13. Attitudes Towards Imperialism Flashcards
What patriotic British song was written in 1902?
Land of Hope and Glory
What does Land of Hope and Glory suggest? (Two things)
The belief that Empire should always be expanding
The belief that God wanted the British Empire to be powerful
Reaction to imperialism of the press
The press hugely supported imperialism
Who did the press portray as national heroes?
The solider, explorers and hunters involved in Empire
What increased as a result of increased support for imperialism increase?
Increased racism, stereotypes and rapid judgements towards colonies and people of Empire
What political party was the most supportive of imperialism?
Conservative Party
Which political party won the khaki election in 1900?
Conservative party
What was the imperial objective of the Liberal Party?
For each colony of Empire to be under self-rule
What did Liberals aim at with imperialism?
Education and improvement of colonies
What did Liberals and the Labour Party prefer in the early 1900s?
They preferred workers freedom ‘through’ Empire raather than ‘from’ Empire
What as Empire morally viewed as?
A ‘responsibility’ and a ‘burden’ that God placed on British to bring stability and order to the world
What did British Conservative Prime Minister Lord Salisbury want to create?
A stronger and more closely United Empire
What did Lord Curzon view Empire as?
A racial duty
Quote from Lord Curzon describing Empire
‘Instrument for the good of humanity’
What did Lord Milner argue about every man of British birth should feel?
Should feel equally at home in every state of Empire
What did high imperialist want?
A stronger Empire ran by white people
Why did Chamberlain believe there was a ‘national crisis’ in Britain?
Because industrial and military development of other powers was increasing up and over that of Britain
What was the only way to solve the ‘national crisis’ according to Chamberlain?
Reorganisation of Empire
What policy did most imperialists favour?
Policy of imperial preference
What did Chamberlain believe Empire could provide fundings for?
Welfare reforms
Examples of societies and organisations that many imperialist activists were a part of
Royal Colonial Institute
Victoria League
Round Table Movement
Empire Day Movement
Purpose of the Royal Colonial Institute
To provide a letting place for those interested in colonial and Indian affairs
When was the Royal Colonial Institute founded?
1870
When was the Victoria League founded?
1901
What was the Victoria League?
Non-political organisation founded by women to promote closer unison between parts of Empire
Who was a strong critic of Empire?
Hobson
What did Hobson believe imperial expansion had been driven by?
A search for new markets and opportunities for rich British capitalists to make profit
What did Hobson believe imperial expansion was?
A ‘capitalist plot’
When did most critics of Empire emerge?
In the aftermath of the Second Boer War
What were critics of Empire criticising instead of Empire?
The apparent civilising mission of it
What report removed Empire’s supposed civilising mission?
Emily Hobhouse’s report about conditions of British concentration camps
Quote from Wilfred Blunt (critic of Empire)
“The white man’s burden, Lord, is the burden of his cash”
What were most anti-imperialists shadowed by?
Imperial support
Which culture emerged in Britain in the late 19th century?
Popular culture
What did popular culture celebrate?
Britain’s imperial glory
Factors for the emergence of popular enthusiasm for Empire (5)
Spread of education
Greater literacy rates
Emergence of mass politics (people interested in politics)
Organised entertainment
Spread of advertising aimed at mass markets
Owner of Daily Mail and Daily Mirror
Alfred Harmsworth
What were the Daily Mail and Mirror new forms of when they came out?
New forms of newspapers which were much easier to read and full of illustrations
Between what years was the ‘golden age’ for newspaper publication?
Between 1890 and 1914
What market were the new forms of newspapers aimed at? How did it reach them?
Lower-middle class markets
Sold at low prices
When did the Daily Mail sell over 1 million copies in a single day?
During the Second Boer War
During the Second Boer War, what did the Daisy Mail fill its pages with?
Stories of the war and criticisms for the Boers and Kruger whilst praising horoism of British troops
During the early 1900s, who did the Mail focus their attention on? How were they portrayed?
The Germans, portraying them as a military threat to Empire
Which poet and writer significantly shaped the attitudes of the British public towards Empire in years before 1914?
Rudyard Kipling
Kipling’s views
Had a very religious belief in Empire and the superiority of the ‘British race!
How did music increase support for Empire?
Nationalist and imperialist themes were found in music played in music halls, concert halls and churches
What type of songs/marches did church choirs and local music groups perform?
Imperial ballads, patriotic hymns and military marches
How were imperialist messages spread to the youth?
Through children’s books, youth organisations and schools
What produced a new market for books and comics?
Increased literacy
How did history and geography books used in state elementary schools increase support for Empire among the youth?
By emphasising glories of Empire and presenting explorers and missionaries as heroes
