3.1 - Expansion and Contraction of Empire Flashcards
What declaration did Britain make in 1914 regarding the Empire?
Britain declared war on behalf of the whole Empire
How many men from India volunteered to fight in WW1?
1.4 million
What was the role of the Empire in supplying Britain during WW1?
The empire supplied vital raw materials and food which played a major part in the British victory in 1918.
What was established in 1917 to include colonial leaders in decision-making and what did it symbolise?
The Imperial War Cabinet
It symbolised the union of the British Empire in war
Who became Prime Minister in 1916 and increased the use of Empire resources?
David Lloyd George
What significant contribution did Canada make to Britain’s war efforts?
Canada supplied 1/3 of the munitions used by the British in France 1917-18
What was the attitude of the white dominions towards conscription?
They had the final say on conscription; it was introduced in New Zealand in 1916 and Canada in 1917.
What was the outcome of the Australian referendums on conscription?
The Australians rejected conscription in two referendums in October 1916 and December 1917.
What did the experience of WW1 promote in the dominions?
A desire for independence and control.
What was the Indian army’s state at the beginning of WW1?
The Indian army were physically and mentally unprepared to fight a modern European war.
What did the Secretary of State for India promise in response to India’s contribution to the war?
More ‘responsible’ self-government for India in August 1917.
Fill in the blank: Egypt was turned into a ________ in 1914.
Protectorate
How many Egyptian troops fought in Europe during WW1?
100,000
What did the Treaty of Versailles (1919) do regarding Germany’s colonies?
Stripped Germany of its former colonies
What were the League of Nations Mandates?
Territories administered by the League of Nations after WWI, originally ex-German colonies and Ottoman provinces
What was the Sykes-Picot agreement?
A 1916 agreement defining the boundaries of British and French empires in the Middle East
It planned the division of the Ottoman Empire’s possessions.
What were the three categories of Mandates defined by the League of Nations and examples?
- Category A: Territories ready for independence
- Category B: Territories needing longer guidance
- Category C: Territories not considered ready for independence
Examples include Palestine (Category A) and Samoa (Category C).
What justification did Britain use for retaining control over former colonies?
They claimed the colonies were politically and economically underdeveloped and needed guidance
What strategic reasons did Britain have for acquiring Palestine?
- Main overland route to India
- Proximity to the Suez Canal
What was the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and what did it lead to?
A letter expressing British support for a ‘national homeland’ for Jews in Palestine
It led to conflicts between Jews and Arabs in Palestine.
What was the outcome of the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)?
Creation of the Irish Free State with Dominion Status, but the King remained Head of State
What was the significance of the Irish Free State’s establishment and what did it inspire?
It demonstrated that violent uprisings could lead to independence from Britain
It inspired other colonies to seek independence.
When was Iraq granted independence from Britain?
In 1932
Britain maintained close economic and military ties after independence.
What were the benefits of the mandates in the Middle East to Britain?
- Strategic position regarding India
- Rich in oil resources
- Helped restrain Indian nationalism
