British empire section 3 1914 -1947 Flashcards
How did the First World War impact the British Empire?
First World War devastated Britain.
- 40% of Britain’s merchant fleet sunk and Britain had debt of 136% GDP.
- Colonies sent approximately 1.4 million men to fight for Empire between 1914-1918, supporting 5 million men from British Isles.
- Empire also supplied Britain with raw materials and food, ultimately playing huge part in victory, owing to policy of ‘imperial preference’ under Asquith
Conscription was introduced in New Zealand in 1916 and Canada in 1917.
The Australians and New Zealanders were applauded for their bravery in the Gallipoli campaign (1915) and the Canadians for their contribution in the battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.
Canada also supplied Britain with munitions which the British army used a 1/3 of between 1917-18.
136,000 South African troops contributed to war effort.
Australians also rejected conscription on two referendums, in October 1916 and again in December 1917 after troops were slaughtered at Gallipoli.
-Republican movement in South Africa grew.
- Chanak Crisis of 1922 where Canada declined to commit troops to support British in Istanbul.
- India contributed immensely and wanted rewards for it.
- 1/3 of troops in France in autumn of 1914 were either Indians or British soldiers who formerly served in India. 1.5 million volunteered.
- In 1917, Indian government contributed £100 million to war effort, nearly going bankrupt in the process.
- Indian National Congress became vocal and wanted independence for India. Montagu promised ‘responsible’ self-government for India. In 1919, Government of India Act was introduced.
- African countries contributed heavily to war and wanted rewards.
- Egypt turned into protectorate in 1914 and 1.2 million recruited to defend Egypt and Middle East. 100,000 Egyptians fought in Europe, 50% died.
- Black South Africans and from the tropical colonies recruited to France as labourers. Many died, i.e. fighting Germans in Tanganyika.
How did the British Empire expand and contract during the inter-war years?
Britain gained vast amount of land after end of First World War. - British Empire reached greatest extent with addition of 1.8 million square miles and 13 million new subjects because of League of Nation ‘mandates’.
Treaty of Versailles in 1919 stripped Germany of former colonies and gave them to League of Nations to be administered as ‘mandates’. Guiding principle of treaty was Woodrow Wilson’s belief for ‘self-determination’.
- Category A was for countries that were seen as quite developed and independence would be a viable future option.
- Category B was for countries which required long period of guidance before independence.
- Category C was for small islands and areas which couldn’t be feasibly independent.
The British gained land in Middle East, Africa and Palestine.
britain was already interested in middle east - Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 was evident of Britain’s interest as they essentially divided up the Middle East with France. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 also shows how Britain wished to have influence by promising the Jewish in their hopes for a Zionist state in the Middle East
Britain gained Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), Palestine, Tanganyika, Togoland (Gold Coast), German South-West Africa and many of the dominions gained mandates of their own (Australia and Papea New Guinea).
Britain’s oldest colony Ireland was lost because of war.
- Ireland had joined in 1801 and had vociferous Home Rule movement. Gladstone had failed to carry Irish independence and though Asquith had come close, never happened.
- Because of war, it was never implemented. Irish prepared armed rising against British. April 1916 Dublin Easter Rising was put down but followed by period of guerrilla warfare only ending in 1921 when Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed. New Catholic Irish Free State established and given ‘Dominion’ status.
Britain also lost its mandates Egypt and Mesopotomia in the inter-war years.
- In 1922, Egypt was granted formal independence after being made a protectorate at outbreak of First World War, though remained British client state till 1954.
- In Iraq, Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1932 granted independence but maintained economic and military ties with Britain, including air bases in the country.
How did the Second World War impact the British Empire?
Myths of ‘British superiority’ were crushed.
- In 1942, Japan seized major European imperial possessions, including Singapore.
- Japanese also seized Hong Kong, overran Malaya and Burma and by summer of 1942 were poised to attack India itself. Japenese invasion narrowly averted in 1944.
India and Burma pushed for independence and were eventually lost after.
Britain’s economy and status as a superpower was crushed.
- Australia and New Zealand began looking to America for support.
- Independence and nationalist movements grew more because of this.
- Battle of El Alamein in 1942 almost swept Britain of influence in Middle East from German and Italian threat.
why did Britain withdraw from india after ww2 ?
British withdrew from India due to growing nationalist movements during the inter-war years, the Second World War solidifying their independence.
- India had become increasingly worring during interwar years.
Government of India Act in 1919 was introduced, establishing system of diarchy. However, due to fear of rebellion the Rowlatt Act was also passed in same year, giving authorities power to imprison anyone. Went wrong and contributed to nationalist sentiments after Amritsar Massacre in April 1919.
