6. Imperialist Ideas

Question 1

Positive views held by the British public towards the Empire 1914-1947

Answer 1

Very few people questioned the Empire’s importance and more became aware of the empire
Empire seen as a valuable asset of which the British people could feel proud
Seen as the key to Britain’s victory in WW1

Question 2

When repression was made clear to the British public, how did they react?

Answer 2

Most people continued to see the Empire as benevolent and a force for good
Repression justified to maintain Britain’s control
Seen as a way of spreading freedom and improvement across the world

Question 3

If there was support for the Empire from 1919-1947, why was the Labour Party voted in in 1945?

Answer 3

Because of domestic issues - it wasn’t because they support Indian independence
Even the Labour Party believed that the remaining colonies were key to Britain’s recovery and future prosperity

Question 4

How did the British public feel about the loss of India in 1947?

Answer 4

They lamented (felt sadness and guilt) the loss of India
The public didn’t support the ultimate dissolution of the Empire

Question 5

Changing presentation of the empire after WW1

Answer 5

The Empire was presented more as a family of nations led by the British - a place of peace and cooperation

Question 6

Stat about British knowledge of Empire in 1948

Answer 6

In 1948, 3/4 of the population didn’t know the difference between a dominion and a colony

Question 7

What did the government do to promote empire?

Answer 7

A tremendous effort was made to promote the commonwealth and imperial unity
Through mass communications and social organisations, the British population was bombarded by imperial imagery

Question 8

What was set up in 1926 to promote the consumption in Britain of items produced in the Empire

Answer 8

The Empire Marketing Board

Question 9

Government involvement in promotion of consumption of products produced in Empire

Answer 9

Government intervened in advertising, no longer down to private companies

Question 10

When did the Empire Marketing Board increase its activity?

Answer 10

During the Great Depression as the empire became more important to the British economy

Question 11

What Empire exhibition took place in 1924?

Answer 11

The Wembley Exhibition

Question 12

Government contribution to the 1924 Wembley Exhibition

Answer 12

£2.2 million

Question 13

What was at the 1924 Wembley Exhibition?

Answer 13

Pavilions advertising every country in the Empire
A funfair
A sports stadium, which became the permanent legacy of the exhibition
The exotic and progressive aspects of the empire was carefully interwoven

Question 14

How many visitors attended the Wembley Exhibition in 1924?

Answer 14

17 million

Question 15

What impression of Empire did people who attended the Empire exhibitions leave with?

Answer 15

An impression of a thriving, forward-looking and diverse empire and memories of glimpses of how some of its more picturesque inhabitants lived

Question 16

Further Empire exhibition in 1928 and number of visitors

Answer 16

Glasgow Exhibition
12 million visitors

Question 17

The BBC’s role in promoting the Empire

Answer 17

Established in 1923
Took a strong pro-imperial stance and covered many major imperial events, exhibitions and public celebrations

Question 18

1932 BBC Christmas boadcast

Answer 18

Included not only the King’s speech but also various items about the Empire

Question 19

Radio’s role in promoting the Empire

Answer 19

Radio was a device which would strengthen imperial links and promote a sense of common identify among Empire’s subjects
Exposed empire’s subjects to other cultures and ideas

Question 20

How did schools promote the Empire?

Answer 20

Empire at centre of teachings of geography, history and literature Poetry and writings of pro-imperial writers such as Rudyard Kipling studied

Question 21

How did universities promote the Empire?

Answer 21

Historical study of the empire became established in universities, with special professorship in Imperial History being created
The universities played an important role in training Colonial Servants

Question 22

Example of imperial sector formed at a London university in 1917

Answer 22

London’s University’s School or Oriental and African Studies

Question 23

How was the emergence of cinema as mass entertainment a source of imperial culture?

Answer 23

It was the greatest source of entertainment between the wars, offering an unprecedented opportunity to spread the imperial message to the masses

Question 24

Examples of films that used the empire as a backdrop for adventure

Answer 24

Sanders of the River 1935
The Four Feathers 1939

Question 25

Ways in which films that used the empire as a backdrop for adventure promoted empire

Answer 25

Signalled to the public that the Empire was a place of excitement
Finer attributes of ‘British character’ promoted
Showed that the empire was a force for human progress

Question 26

Government requirement of films that portrayed the empire

Answer 26

Required that they portray the empire and its servants in a flattering light

Question 27

What feelings did empire filmgoers leave the cinema with?

Answer 27

Went home with a satisfying belief that their empire represented stability and equity, and was managed by brave, right-minded men who knew what was best for the natives

Question 28

Music promotion of Empire

Answer 28

Composers continued to vaunt the imperial theme
1924 Wembley Exhibition featured mass choirs singing ‘Land of Hope and Glory” lead by Elgar

Question 29

How did commercial advertising and private companies promote the Empire?

Answer 29

They had long used imperial motifs to promote their products and continued to do so
Some companies used collectable cards in their products illustrating places in the Empire

Question 30

How did missionaries promote the empire?

Answer 30

Former missionaries spoke in Church about their experience in the Empire

Question 31

What did Empire Day sought to create a sense of?

Answer 31

A sense of belonging to the family of nations, owing allegiance to the same monarch

Question 32

British soldiers involvement with empire in war

Answer 32

British troops in WW1 fought in the trenches alongside troops from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
Some British soldiers served in the British Indian Army
In WW2 troops served in Singapore, Burma and North Africa

Question 33

Impact of British troops serving alongside Empire troops

Answer 33

Service in armed forces encouraged a desire to protect Britain’s overseas Empire
Soldiers relayed their experiences of the Empire and service alongside colonial troops to their relatives back in British

Question 34

Extent of success of efforts made to promote the Empire

Answer 34

Some argue that such a strenuous effort was undertaken to promote the empire because so few of the mass population was either aware or interested in it
It was affected by people’s different social groups and classes (E.g. many w/c didn’t feel the empire was relavent or important to their lives)

Question 35

Ways in which the w/c were influenced by imperial ideas

Answer 35

The press and books (increased literacy rates following education act)
Empire Day
Experience of fighting in the empire during the wars
Cinema

Question 36

Ways in which the w/c were less likely to be influenced by imperial ideas or might be more interested in other matters

Answer 36

Concerns of buying products from Empire were more expensive
Concerned with social reforms and setting up a welfare state
Focused on bread and butter issues like work and family
Impact of the war and depression more important

Question 37

Ways in which the m/c were influenced by imperial ideas

Answer 37

Radio/BBC
Education curriculum
Universities
Empire Marketing Board
Personal connections with people who served in the empire
Sport
Exhibitions

Question 38

Ways in which the m/c were less likely to be influenced by imperial ideas or might be more interested in other matters

Answer 38

International developments like Nazism and communism
The Great Depression
The economic strength of Britain

Question 39

Ways in which the upper class were influenced by imperial ideas

Answer 39

Travel to the empire
Personal connections with people who served

Question 40

Ways in which the upper class were less likely to be influenced by imperial ideas or might be more interested in other matters

Answer 40

Their status as a family

Question 41

Ways in which children were influenced by imperial ideas

Answer 41

Collecting cards
Education
Stamps
Empire Day Scouts

Question 42

Ways in which children were less likely to be influenced by imperial ideas or might be more interested in other matters

Answer 42

Being children, having fun

Question 43

Ways in which women were influenced by imperial ideas

Answer 43

They brought the food - potentially imperial food

Question 44

Ways in which women were less likely to be influenced by imperial ideas or might be more interested in other matters

Answer 44

Suffrage
Domestic day to day concerns
Childcare