Attitudes towards Imperialism in Britain 1857-90

Question 1

What did Disraeli assert about the Conservative party

Answer 1

• Tory + Liberal parties previously united in their acceptance of empire until 1870 shift
• Disraeli asserted that Conservatives were ‘Party of Empire’ + Liberal opponents would allow empire to crumble

Question 2

What was the Crystal Palace Speech

Answer 2

Disraeli presented new perspective of empire at Crystal Palace Speech 1872 - enthusiasm for empire as a way of winning support

Question 3

Why did the Tory party have newfound enthusiasm for empire

Answer 3

Way of winning support - tory’s hadn’t won an election since 1841 + playing ‘Imperialist card’ paid off when they won electoral victory 1874

Question 4

What did the Liberals think of Disraeli

Answer 4

In the views of Liberals, Disraeli was dangerous + accused of stirring up jingoism

Question 5

How did Disraeli live up to his imperialist stance

Answer 5

• Bought £4m worth of Suez Canal shares 1874
• Steered Royal Titles Acts through HoC to bestow title ‘Empress of India’ to Victoria embedding British rule over India

Question 6

How did Disraeli seek to expand/consolidate the Raj

Answer 6

• Attempting to turn neighbouring Afghanistan into Client State
• Lytton launched invasion Nov 1878

Question 7

What happened in the campaign in Afghanistan

Answer 7

• Lytton launched invasion Nov 1878 (Russophobia + Great Game reasons)
• British troops faced setbacks + lost 10000 before eventual victory
• Secured British control over Afghanistan

Question 8

What did Disraeli do in South Africa

Answer 8

Annexed Boer Republic of Transvaal 1877
Launched war on Zulus in hopes of establishing British Federation of SA

Question 9

What was Gladstone’s stance in South Africa

Answer 9

Gladstone highly critical of Disraeli’s policies but forced to adopt Tory adventurism when Transvaal Boers mobilised to throw off British rule + declared independence Dec 1880

Question 10

How did Gladstone react to the First Boer war

Answer 10

1st Anglo-Boer war Gladstone declined to commit further troops, time, money to uphold Disraeli’s influence in SA
Highlighting difference in colonial policy/priorities with Tory’s

Question 11

What happened during the Mahdist Rebellion

Answer 11

During Mahdist Rebellion in Sudan 1884 Gladstone urged withdrawal of Anglo-British troops + reflected the view that Sudanese were struggling rightly to be free

Question 12

Why did Gladstone become involved in Egypt

Answer 12

For the sake of Suez Canal security + result of public pressure from press
Arabi Pasha’s uprising 1881 threatened Suez + Khedive Tewqik was installed as ruler in Britain’s newly occupied territory

Question 13

How did Gladstone show that he was reluctance to pursue imperialism

Answer 13

• Gladstone was forced by Berlin Conference 1884 resulted in conversion of Somaliland + Bechuanaland into British protectorates
• Left local rulers in charge suggesting Gladstone reluctant to take on further management of costs associated with empire

Question 14

How was Gladstone hesitant in New Guinea

Answer 14

Hesitancy evident when Germany claimed New Guinea 1884 - Gladstone resisted confrontation + instead ordered the occupation of island’s SE zone to establish British control there (Aus financed development of British New Guinea)

Question 15

When did Gladstone resign as PM

Answer 15

June 1885 having overseen the 1884 Parliamentary Reform Act which extended the vote to 5.5m
Meant that trend of promoting imperialism for popular support returned under Tory govt Sailsbury

Question 16

How did Gladstone show sympathy for Irish nationalists

Answer 16

Showed sympathy for Irish nationalists who long campaigned for Irish independence - when he returned as PM 1886 introduced Home Rule Bill for Ireland as a branch of his support for colonial self-rule (rejected)

Question 17

What does rejection of the Home Rule Bill show

Answer 17

Majority of politicians still had imperialist attitudes/triumphant stance on empire

Question 18

What happened in Zululand

Answer 18

Initial invasion of Zululand failure, humiliating losses at Isandlwana 1879 before victory as Ulundi 6 months later

