320: Colonial Policy and Administration 1914-1947

Question 1

What were the key parts of the 1919 Government of India act?

Answer 1

• Viceroy still held control over defence and foreign affairs.
• His council had to defend itself to a legislative body.
• The legislative council had an upper and lower house where 138 of 204 total members were elected.
• Provincial councils run by elected Indian ministers controlling local affairs like education and health.

Question 2

When was the Simon commission?

Answer 2

1929-30

Question 3

What other piece of legislation was the 1919 government of India act paired with?

Answer 3

Rowlatt act 1919

Question 4

What was the simon commision?

Answer 4

An investigative body with no Indian representation reviewing the last India act and the current state of India.

Question 5

What did the Simon commission suggest?

Answer 5

• Federal system.
• Provinces should have more power.
• Defence, foreign affairs, and security should remain in total British control.

Question 6

When were the round table conferences?

Answer 6

1930 and 1931

Question 7

What were the round table conferences? Why were they significant?

Answer 7

Meeting of influential people in the administration of India, held in London.
Did not meet an agreement as dominion status was rejected over fears of non-white leaders not being competent.

Question 8

What were the key parts of the Government of India act 1935?

Answer 8

• Created the Federation of India.
• Provinces were effectively self governing with British appointed governors.
• Self-government could be suspended in emergencies.
• Franchise expanded 7 to 35 million.

Question 9

Who opposed the 1935 Government of India act and why?

Answer 9

• Congress party for falling short of what white dominions were allowed.
• Princely leaders as they wished to maintain their independence.

Question 10

What does Britain do to India in 1939?

Answer 10

Imposes direct rule to combat protest for \india’s involvement in the war.

Question 11

What happens to India in 1947?

Answer 11

It is granted full independence.

Question 12

Give examples of 2 African colonies in this period under indirect rule?

Answer 12

Uganda, Northern Rhodesia.

Question 13

What was Britain’s priority for colonial policy in indirectly ruled African colonies in this period?

Answer 13

Promotion of the colonies economic and social development, especially where it would economically benefit Britain.

Question 14

GIve examples of 2 economic schemes in Africa in this period?

Answer 14

• Sudan, Gezira cotton scheme. £3 million.
• £10 million in East Africa for trade infrastructure (docks and railway).
• Investment in education in West Africa.

Question 15

Who provided funding for the British economic improvements in Africa during this time

Answer 15

• Mostly funded by taxes on African people.

small amount of funding provided by Colonial development act

Question 16

What was the colonial development act?

Answer 16

1929, Allocated £1 for African development.

Question 17

What enabled the White population in South Africa to maintain their power in the early 1930s?

Answer 17

The 1931 statute of Westminster provided more legitimacy to the political systems in dominions, helping the White population who already had power.

Question 18

When did the White population in Southern Rhodesia win self-government?

Answer 18

1923

Question 19

Which population group in Kenya dominated politics in this period, how big was this group?

Answer 19

25,000 strong white settler community. (of about 3 to 5 million population)

Question 20

What declaration was made in 1923 in response to growing African nationalism? What did it say?

Answer 20

Devonshire declaration which stressed the importance of white settlers respecting African interests .

Question 21

Which dominions was Britain most worried about in the interwar period?

Answer 21

Canada and South Africa.

Question 22

What role did WW1 play for colonial policy in dominions in this period?

Answer 22

Fighting in WW1 gave them more confidence and more aspirations for greater self-governance.

Question 23

What was the 1926 Balfour declaration?

Answer 23

A declaration preceding the Statute of Westminster which gave legitimacy to the new ideas of the Commonwealth.

Question 24

What were the key points of the Statute of Westminster?

Answer 24

• Dominions should be independent nations.
• Laws passed in Britain could not be enforced in those countries without permission from their own parliaments.
• Dominion countries could pass their own laws without British interference.

Question 25

What was Britain ‘forced’ to do in Iraq in 1920?

Answer 25

Send the military to stop muslim protests against British rule.

Question 26

What development was there in colonial policy in Iraq in 1922?

Answer 26

Anglo-Iraqi treaty confirms Iraqi king with British advisors. (as agreed at the Cairo conference 1921 with little Arab representation).

Question 27

What development occured for colonial policy in Iraq in 1932?

Answer 27

Granted full independence. But Britain retained influence on foreign affairs and the oil industry.

Question 28

Why did Britain want to keep Palestine?

Answer 28

As a buffer zone against threats to the Suez, and for it’s proximity to oil rich areas.

Question 29

What was the biggest strain on British colonial policy post WW1?

Answer 29

Large financial strain.

Question 30

What did Herbert Samuel do in Palestine in 1920? Why didn’t it work?

Answer 30

• Attempted to reconcile Jewish population with the existing Arab population through elected bodies featuring Jewish and Arab representation.
• Didn’t work due to ethnic tensions preventing cooperation

Question 31

What was the Jewish National fund? How did it affect Arab people in Palestine?

Answer 31

A fund which helped Jewish acquisition of land in the interwar period. Increased the number of Arab people having their land bought out by Jewish settlers.

Question 32

What did the 1929 and 1931 enquiries into Palestine suggest? Why didn’t Britain follow through?

Answer 32

• Curbing Jewish land acquisition.

- Forced to back down due to pro-Jewish sentiments.

Question 33

When did Britain send 20,000 thousand troops to Palestine? And why?

Answer 33

1936, after Arab rioting and attacks on Jews.

Question 34

When was the Peel report? What did it suggest?

Answer 34

1937, suggested partition with British control only over a small number of areas such as holy areas.

Question 35

What did Britain do in Palestine between 1937 and 39?

Answer 35

Britain implements a policy of repression, which leads to the hanging of over 100 Arab terrorists.

Question 36

What does Britain implement in Palestine in 1939?

Answer 36

5 year restriction of Jewish immigration to 15,000 people a year.

Question 37

What were the main threats to imperial defence in this period?

Answer 37

• Severe economic difficulties.
• Rise of fascism.
• Rise of Imperialist Japan as a threat in Asia.
• Rise in national independence movements.

Question 38

What actions did Britain take to combat threats to imperial defence?

Answer 38

• Policies of appeasement.
• Placing more faith in the League of nations.
• Modernising the Indian army and building a £25 million army base in Singapore.
• Carefully deciding which parts of the world to prioritise militarily.

Question 39

How successful was Britain’s decision to place its faith in the league of nations?

Answer 39

Realised by the mid 1930s that the League of Nations could not provide adequate international defence against Japan or Italy.

Question 40

How successful was Britain’s policy of appeasement?

Answer 40

Allowed the British to use more resources in Asia but just pushed back the threats from Italy and Germany, not stopped them.