Round Table Conferences in London in early 1930s failed, even Government of India Act in 1935 couldn’t stop India from leaving Empire and becoming independent.
- Two key groups played role in independence:
All India Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which wanted state of Pakistan.
Hindu Congress Movement of Gandhi which wanted united India.
World War Two, Quit India campaign, Indian National Army and Japanese seizure of Singapore effectively solidified Britain’s loss of India.
In 1945, Clement Atlee decided to grant India independence as soon as possible as they feared trying to keep India with INA would stretch military resources
Viceroy Mountbatten sent in 1947 to complete independence
why did Britain withdraw from Burma?
Britain withdrew from Burma due to a growing nationalist movement supported by the Japanese and lack of political will.
Finish with textbook
why did britain withdraw from the middleast?
Britain withdrew from Palestine due to tense Arab-Jewish relations.
Jewish Migration soared and by 1945, the British wanted to limit scale of migration into Palestine in effort to dampen conflict.
The British wanted to keep Arab allies on their side however the international pressure from President Truman who favoured Jewish settlement in Palestine. Britain needed to retain foreign and economic aid from america.
Britain tried to get solution between the jewish and arab leaders.
there was Deadlock in February 1947 and Sterling Crisis led to financial difficulty and Britain had already spent £100 million on Palestine since January 1945.
- they decided to give Palestine to United Nations in September 1947, withdrawing troops by 1948.
How was India administered in the years 1919-1947?
System of diarchy established between India and Britain.
The Government of India Act 1919 was passed after Montagu Declaration of 1917. Under this act:
- a national parliament with two houses for India established and about 5 million of the wealthiest Indians were given the right to vote (a very small percentage of the total population).
- Within the provincial governments, ministers of education, health and public works could now be Indian nationals.
- The act planned for a commission to be held in 1929 (Simon Commission) to see if India was ready for more reforms.
- However, the British controlled all central government and within the provincial governments, the British kept control of the key posts of tax and law and order though required to justify them before the Legislative Council.
- Many in India felt that they had been badly let down by the British government for their part played in World War One
Simon Commission - recommended some more reforms including - Federal system of government be created across India, incorporating both provinces and Princely States and Provinces be given more power
Round Table Conferences of 1930 and 1931 were special meetings due to the growing independence movement and the Salt March. Gandhi couldn’t attend the first one but attended the second but no agreement was reached.
Government of India Act 1935 created a federation of India by making provinces completely self-governing, though governors to be appointed by British. Self-government could be suspended in emergencies.
-Voting rights also expanded from 7 to 35 million people.
Act opposed by Congress party because It fell short of independence. Princely States rejected federation.
Independence eventually given in 1947.
How was Africa administered in the years 1919-1947?
Colonies under indirect British rule were economically developed by Britain to increase value to Empire and improve living standards, though most initiatives were funded by African taxpayers as Britain expected these colonies to be self-financing.
The British government allocated £10 million for improving rail and dock facilities in Eastern Africa.
Invested in schools and educational facilities in Western Africa
Agricultural research stations set up across the continent.
Colonial Development Act of 1929, gave £1 million for development projects across British colonies in Africa
White settler colonies pushed for self-government.
- Pressure put on British government to give Kenya self-government in 1920
- Southern Rhodesia also saw dominant white settler population
Took political power and won self-government in 1923.
- Union of South Africa where respect of ethnic minorities had been implemented into granting of Dominion status in 1910 were disrespected.
White minority had established control over internal affairs by 1930s and Statute of Westminster in 1931 gave Dominions legislative autonomy so white dominance continued.
How was the Middle East administered from 1919-1947?
Palestine: Britain’s main policy towards Palestine was to ensure it as buffer against potential threats to Suez Canal
was huge issues regarding Jewish and Arab representation. Arabs favoured by administrators in Palestine.
- Herbert Samuel tried bringing both to govern within Palestine however ethnic tensions prevented cooperation. Tensions often erupted for example between 1928-29 at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, where riots arose due to access for worshipers with hundreds of deaths on both sides
- Nazi persecution accelerated Jewish settlement in Palestine. In 1936, British sent 20,000 troops to Palestine to deal with Arab rioting and attack on Jews.
- Peel Report of 1937 recommended Palestine be partitioned into separate Jewish and Arab states, with British maintaining authority over Jerusalem and small number of holy place opposed by Arabs.
- British adopted policy of repression to deal with escalating violence between 1937-39, with over 100 Arabs hanged.
- In 1939, Jewish immigration restricted to 15,000 per year for 5 years with plan for Palestine to be declared independent in 10 years.
