8.Imperial And Colonial Policy Flashcards
Was the right to self rule implemented in India and Egypt
It was explicitly denied
What were British officials allowed to do in India until 1909
British officials were allowed unrestrained power in India until this point
What element came into play in 1909 in India’s goverment
The element of representative Goverment at a provincial level
Who was at the head of Indian rule and who were they back by
The viceroy was at the head,backed by the Indian Civil Service which was almost entirely made up of Oxford and Cambridge students
What was the job of the Viceroy
To ensure the regime was secure
To ensure the Indians were content
To ensure India was profitable to Britain
What is the policy the Indian Civil Service implemented to assert britains moral authority to bring reform after many Indians became educated
‘Divide and Rule’ (emphasised the divisions in India by Caste,Race,Language,Religion and Region)
What did Viceroy Curzon do that was good
He made changes to the civil service to make it more efficient
Founded the Imperial Cadet Corps in 1901
Reformed universities and police
Adopted the gold standard to ensure a solid economy
What was the most controversial decision of Viceroy Curzon and when
Attempted to divide the province of Bengal in 1905 resulting in widespread resistance and had to be reversed in 1911
What was the representative board for Indians
The Indian National Congress
When was the partition of Bengal and what was it
1905,Curzon decided Bengal should be divided,The Muslim majority provinces of East Bengal and Assam and a Hindu Majority of West Bengal
What were the problems with the partition of Bengal
Many Hindu elites owned land in East Bengal which they loaned to Muslims.
The Hindus saw the partition as a pay back for their criticisms of British rule and there were strikes,protests and boycotts bringing about a new strand of strident nationalism
What were the Morley-Minto reforms
Viceroy Minto had to deal with the fall out of Curzon’s plans so introduced a limited programme of reforms in 1909 to appease the bengalis
What did the Indian councils act of 1909 allow for
It enabled 27 Indians to be elected from provincial constituencies to the Viceroy’s council,which advised the Viceroy and assisted in the making of laws
What did Viceroy Harding do
Appreciating the damage done by Curzon’s partition of Bengal,Used the visit of King-Emperor George V to India in 1911 as an opportunity to reunite Bengal.He also moved the capital from Calcutta to Delhi and laid the foundation stone of the capital New Dehli
Why was Viceroy Hardinge’s decision to change the capital from Calcutta to Delhi significant
Delhi was a Muslim stronghold,So this decision undermined the revolutionary Hindu groups
What was George V the first British monarch to do
Visit the Raj
What was George V’s Durbar and when was it
In 1911 George V visited India and a spectacular display took place with entertainment costing the equivalent of 2 million
What was significant about Viceroy Harding’s declaring war on India’s behalf in 1914
It was to be a test of India’s commitment to Britain in particular because it had been done so without consulting India’s population or its elected representatives
When did Britain assume full control of Egypt
The onset of the First World War in December 1914
What were the hindrances to British action in Egypt
-The fact Egypt still technically belonged to Turkey
-The Capitulations
-The Caisse de la Dette
-The mixed courts
What are the capitulations and how did they hinder British action in Egypt
Regulations that all foreigners came under,They were privileges to protect Europeans against Muslim laws.They included a foreigner being able to claim the right to be tried in their own country’s courts and all laws made that affected foreigners had to be approved by the countries who had people in egypt
What was the Caisse de La Dette and why did it hinder British action in Egypt
Included Austria-Hungary,France,Germany,Russia,Italy and Britain.This organisation controlled Egypts finances.As a result about half of the country’s revenue went to paying European bond-holders.The Caisse could also prevent the British Consul-General from spending Egypt’s money on matters they disapproved of
What were the mixed courts and why did they hinder British action in Egypt
These had been set up to deal with cases involving both Egyptians and Europeans and were governed by Egyptians and Europeans who weren’t always supportive of the British
What did Baring do in Egypt to try to cut back the debt left by the Khedive
He made cutbacks to Egypt’s military and bureaucracy and revitalised the economy by introducing communications and investing in irrigation schemes.
How did Government work in Egypt before the British assumed direct control
There was a leader called the Khedive,He was ‘advised’ by the British Consul-General.Egypt also had a partially elected parliament.However all government ministers had the support of a British advisor.If they resisted British advice/influence they could be dismissed
Did Baring’s reforms to the economy work
Yes,Egypt found a new prosperity and the population rose from 7-10 million
How did Baring reform Egypts army
He placed 6000 British troops within it to ensure British interests weren’t jepordised.This army was placed under Kitchener’s rule
Why was there a middle class nationalist movement in Egypt in the late 1890s
They attacked the British for failing to deal with the corruption of the Khedive’s government and the failure in promoting the cloth making industry.They also complained about the lack of opportunity for educated Egyptians
What happened after the clash in Denshawai (1906) and what was the nationalist reaction
After this clash between British officers and Egyptian villagers,52 villagers were arrested,four given a death sentence,one given a life sentence.This provoked a further nationalist backlash to British rule in Egypt
What did Elden Gorst do in Egypt
Gorst brought more Egyptians into responsible government.He also tried to impose a tighter censorship of the media
What happened to rule in Egypt after it was named under direct rule
The leader was an independent sultan of Egypt under british protection
What colonies was the most successful form of ‘native rule’ deployed in
The settler colonies such as Canada,New Zealand and Australia.A large population of these countries was already white.As a result of this the native aboriginal people such as the Māori were already viewed as second class citizens in social Darwinist terms.Due to this many people in these colonies co-operated with the British and helped in governing the colony
What is social Darwinism
The belief that some people do better in society because they are innately better.White people should be superior in society as they are superior physically and psychologically
What are dominions and what colonies became dominions
A British colony with self-governing powers
-Australia (1901)
-New Zealand (1907)
-Newfoundland (1907)
How did the British use befriending one group for native policy
In British east Africa the Masai tribe were favoured in preference to the Kikuyu.Creating conflict and occupying the tribes with each other
What organisations existed relating to imperial and colonial policy
Colonial office
Foreign office
India office
Admiralty and War office
What would happen to colonial officials if there region was kept in check
The colonial office would not bother them meaning many of them tried to keep low
What policy had Britain relied on since the end of the napoleonic wars
‘Splendid isolation’ leaving its navy to maintain its colonies
What changed the strategy of the British from splendid isolation to focusing more on their army
The second Boer war
Germanys alliance with Austria Hungary (1870) joined by Italy in 1882
Millitary agreements between France and Russia (1892)
How did Afghanistan provide a source of conflict and worry for the British
It was a buffer state between Russia and India.Russian expansion was high in Asia and it caused worry for the British
How did the Germans challenge the British
-Supplied the Boers with weapons in the Boer wars
-Established relations with Ottoman Empire
-German Navy built up
-Ownership of South west Africa
How did the British attempt to abandon splendid isolation
Signing an entente with France in 1904
Why did the entente with France not provide much security
It ranged Britain against the triple alliance
It left the relationship with Russia open
What did Britain Russia and France sign and in what year
The triple entente (1907)
