Chapter 13 - Expansion and contraction of empire Flashcards
How many people from the colonies fought in ww1?
1.4 million
Where did Britain call in troops from to fight in ww1?
. India
. Africa
. White dominions
What did Canada supply Britain with?
Munitions + wheat
How many South African troops fought in the Middle East?
136,000 troops
What portion of the troops in France were Indian or British officers that served in India?
1/3
How many Egyptians fought in Europe?
. 100,000 fought - 5000 died
What is a mandate?
Where a territory was allocated to a country, and the country would govern it
What was the Balfour Declaration?
. Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, sent a letter to Walter
Rothschild which had sympathy for a Zionist state
.The British promised a homeland for the Jews in Palestine
When did Ireland gain independence?
1937
When did Egypt gain independence?
. 1922
. Remained a client state until 1954
When did Britain ‘lose’ Iraq?
1932 after 12 yrs of mandated territory
When did Singapore become independent?
1942
Why was Singapore significant to Britain?
. Had Britain’s main naval base in the region
. Largest surrender of British troops in history
What happened to Hong Kong?
Seized by Japan
How many Indians were captured by Japan?
30,000 - formed INA to remove Britain
What did Aung Sung do?
Formed the Burma Independence Army against the British
What was the Battle of El Alamein?
. Battle in Egypt where the British defeated the Germans and began removing the Germans from North Africa
. Also securing British control in Egypt and keeping interest in the Middle East
What was the Government of India Act 1919?
Limited system of self government for India
What was the Rowlatt Act 1919?
Gave authorities to arrest and imprison anyone who protested against British rule
What was the Government of India Act 1935?
. Increased number of Indians eligible to vote and strengthened the elected provincial assemblies
. Increased enfranchisement to 35 million people
When did India become independent?
1947
Why was India given independence?
. Growing nationalist movements
. WW2 had a great cost on Britain
. No longer a great market for British cotton exports
. Attlee believed keeping India in the empire would be too costly
. Violence amongst Muslims and Hindus, where at least a million died
When did Burma receive independence?
. 1948
. Decolonisation went up till 1947
When was Burma seized?
During WW2 by Japan
What did the Anti Fascist Organisation (AFO) do?
. Initially supported Japan
. Later supported Britain as a British victory would help the country gain independence
What did Attlee say about Burma?
The British government was not willing, or able to commit British troops in Burma
What did Britain do with Palestine?
. Withdrew from Palestine in 1948
. Handed control over Palestine to the UN
What were the UNs views with Palestine?
. Favoured partition, due to pressure from the USA
. Truman favoured Jews moving to Palestine
. Arab-Jewish relation deteriorated - led to violent turmoil