Question 19

How were the Tory’s defeated 1880

Answer 19

Setbacks at Afghanistan + Zululand contributed to Tory defeat 1880 + return of Liberal rule under Gladstone

Question 20

How did the Liberal party view empire

Answer 20

• More concerned with free trade than constructing empire
• Gladstone distinguished between ‘imperialism’ which he opposed and ‘empire’ which he supported
• supported growth of ‘imperial project’

Question 21

Why was there a surge in public attitudes towards empire 1860s/70s

Answer 21

Result of reporting in growing popular press which saw stories of ‘exoticism’ ‘heroism’

Question 22

What was the impact of the Education Act 1870 + Reform acts

Answer 22

Increased national literacy rates + extension of the vote 1867 + 1884 Reform Acts made public more politically aware

Question 23

How did the press report Arabi Pasha’s revolt in Egypt

Answer 23

1883 revolt occupied reporters who highlighted that Gladstone was supported in his decision to intervene
Daily Telegraph reported that rebels had killed ‘All the Christians they could find in Alexandria’ made Gladstone’s intervention well supported by public

Question 24

What was the Boys Only Paper

Answer 24

• Appeared 1879 featuring stories portraying brave soldiers + increased contributions from Powell who founds Scouts movement after
• Boys Only Paper + Girls Only paper reached circulation of half million

Question 25

How did empire themes spread through children

Answer 25

School books reflected empire themes, clubs/associations founded
Boys Brigade 1883 reinforcing imperialist values by offering military training

Question 26

How did the British view empire in terms of morality

Answer 26

• British saw empire as ‘empire of races’ + believed they were superior in morals, religion, politics ‘civilisation’
• Belief that colonisation was a civilising mission + sense of imperial duty to control overseas was reinforced by view that white races were superior

Question 27

1870’s how was empire presented in the press/entertainment

Answer 27

Stories of explorers/missionaries active in British newspapers/magazines to reinforce idea of British superiority/benevolence

Question 28

How did Darwin’s publication of ‘On the origin of species’ affect views

Answer 28

Attitude of superiority encouraged by Darwin’s publication which implied that there were weaker races naturally

Question 29

Where and when were popular exhibitions displayed

Answer 29

• 1862 International Exhibition held in South Kensington featured 28000 exhibitors from 36 countries - represented superiority + displayed 7000 exhibits from India alone
• 1877 Nubian Village of Sudan displayed Alexandra Palace
• 1886 Colonial + Indian Exhibition held in SKensington

Question 30

How did popular exhibitions affect public attitudes

Answer 30

Highlighted practical demonstration of wealth/industrial development of empire
- Showed that lots of people saw natives as inherently inferior
- Attitudes of superiority encouraged

Question 31

What was the African Exhibition 1890 showing

Answer 31

London hosted Africa Exhibition 1890 to showcase African travels + celebrated explorers + colonisation to ‘justify’ British presence in Africa

Question 32

How did British interest/attitude towards empire emerge

Answer 32

Emerging popular culture, mass consumption of entertainment, greater political awareness, increasingly accessible press + imperial ideology established from supposed benefits of Christianity (used to justify British imperial gains)

Question 33

What is an example of criticism of empire

Answer 33

Haggard’s novel 1885 ‘King Soloman’s mines’ portrayed African as heroes/interracial romances + states African’s are more gentlemanly than European’s
Highlights how not everyone was triumphalist as book was a best seller

Question 34

How was art used as propaganda

Answer 34

Edward Armitage’s painting ‘Retribution’ 1885 depicted events at Indian Mutiny showing British were ‘bringing’ justice to Indian rebels + showed bravery of British when faced with colonial disruption
Pride/emphasis placed on British strength

Question 35

What was the portrayal of Indian Mutiny in British press

Answer 35

1867 press had shown power to influence British public attitudes in reporting of Indian mutiny - public horrified at massacres at Cawnpore Indians killed 200 women/children (produced hysteria) + press showed bravery of soldiers