Chapter 5: Attitudes towards Imperialism in Britain Flashcards
How did the British government view empire in the first half of the 19th century
Did not pursue a very active role in empire due to slow communications and lack of institutions to deal with empire
Government more concerned with free trade than acquiring new territories
Both Disraeli and Gladstone viewed empire as unnecessary and counter productive
Why did government attitude to empire change in the 1870s
Other nations grew stronger industrially and Britain now found greater economic competition
European and American tariffs made it harder to flood the western hempishphere with British goods
There was an increase among working class with empire due to literature and entertainment focusing on empire more
Surplus capital could not find investments within the country so looked outwards
Who was Disraeli and what were his and conservative attitudes to empire
Conservative leader in 1868 and 74-80
Asserted conservatives were the party of empire and that liberals would allow it to crumble
Argued it was the governments duty to reconstruct empire
This new found attitude was an attempt to win support from the enlarged electorate (1867 reform act)
Aimed to develop the commercial and strategic empire rather in the East rather than Africa - £4m shares in Suez
what examples are there that show Disraeli and the conservatives attitude
Bough £4m Suez shares in 1875
Bestowed Empress of India on Queen Victoria in 1877
Launched invasion of Afghanistan to help consolidate and protect India in 1878
Annexed Transvaal in 1877 and launched war on Zulus
What were Gladstone and the Liberals attitude to Empire
Believed Britain should concentrate on developing existing colonies and help them towards self government
Largely saw Empire in economic terms and was highly critical of Disraeli foreign and imperial policies
Was more involved in Africa
Was reluctant to undertake further management and costs
Often became embroiled In gaining land to protect interests eg Egyptian rebellion 1882 and Berlin conference
What examples are there for Gladstone and the liberals attitude to empire
Declined to commit further troops to fight the Boers
Urged the withdrawal of Anglo-Egyptian troops in Sudan and recognised they were “struggling rightly to be free”
Left local Tswana rulers in power after converting Bechauanaland into a protectorate
Resisted intervention when Germany claimed New Guinea in 1884
How did popular press impact attitudes to empire
Reporting on empire increased as they saw the value of stories of heroism and exotic lands
Illustrated London news was selling 300,000 copies a week and was an illustrated magazine - provided a visual link with colonies
Daily mail appealed to lower middle class and had a jingoistic approach to foreign issues - between 1899-1902 sales exceeded one million copies per day
What impact did education have on attitude to empire
The education Act of 1870 ruled children aged 5-13 should be in school which increased national literacy rates and meant more people could access stories about empire
What impact did enfranchisement (peoples right to vote) have on British attitude to empire
The extension of the right to vote in 1867 and 1884 made people more politically aware
What impact did imperial heroes have on British attitude to empire
British were horrified by massacres and tortures at Cawnpore during the mutiny - Henry Havelock recaptured Cawnpore and was considered a national hero and the public paid for a statue of him at Trafalgar Square
Gordon was considered a national hero and martyr
What impact did youth organisations and magazines have on attitudes to empire
The new comic genre told tales of adventure and appealed to younger readers
The boys own paper had a circulation of more than half a million and featured stories of soldiers and bravery across the globe
Boys own brigade offered military training and reminded young men what it meant to be part of the ‘glorious’ British empire
What impact did missionaries have on attitudes to empire
Heroic tales from missionaries helped reinforce the idea of benevolence and superiority of the British
This helped reinforce the belief the British were helping civilise indigenous people which increased support for empire
What impact did Darwins origin of species have on empire
The idea of natural selection and the disappearance of Maoris and North Americans helped reinforce the view the whites were ‘superior’
What impact did exhibitions have on attitudes to empire
Reinforced the sense of social and physical superiority
The 1886 colonial and Indian exhibition received 5 million visitors
The African exhibition in 1890 showcased maps, explorers routes and artefacts - this stimulated scientific interest and helped justify the idea of bringing the Christian God to Africa
