“The British Government were reluctant imperialists in West Africa” To what extent do you agree with this statement? It can be argued that the British government were reluctant imperialists in West Africa, there was a strong desire by the British Government and the British people to abolish slavery, the role of George Goldie who brought the sense of “creeping imperialism” and the ongoing threat European Powers posed to British rule in Africa. These factors all suggest that the Government were reluctant imperialists in West Africa. European Powers especially the Germans in West Africa pressured the British Government into expanding into West Africa. At first the UK government were not interested in expanding into West Africa, this can be shown by the rejection of Consul’s Hewett’s want for development ...