1.3: expansion and consolidation of empire Flashcards
how many soldiers did the colonies provide?
2.5 million
how many soldiers did Britain have fighting?
5 million
how else did empire aid war?
supplied Britain with raw materials and food
what was the Imperial War Council?
seemed to symbolise the union of empire during war but only held 2 conferences which were dominated by white leaders
what is imperial preference?
British preference to use the recourses, manpower and materials of empire to fight the war rather than their own
what was different about the Canadian, NZ and AUS troops?
leaders insisted their forces maintain their distinct national identities
how many indigenous soldiers fought in the war?
Canada: 4000 First Nations people
AUS: 1000 indigenous Australians
NZ: 2500 Maori forces
what is meant by conscription?
Compulsory enlistment into state service
when was conscription introduced in NZ and CAN?
NZ: 1916
CAN: 1917
what was the Gallipoli campaign and who was applauded for it?
a disastrous attempted invasion of Turkey in 1915 where AUS and NZ (Anzacs) were applauded for their bravery
what was Vimy Ridge and which Dominion is associated with it?
A battle in 1917 which demonstrated Canadian bravery
what else did Canada provide Britain with?
1/3 of their munitions and wheat
who formed the South Africa Defence force?
General Smuts
What were the achievements of the SADF?
fought successfully against Germany in its colonies
what strategy did General Smuts organise at an Imperial War Cabinet conference?
136,000 SA’s were to fight in the Middle East against western fronts
how did French Canadians in Quebec critique and respond Dominion involvement?
They saw the war as a pro British affair and in 1918 rioted/protested against conscriptions in Quebec
What was the response in AUS?
they rejected conscriptions in 1916 and 1917 referendums
What was the response in SA?
republican movement led by J.B.M Hertzog grew and so did Afrikaner culture
what were the human impacts on the Dominions?
AUS: 60,000 dead
NZ: 16,000
CAN: 61,000
SA: 7000
What was the attitude amongst dominions by the end of WW1?
nationalism was growing and there was a demand for independence
How many Indian soldiers fought in WW1?
1.3 million
conscription was never introduced in India, what does this mean?
All soldiers were volunteers demonstrating Indian commitment to Britain
How many soldiers were Indian fighting in France in 1914?
1/3
Where else did India contribute other than Europe?
Major contribution in Middle East (in the campaign against Turkey in Palestine, Syria and Iraq
How many Indian soldiers died?
74,000
How much money did the Indian government contribute?
£100 million
What was the attitude in India like post WW1?
growing nationalism and demand for independence
When was Egypt turned into a protectorate?
1914
How many Egyptian soldiers were recruited to fight in the Middle East?
1.2 million
Why were servicemen from East/West Africa not allowed to fight?
They were black and troops were racially segregated
how many Egyptians fought in Europe?
100,000
Why were troops racially segregated?
they would be seen as equals if they fought alongside europeans and so they had to maintain racial hierarchies not to undermine imperial rule
Where did Africans fight?
In the African theatre of war
What was the West India Regiment?
made up of volunteers from Caribbean Islands, Nigeria, Ghana and India. Won a series of victories against Germany taking Cameroon in 1915
What example is there of East Africans fighting?
Fought against Germans in Tanzania where nearly 100,000 died
What did The Treaty of Versailles 1919 entail?
Germany was stripped of its colonies, which were to be referred to mandates and administered by the LON and its special allied powers
What was the attitude in Africa post WW1?
Demand for independence reflected by first Pan-African conference held in France 1919
What treaty subjected The Ottoman Empire to the same fate?
The Treaty of Sevres 1920
What was the guiding principle of The Treaty of Versailles?
mandates should work towards being self governing
What did Britain, France and the US reject at TTOV?
Japan, who had been on the allied side during the war, was rejected of their proposal to include a clause about racial equity in the principles of the LON
Why were Britain and France against this?
It would undermine their imperial empires and their argument that the colonies were not competent to self-govern therefore requiring the support of nations like Britain and France
How many new subjects did Britain gain post WW1?
13
Why were the new mandates categorised?
to determine how they were developed to determine the extent of British involvement
What was category B?
territories which required a longer period of guidance before independence could be granted (Tanzania, Cameroon)
What was category A?
territories seen as developed so independence would be viable in the near future (Palestine, Iraq)
What was category C?
territories where independence was not considered feasible (New Guniea, Samoa)
Why was Palestine of strategic importance to Britain?
it was a buffer state to the Suez Canal
why was Palestine unstable post WW1?
There had been heavy fighting between British and Turkish forces. Turkey had also enforced conscriptions and stolen Arab crops therefore there was a heightened demand for independence
What was the Skyes-Picot agreement?
Middle East secretly divided amongst Britain and France
Britain: Jordan, Southern Iraq, Palestine
France: Syria, Northern Iraq, Lebanon
when was the Balfour Declaration announced?
1917
What did the Balfour Declaration outline?
