?(1 point)
through their oppressive policies
through their military superiority
through their income taxes
through uniting the Zulu kingdom
through their military superiority
The British were able to maintain their power over the Zulu following the Zulu War primarily through their military superiority.
The British were able to maintain their power over the Zulu following the Zulu War primarily through their military superiority.
To understand how the British achieved this, let's take a step-by-step approach:
1. Oppressive Policies: Although oppressive policies were indeed used by the British, they played a limited role in maintaining power over the Zulu. These policies, such as land confiscation and forced labor, were aimed at subjugating the Zulu people and undermining their social and economic structures. However, they alone were not sufficient to maintain British control.
2. Military Superiority: The key factor in maintaining British power over the Zulu was their military superiority. The Zulu War of 1879 highlighted the significant gap in military technology and tactics between the two sides. The British deployed modern rifles, artillery, and superior military strategies, including the famous "Battle of Ulundi" where they decisively defeated the Zulu forces. This military dominance gave the British control over the region and enabled them to maintain their authority over the Zulu.
3. Income Taxes: Income taxes, although implemented by the British colonial authorities, were not a significant factor in maintaining power over the Zulu. While the British did impose taxes on the Zulu people as part of their colonial administration, it did not directly contribute to the maintenance of power. Instead, taxes were primarily used to fund the colonial administration and infrastructure development.
4. Uniting the Zulu Kingdom: The notion of uniting the Zulu kingdom does not apply to how the British maintained power over the Zulu. In fact, the British actively worked to fragment and weaken the Zulu kingdom during the colonial period, aiming to prevent any potential challenges or resistance to their authority. They dismantled the Zulu central government, exiled or imprisoned Zulu leaders, and implemented policies that disrupted traditional Zulu systems of governance.
In summary, while oppressive policies, income taxes, and disruption of the Zulu kingdom can all be seen as elements of British control, the primary factor that allowed them to maintain power over the Zulu post-Zulu War was their military superiority.