Attitudes Towards Imperialism In Britain (1890-1914) Flashcards
What does the song ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ reflect about the empire?
. Suggests Britain and its empire needs to extend further and that it is driven by God
. Reflects strong imperial attitudes at the time - song played in bands
. Proud of the empire
What helped the conservatives win the 1900 ‘khaki election’?
Public displays of the empire
How did liberals view the empire?
Looked beyond ‘white rule’ and aimed at ‘education’ and the improvement of colonies and their people, but still supported the empire
Their goal was ultimate self-rule, but they were still reluctant to ‘end’ the empire
How did the growing Labour Party in C.20 and the liberals view the empire?
Believed in freedom ‘through’ empire rather than ‘from’ empire - wanted to use the empire in a positive way for Britain
Which political group made up the real ‘imperialists’?
The right-wing radical Conservatives
When was the conservative ascendancy?
1895-1905
With Lord Salisbury as PM (moderate imperialist), what did the conservatives want for the empire?
. Stronger, more closely united empire
. Support for schemes that would bind the empire in trade and government
. Believed the right policies could benefit Britain and make it an economic superpower
What political group came about in the early 20th century?
Liberal imperialists or ‘limps’ arose after Lord Rosebery became PM but never really got going
What were the moral grounds that the empire was justified on?
. As a ‘responsibility’ or even a ‘burden’ that God placed on Britain to bring stability and order to the world
. Justified on more liberal grounds too:
- ‘civilising’ colonial people’s
- freeing colonial people from local oppression
- to theoretically provide welfare and rule of law
. Belief that British rule was vital for the advancement of ‘backward races’
How did High Imperialists view the Empire and what were their general beliefs?
As a racial duty
. Wanted empire run by white people
. Believed that serving in colonies made men stronger = demoted non-white people to ‘subjects’ of the empire
What was Viceroy Curzon’s views of the empire?
It was an ‘instrument for the good of humanity’
What did Alfred Milner believe about the empire?
Every British-born white man should feel equally at home across the empire
What did Joseph Chamberlain believe about the empire?
A reorganisation of the empire would solve the ‘national crisis’
Why was the Khaki election named so?
British forces became known as ‘Khakis’ during the Boer War due to their uniforms made to blend in with the terrain
How did Chamberlain promote a reorganised empire?
Claimed it would:
. Enable industrial recovery and provide employment
. Generate wealth to fund social reforms such as pensions
. Would strengthen moral fibre of British
Believed educating public on the values of his ‘reorganised empire’ could win loyalty of working class due to its direct benefits to them
What was Chamberlain’s second main idea around the empire?
Promoted an imperialists’ desire for union between Britain and the colonies of settlement for better defence and trade
His ideas for this: pool of sovereignty and an imperial parliament
What is a pool of sovereignty?
Shared authority, Britain wouldn’t have supreme power over the empire
Why didn’t Chamberlain’s idea of an imperial parliament or pool of sovereignty work?
The ideas were too unrealistic to gain support
What were the arguments to support economic benefits of the empire?
. Some, including Chamberlain, supported ‘imperial preference’ (tariff reforms)
. Empire could generate wealth
. Lord Meath (diplomat) argued that state-organised emigration and colonisation could keep the expansion of British cities under control = stronger empire
. Political elites supporting empire often had paternalistic and mechanistic views
When was the Royal Colonial Institute founded and what was it?
1870 - provided meet-up place for those interested in colonial and Indian affairs
When was the Victoria league founded, what was it and why was it interesting?
1901: founded by women to promote a closer union between different parts of the British empire through ‘friendship and education’ (non-political group)
When was the Round Table Movement founded and what was it?
1909 (Milner’s idea): promoted closer union between Britain and its self-governing colonies
Where were the Round Table Groups from 1910-11?
SA, Australia, NZ and Canada
Who led the Empire Day movement and how did it develop?
Led by Lord Meath. First celebrated in 1902 and became recognised by parliament in 1916
What was the point of the Empire Day Movement?
Reinforce imperial identity and celebrate Queen Victoria as Empress of India
Part of imperialist drive to educate public on Empire
How else was the public educated on the empire?
Journalists helped represent ideals of the Empire to the public, emphasising the ‘imperial family’ and often ignoring realities of colonial rule e.g Lord Beaverbrook, became chief proprietor of Daily Express in 1916
How did the majority of the British public view the empire?
We’re ‘complacent co-worshippers’ of the Empire - not actively involved, just happy to go along with the idea of empire
How did some ‘unbelievers’ in the empire come about?
Growing ‘social antagonism’ as the Empire was only benefitting the rich minority
What was the general conclusion as to whether empire was supported or criticised?
While there was growing criticism, it was drowned out by the excitement of the empire
What were John A Hobson’s (economist) views of the empire?
. Belief in a ‘capitalist plot’: imperial expansion was driven by a search for new markets and opportunities for the rich capitalists of Britain to make profits through investments
. Antisemetic view that a small cabal of Jewish financiers used their political influence and ‘press ’ to shape imperial policy to benefit men
. Racism view that 2nd Boer War had been fought to secure gold resources of SA for ‘Jew imperialist’ entrepreneurs and mining interests
Was John A Hobson influential?
His views had little immediate impact on imperial policies
What kind of criticism did the Boer War cause?
Criticism around the conduct of the war, not of the empire of itself
