attitudes to empire 1918 - 1947 Flashcards
government promotion of empire
the british population were bombarded with imperial imagery, much of it supported by the government who were keen to encourage trade with empire
empire marketing board 1926 - set up by leo amery and promoted the consumption in britain of items produced in empire through posters and advertising campaigns. became even more active in the 1930s following the onset of the great depression
exhibitions were staged such as the 1924 wembley exhibition to which the government contributed half the £2.2 million cost. a 0.3 square mile site was purchased, and on it pavilions advertising every country in the empire and a fun fair was erected. intended to give visitors an experience of the empire in miniature. attracted 17 million visitors
education
formed the focal point for the teaching of geography, history and literature in schools - pro imperial writers such as rudyard kipling
the historical study of empire became established in universities, with special professorships in imperial history being created such as the vere harmsworth chair at cambridge in 1919
universities played an important role in training colonial servants - london university’s school of oriental and african studies 1917
films
sanders of the river 1935
the four feathers 1939
used the empire as a backdrop for adventure, signalling to the public that the empire was place for excitement and the playing out of the finer attributes of british character
music
1924 empire exhibition - edward elgar conducted mass choirs in the singing of ‘land of hope and glory’ and a new eight song ‘pagaent of empire’ and ‘empire march’
1931 - noel coward’s song ‘mad dogs and englishmen’ may have adopted an imperial note, but it was more gently self mocking british ideas about themselves and the empire
advertising
cooperative wholesale society
celebrated their global and imperial links in their supply of products such as tea. with packets containing collectible cards illustrating places in the empire
churches and emigration
people emigrated to australia
former missionaries spoke in church about their experiences in empire, or relatives who had served in the army or naving, bringing them into direct contact with empire
empire day
sought to create s sense of belonging
celebrated not just in britain but all over the world
participants often wore their national dress or other costumes representing the different colonies in empire