Expressed sympathy for Zionist aspirations and promised Jews a homeland in Palestine without constituting the rights of Arabs
How did Arabs respond to the first British sponsored Zionist commission in 1918
Muslim-Christian Arab association formed and between 1918-20 there were violent clashes between Arabs and Jews
What was the Jewish population in Palestine like by 1918?
60,000 Jews (9% of the population)
What was the Jewish population in Palestine like by 1931?
175,000 Jews (17.5% of the population)
How did Japan threaten Empire during WW1?
they seized major European imperial possessions in SE Asia and fuelled nationalist movements by encouraging rebellions against the British. They essentially ended the myth of white invincibility with their successes
Why was the British loss of Singapore in 1942 so devestating?
It was the largest British surrender and Singapore held Britains largest naval base in the region
What British colonies did India overrun?
Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Burma and attempted invasion in India 1944
How did Japan provide confidence to Indians?
Captured 30,000 Indian troops in Singapore and encouraged them to join the INA which fought for Indian independence
Why was the Middle East important to Britain?
Due to its lucrative oil industry and access to the Suez Canal
Why was the Battle of El Alamein 19142 significant?
Egyptians and Palestinians recognised the opportunity to fight for independence from British control
Why was the GOI Act 1919 introduced?
to appease nationalist demands for independence. To Indians it was seen as a step toward Dominion status
How did the GO11919 limit Indian power?
- Indian ministers shared powers w the British viceroy
- Rowlatt Act 1919
What was the Rowlatt Act 1919 and what was its purpose?
Gave British authorities the power to harshly arrest and imprison those who opposed British rule. Its purpose was to contained Indian demands for equity with the Dominions
What is a ‘twin track strategy’?
a combination of reforms that would grant an extend of self-governing power whilst also ensuring the security of British presence
Why was the Rowlatt Act counterproductive? Give an example.
British aggression fuelled the desire for independence and angered Indians. The Amristar massacre occurred in 1919 as a result
What policies did Britain introduce in the GOI Act 1935 to re-attempt appeasement of Indians?
- Increased number of Indians eligible to vote
- strengthened Indian provincial assemblies
Why were there increased internal divisions in India in the 1930s?
All India Muslim League: argued Indian congress only represented Hindu voices therefore called for a separate Muslim nation- Pakistan
Hindu Congress: led by Ghandi called for independence for a united India
Why was Ghandi arrested during WW2?
Churchill had sent labour Sir Stafford Crips to promise India full Dominion status post WW2 however Ghandi was not satisfied with this and launched a ‘Quit India’ Campaign in 1942 calling for Britain to leave India entirely
When did India and Pakistan gain independence?
1947
What did Britain fear would happen if they kept India as a colony?
internal widespread resistance would mean Britain would have to stretch their military and spend money they did not have post WW2
Activities of the INA also meant that the Indian army was no longer reliable and they could not risk the expenditure of deploying more British soldiers in India
domestic policy was the main priority
What happened post independence of India and Pakistan?
There was a legacy of bitterness between Hindus and Muslims and at least 1 million died due to violent interactions
Why was India deemed as no longer feasible or desirable to keep?
It was no longer a great market for British cotton exports meaning the cost of maintaining and administrating empire outstripped the economic benefits
When did Burma first demonstrate traces of nationalism?
The forces of the Anti Fascist Organisation (AFO) supported Japanese against the British
Why did the AFO turn into a resistance force?
Post WW2 Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith declared the physical reconstruction of Burma should precede political changes therefore postponing independence. AFO renamed to Anti Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL)
When and why did Burma gain independence?
1947: Atlee no longer able, nor willing, to provide troops to sustain British rule
Who was Aung Sang?
Leader of the AFPFL who was majorly popular throughout the Burmese nationalist campaign
How did Britain attempt to appease Burmese demands?
1945: After recognising Sang’s popularity Lord Mountbatten incorperated Burmese National Army w British forces
1946: Aung Sang admitted to Executive Council
Why was there an increase in Jewish migrants to Palestine during WW2?
The holocaust
Why did Truman and the US favour jewish migration?
Reparations for how terribly jews had been treated by the Nazis
Why was the US opinion conflicting with Britain?
Britain needed economic aid from Britain however they also wanted to remain allies with the Middle East due to their oil industry and access to the Suez
What did the solution of a Unitary state outline?
Unacceptable of Jewish leadership: favoured by Arabs who, as the majority, wanted to dominate
What did the solution of a state Partition outline?
Partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arabs states: Favoured by Jews, rejected by Arabs
What did the solution of Provincial Autonomy outline?
Palestine to be divided into small provincial areas, each with a measure of self control, but ultimately led by a nationally elected government: Jewish rejected as it would still mean Arab rule dominates
Why did Britain withdraw from Palestine in 1947?
To prevent their alienation in the Arab world
Why did the UN favour the partition?
Due to the weight and pressure of US opinion
