COWS 1857-1967

Question 1

What was the Durham Report and what caused it?

Answer 1

-There was an armed rebellion against the British in Canada 1837, Lord Durham (a whig) was sent to Canada to investigate in order to prevent further rebellions.
-Hence the Durham Report 1839 was his report placing blame on British “irresponsible government”

Question 2

Why was the Durham Report important?

Answer 2

It was a revolutionary document that introduced self-government to many colonies of settlement

Question 3

When did Canada gain self government?

Answer 3

-Upper and Lower Canada united 1840
-National Federal Assembly created for Canada whilst individual provinces given control over internal affairs
-1867, Canada was a fully functioning self-governing colony

Question 4

By the middle of the 19th century the British Government was prepared to do what?

Answer 4

Grant responsible self-government to all “politically advanced colonies”, basically meaning colonies with substantial British and European populations

Question 5

When was New-Zealand granted self-government?

Answer 5

1856

Question 6

After granting self-government to multiple colonies, what aspect did the British still retain control over?

Answer 6

Foreign relations

Question 7

What did the British still trade with it’s colonies of settlement?

Answer 7

Australia - Wool and Sugar
New Zealand - Lamb and Dairy produce
Canada - Beef and Wheat

Question 8

Why was british control of governments in these dominions largely symbolic?

Answer 8

Because they weren’t responsible for administration or costs

Question 9

Why did Britain rely on these colonies of settlement?

Answer 9

They were important for Britains global power

Question 10

What were the 4 recognised COWS during ww1?

Answer 10

-Canada
-Australia
-New-Zealand
-South Africa

Question 11

What did Canada and Australia do during ww1?

Answer 11

Canada:
-Introduced Conscription 1917, celebrated for part in battle at Vimy Ridge 1917
-Supplied Britain with Wheat and Munitions through war, March 1918 had riots against conscription in Quebec city
Australia:
-Applauded for bravery at Gallipoli in 1915
-Rejected conscription in two referendums 1916 and 1917

Question 12

What did new zealand and south africa do during ww1?

Answer 12

NZ:
-Applauded for bravery at Gallipoli 1915, introduced conscription 1916
SA:
-Formed SA Defence Force by General Smuts, Smuts attended London Imperial War Conferences 1917, 1918, advising on military strategy in Europe
-136,000 South Africans fought in Middle East and on Western Front
-Republican movement led by J.B.M Hertzog grew and Afrikaner movement

Question 13

What was the Balfour Declaration of 1926?

Answer 13

It stated that the Dominions were “autonomous communities within the Empire, equal in status and in no way subordinate to one another, united by a common allegiance to the crown”

Question 14

What did the Statute of Westminster 1931 do?

Answer 14

It saw the Empire transform into a Commonwealth by recognising that:
-Certain dominions shouldn’t become independent
-Laws passed in Britain could not be enforced in these countries without permission of their own parliaments
-Dominions countries were to be free to pass their own laws without interference of Brit

Question 15

When did the Statute of Westminster come into effect for COWS?

Answer 15

Immediate effect in:
-Canada
-South Africa
-Irish Free State
Wasn’t ratified until 1946 by:
-Australia
-New Zealand

Question 16

Which colony never ratified the Statute of Westminster?

Answer 16

Newfoundland never ratified it and returned to Crown Colony status; eventually becoming a province of Canada in 1949

Question 17

When Britain declared war on Germany 1939, which colonies followed suit?

Answer 17

Australia, New Zealand and Canada

Question 18

How did SA join ww2?

Answer 18

General Smuts forced a debate in the House of Assembly and secured a majority of war by 80 votes to 67

Question 19

By 1945 many Commonwealth Nations looked towards USA rather than Britain, as demonstrated by…

Answer 19

-1940, Canada set up a Joint Defence Board with the USA
-1951, Australia and New Zealand had formed the ANZUS military pact with US (recognised the position of America as defender and protector of Pacific region, replacing Britain’s influence)

Question 20

What happened 1947-1949 in the Commonwealth?

Answer 20

1947- India and Pakistan join Commonwealth, pound Sterling almost collapsed
1948-Burma refuse to join. The ANP took over South Africa with policy of Apartheid
1949- Ireland became republic, leaving Commonwealth

Question 21

What happened 1952-1956 in the Commonwealth?

Answer 21

1952-Commonwealth Economic Conference held
1954- first Commonwealth Games were held
1956- Position of Commonwealth Secretary General created, Australian PM attempts mediate between Britain and Egypt during suez crisis

Question 22

What happened 1960-1966 in the Commonwealth?

Answer 22

1960- Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa
1961- South Africa left Commonwealth
1966- Special Commonwealth Conference held in Nigeria to discuss Rhodesia situation

Question 23

What 3 events are significant to the History of Home Rule with Ireland?

Answer 23

1886 - First Home Rule Bill
1893 - Second Home Rule Bill
1912 - Third Home Rule Bill

Question 24

Describe the characteristics of the First Home Rule Bill…

Answer 24

-Created self-government for Ireland with a devolved assembly while removing all Irish MPs from the Westminster parliament
-Introduced by Gladstone
-Britain would keep control over Irish defence and foreign policies, whilst new assembly responsible for all domestic issues
-Defeated in a vote in HofC, replacing Gladstones government by Lord Salisburys

Question 25

Describe the characteristics of the Second Home Rule Bill…

Answer 25

-Also introduced by Gladstone in 1893, similar to first bill, allowing for 80 of the 103 Irish MPs to remain in Westminster
-Bill made it through HofC this time
-HofL however defeated it with 419 votes to 41, Gladstone retired from national politics

Question 26

Describe characteristics of the Third Home Rule Bill…

Answer 26

-Drafted by Liberal PM Herbert Henry Asquith in 1912, very similar to previous two, although this time only 42 Irish MP’s able to continue to vote in Westminster Parliament, would also involve partitioning Ireland
-Passed HofC three times but rejected by HofL every time
-After third rejection, government able to use Parliament Act of 1911 to override Lords and Bill sent for Royal Assent (Government of Ireland Act 1914)
-Whilst Law was passed, suspended during the breakout of war in 1914

Question 27

What happened between 1914-1920 in Ireland?

Answer 27

1914- Britain faced prospect of Civil War in Ireland due to religious divide, British soldiers at Curragh mutinied, refusing to enforce Home Rule on Ulster province
1916: Southern pro-independece group Sinn Fein
1919: Frsutration caused by delays to Home Rule, Sinn Fein establish assembly in Dublin, declaring an Irish Republic (and IRA begain guerilla war against British)
1920: 4th Home Rule Bill signed into law

Question 28

Describe characteristics of the 4th Home Rule Bill…

Answer 28

Signed into law as the Government of Ireland Act 1920, formally established separate Home Rule institutions in two new subdivisions of Ireland - North and South, both areas continue to be part of UK. On-going civil war for independence meant the Act never took effect in South

Question 29

What happened in Ireland 1921?

Answer 29

-Anglo-Irish Treaty signed, creating Irish Free State, as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire - The six Northern Eastern counties quickly opted out of arrangement, not the end of the protests and opposition however, Sinn Fein reject the Treaty, partly because it involved partition, mostly because Irish Free State was a Dominion not an Independent Republic
-Brought further Irish Civil War, ending in 1923 with defeat of Valera and republicans

Question 30

Southern Ireland gained equality of status how and when ?

Answer 30

In the 1931 Statute of Westminster