Evidence of support

Question 1

What was the ‘golden age’ of newspaper publication?

Answer 1

1890-1914 as technical advances in printing and professional journalism

Question 2

When was the Daily Mail created? What was it?

Answer 2

• Hamsworth pioneered it in 1896
• New form of cheap, populist newspaper
• Deliberately aimed at ‘lower-middle class’ hence low price

Question 3

How many copies of the Daily Mail were sold a day during the Second Boer War?

Answer 3

• 1899-1902, over 1m copies sold/day
• Damning Boers and Kruger
• Praised heroism of British troops

Question 4

What are some examples of literature positively influencing attitudes to empire?

Answer 4

• Gertrude Page emigrated to Rhodesia 1900 and wrote over 20 novels based on the lives of fellow settlers
• Mary Gaunt wrote similarly about Anglo-Indian relations in 1890s
• Rudyard Kipling had a strong belief in Empire; tales of military camapaigns were all Victorian bestsellers

Question 5

How is literature not necessarily indicative of support for Empire?

Answer 5

• Higher-lever literature still inaccessible to majority

- Bc of money, literacy and lack of interest

Question 6

Where was music with nationalist/imperialist themes heard?

Answer 6

• Music halls
• Concert halls
• Churches
  (More universal)

Question 7

What songs did Edward Elgar write and when?

Answer 7

• ‘Coronation Ode’ 1902 to Edward VII
• ‘The Crown of India’ for the Delhi Durbar of 1911
  (Less accessible)

Question 8

Why is increase in literacy significant? E.g.?

Answer 8

• New and more diverse market for books and comics of adventure with imperialist themes
• E.g. E.J. Brett’s Boys of the Empire (1900)

Question 9

What was the main paper for young people? Stats?

Answer 9

• Boy’s Own Paper and Girl’s own Paper had half a million readers from 1890-1914

Question 10

Boys’ Empire League

Answer 10

• 7000 members in 1900

- Annual exam with £25 for winner

Question 11

What are some examples of Christian youth organisations?

Answer 11

• Nonconformist Boys’ Life Brigade
• Anglican Church Lads’ Brigade
• Est. 1890s

Question 12

History and Geography

Answer 12

• History and Geography books used in state elementary schools emphasised glory of empire
• Explorers and missionaries represented as heroes

Question 13

Boy Scout and Girl Guides

Answer 13

• Baden-Powell est. in 1908 and 1912 respectively
• Organised like a military cadet force designed to train defenders of empire by earning badges
• Most successful of all attempts to mobilise young people behind imperial themes

Question 14

Girls’ Friendly Society

Answer 14

• Over 200,000 members by 1914

Question 15

Overall significance of young people

Answer 15

• Textbooks would effectively promote empire

- Clubs more exclusive and more popular among privately educated upper class

Question 16

Africa Exhibition

Answer 16

• London 1890
• Celebrated explorers and colonisation
• Photos and maps

Question 17

King George V’s coronation

Answer 17

• Celebrated with Festival of Empire at Crystal Palace in London 1911

Question 18

Overall significance of events and exhibitions

Answer 18

• Almost exclusively aristocracy and elite

- All events mentioned in London and specifically rich areas of London

Question 19

What are some architectural imperial creations of Edwin Lutyens in Britain and Empire?

Answer 19

• British Pavilion at international exhibition in Rome 1911

- Invited to help design the New Delhi in 1912 as a home for government of India which was moving from Calcutta

Question 20

What was the 1900 general election called?

Answer 20

• Khaki Election
• Conservatives won large majority after Boer War had been thought to be won
• Debatably provides evidence of working class’ support for Empire

Question 21

What is a caveat to the 1900 Khaki Election?

Answer 21

• Liberal and Tory jingoistic candidates rejected in many working class areas
• Opposition to Home Rule for Ireland greater reason for voting Tory than imperialism
• By 1902, Tories losing by-elections

Question 22

What was Empire Day and when was the first one?

Answer 22

• 24th May 1902
• Celebrated Empire
• Millions across the length and breadth Empire would salute the union flag and sing patriotic songs like Jerusalem and God Save the Queen