Moving Towards Annexation Vocabulary Annexation The action of
Moving Towards Annexation
Vocabulary �Annexation: The action of annexing, to incorporate a territory into an existing political unit (country) �Sovereignty: authority. Supreme power or
WHY? �What reasons do you think Maori may have been looking to Britain for intervention in NZ in the early 1830 s? �What reasons might the British have for NOT wanting to intervene? �How might intervention benefit the British?
Pressures in the 1830 s � Some Northern Maori want protection. � Law and order of British. � Many Maori want closer links for trade, literacy and religious reasons. � Missionaries want to protect Maori. � Traders want trade protected. � French threat? – Baron de Thierry an eccentric French aristocrat has landed in the Bay of Islands claiming land as an independent state.
So what did they do? �In 1831, 13 Maori Chiefs sent a petition to King William IV under the encouragement of CMS Missionaries. �The petition asked for protection from French invasion (which was feared) and from all other nations. �They also asked for law enforcementthey wanted disorderly British residents and visitors to be punished.
What did the petition mean? �A recognition of a commercial relationship between the two countries. �The beginning of a relationship between the King and Maori people/leaders. �A first official recognition of concern regarding law and order.
Appointment of a British Resident �In 1833, the British Crown appoints James Busby as the first British Resident of NZ. �Busby was to be a representative of British authority in NZ.
Who is James Busby? �James Busby was born in Edinburgh. �He came to NZ in 1833 from NSW (Sydney) where he had been a viticulturist. �He settled in the Bay of Islands with his wife. They had six children.
James Busby
British Resident: Job Description � To protect “well-disposed settlers and traders” � To prevent “outrages” of Europeans against Maori � To apprehend escaped convicts. � He was expected to act as a bridge between the races. � Basically, he is maintaining law and order, regulating race relations and protecting NZ from any other overseas influence.
What problems might Busby have faced in this job?
Problems for Busby �He had no power, authority or support. �He cannot have troops to enforce because he is a civilian. �He cannot make laws because he is a civilian. �NZ is not officially under the control of Britain, so their laws do not apply. �NSW was unwilling to provide adequate funds for Busby to be effective.
Important Initiatives �Busby gathered Maori chiefs at Waitangi in 1834 and encouraged them to choose a national flag. �This flag was used for flying on New Zealand ships to identify them overseas �It was known as the flag of the “Independent Tribes of New Zealand”
Important Initiatives �In 1835, Busby convinced 34 chiefs from the north to sign a Declaration of Independence of New Zealand. �They called themselves the Confederation of United Tribes. �The British recognised the Declaration and with it the independence of Maori and New Zealand.
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