Colonial Policy and Administration - Commonwealth

Question 1

Impact of WW1 ?

Answer 1

• Dominions sacrificed a lot during the war, felt like they deserved independence
• aspirations for control of their own affairs and political autonomy

Question 2

Did the Dominions view themselves as colonies ?

Answer 2

• Dominions increasingly viewed themselves as equal parties with Britain

Question 3

Why could Britain not ignore calls for independence ?

Answer 3

• concerned about the strength of feeling in Canada and South Africa
• the bitter history of the Boer War led the British to worry that South Africa might be tempted to desert the British Empire altogether, resulting in a huge loss of influence.

Question 4

What was the concept of the Commonwealth ?

Answer 4

Concept was based on the free association of equal nations, with economic and political cooperation and loyalty to the British crown
- By joining, the areas could gradually become fully independent

Question 5

Where did the concept of the Commonwealth come from ?

Answer 5

• The idea of the Commonwealth was given substance in the Balfour Declaration of 1926- the result of a meeting of the British and Dominion prime ministers at a special Imperial Conference

Question 6

What did the Statute of Winchester ( 1931 ) recognise ?

Answer 6

• Dominions should become independent nations
• Laws passed in Britain could not be enforced in those countries without approval
• They were free to pass their own laws without interference / approval

Question 7

Who joined the Commonwealth ?

Answer 7

• had immediate effect in Canada, South Africa and Irish Free State
  -Australia accepted in 1942 and New Zealand in 1947

Question 8

Impact of the Commonwealth on British rule ?

Answer 8

• Commonwealth was portrayed as the civilised nature of the Empire, but it was also a means of the British maintaining influence without the cost of official imperial rule.