- Didn’t satisfy Jews or Arabs but British saw it as short-term strategy for stability.
Iraq (Mesopotomia)
- In 1920, British forced to intervene militarily (through air power) when widespread Muslim demonstrations against British rule in Baghdad turned into revolt. Kurds in north, who wanted independence, also rebelled.
At Cairo Conference of 1921, British decided to allow for some local self-government in meetings with Arabs, whilst retaining full British control of military and foreign affairs.
Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1922 confirmed Faisal I as King – regarded as ideal compromise candidate. Senior British advisers still appointed to most government departments to ensure continuing British control over Iraqi affairs as well as control of army and major military bases.
Further Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930 promised full consultation between two powers on matters of foreign policy. Eventual independence in 1932 however British still retained influence in area, particularly oil industry
What was ‘imperial defence’?
Severe economic difficulties during inter-war years with key industries lost out in international markets because of Great Depression. Costs of defending Empire became a burden.
New aggressive regimes emerged in 1930s in Europe and Asia, posing direct threat to Empire and potentially Britain herself. Imperial Japan seen as threat in Asia, Fascist Italy in Africa (where attempted conquest of Abyssinia in 1935 posed threat to British interests) in Egypt and Nazi Germany in Europe.
Rise of nationalist independence movements, especially in India, made need for military resources in case of trouble more urgent.
Britain had to take geopolitical view and prioritise - balancing costs and military demands of defending global empire against needs in Europe and home
- Policy of appeasement adopted in some parts of world
Britain modernised Indian army and continued with longstanding project to build up Singapore as formidable naval base, spending £25 million.
- However, Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister, 1937-40) badly underestimated scale of ambition in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Britain eventually went to war with Germany over Poland in 1939 and with Japan over Singapore in 1942.
What was the economic impact of the First World War on the British Empire?
War was extremely exhausting for Britain.
- over 13 times as much as Boer War, which was regarded at that time as being enormously expensive war.
- Over $4 billion had to be borrowed from US.
- Much of Britain’s capital investment overseas had been wiped.
- pound sterling had to be removed from gold standard for duration, because gold reserves ran so low.
- Lending money was difficult.
War effort had severe consequences for most important export industries.
- Production for war prioritised over making goods for export to traditional overseas markets and thus Britain’s competitors able to win markets traditionally dominated by British exports. Not all these overseas markets won back after First World War.
- - Textiles, shipbuilding, coal, iron and steel - created income to pay for running and defending Empire though experienced great difficulties between wars as they faced new overseas competition, i.e. Japanese textiles.
What was the economic impact of the First World War on india ?
Contributed £146 million to war effort and country experienced inflation and shortages during war.
Imports from Britain began to fall after 1914, which at the time was 2/3 of total import, because of growing strength of foreign competitors. Indian manufacturers began to develop own market and also maintained British control.
Rose from 11% in 1917 to 25% in 1931.
What was the economic impact of the First World War on canada, NZ and australia?
canada
- Benefitted from war, emerging as industrial power as British manufacturers lost ground.
- Began trading more with America.
New Zealand and australia
- Exporters of food and relied heavily on British markets so was hit hard by disruption of trade caused by war.
How did trade and commerce change in the inter-war period?
Policy towards imperial trade went through two distinct phases in inter-war period.
After 1920s, Britain recreated economic system existing before 1914 where Empire had no special preference.
After Great Depression however, emphasis on importance of Empire for British commerce and imports from Empire increased. Forced to abandon gold standard in 1931 but trade with Empire in sterling proved valuable.
Most countries of Empire fixed value of currency to sterling and some kept national reserves in sterling, reflecting close ties with Britain.
Gave access to British market for countries in Sterling Area
Britain used Empire to soften impact of Great Depression
What types of goods were imported/exported and how valuable was imperial trade?
Exports to Empire and imports from increased in 1930s as idea of Imperial Preference under Lord Beaverbrook became incredibly popular because of growing world trade issues due to Great Depression.
Imperial exports as % of total British exports went from around 37% in 1913 to 44% in 1934.
Ottawa Conference of 1932 was important for imperial trade as British introduced 10% tax on all imports but Crown colonies were exempted and Britain and Dominions gave each other’s exports preferential treatment in own markets.
Exports and imports to and from India and Burma fell as they began to rely more on Japanese markets.
- British exports to India and Burma went from around 12% in 1909-13 to 8% in 1934-38.
Dominions relied heavily on imperial preference as Australia and New Zealand’s economic crises were becoming significant.
- Exports to Dominions went from around 18% in 1909-13 to around 26% in 1934-38.
- Imports from Dominions went from 14% in 1909-13 to around 25% in 1934-38.
