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British Empire 1914-1945 > Expansion and Contraction of Empire > Flashcards

Expansion and Contraction of Empire Flashcards

1
Q

How many men did the colonies and dominions send to fight in WW1?

A

4 million men

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2
Q

What fraction of all amunition used by Britain in France between 1917-1918 was supplied by Canada?

A

1/3

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3
Q

What was the “Imperial war Cabinet”?

A

Presidents of Dominions and representitves of India joined the war cabinet to symbolise close ties…………………………… however they only met twice and was dominated by Britain

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4
Q

In 1916 what did Llyod George introduce?

A

Imperial preference (to strengthen economic ties with empire)

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5
Q

State some evidence of resistance to supporting Britain in the war effort from the Dominions

A
  • French- Canadian protests e.g March 1918 riots in Quebec City agaisnt Conscription
    -Australia rejected conscription in the referendums twice (1916 and 1917)
    -Strong Republican movements in South Africa led by J.B.M Hertzog
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6
Q

What was the overall impact of WW1 on the Dominions?

A

Boosted Dominion’s confidence
promoting the desire for independece, therefore weakening the infleucne of empire, though no immediate contraction

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7
Q

In Autumn 1914 what fraction of GB troops in France were Indian soliders or GB soliders who had served in India?

A

1/3

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8
Q

What was the total number of Indians that had served in WW1?

A

1.27 million

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9
Q

In 1917 how much did the Indian government contribute to the war effort?

A

£100 million

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10
Q

What did Secretary for State, Edwin Montagu promise India in 1917?

A

Promised Indians more “responsible” self government including more democratic representatio for ordianry Indians. Such a response from Britian could argualby be an indication that Britain knew it was necessary to review Indian status after the war

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11
Q

What happened in Egypt in August 1914?

A

Egpyt officially named a protectorate

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12
Q

How many Egyptians were recruited to to defend Egypt and fight in the middle East?

A

1.2 million

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13
Q

How many Egyptain fought in Europe and how many were Killed?

A

100,000 fought and 50% of those died

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14
Q

How many sub-saharan Black Africans were recurited as “human-porters”?

A

1 million from British East Africa helped and 100,000 died

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15
Q

What was the imapct of extensive African support in WW1?

A

= Experience of war stimulated development of mationalsit movements
such as the uprising in Nyasaland led by John Chilembwe
As well as the First Pan-African Congress in Paris 1919 (Britian trying to appease)

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16
Q

What did the Treaty of Versaille remove from Germany?

A

Colonies

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17
Q

How did the Empire expand after WW1?

A

Mandates
= expanded by 1.8 square miles and 13 million subjecys
including Palestine, Tanganyika and Iraq

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18
Q

How were the mandates categorised?

A

“A” category= Quite developed so independece possible in the near future e.g Palestine
“B” Category= Longer period of guidance required before Indepedence e.g Tanganyika
“C” Category= Indepdene not likrly e.g New Guinea

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19
Q

Why did Britain want the Palestine mandate?

A

Economic and strategic reasons
-main overland route to India
-Close to Suez Canal
- Control of the Holy lands also appealed to British imperialsits
But by the end of WW1Palestine waa very unstable ………………………….

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20
Q

What was the Skyes- Picot pact?

A

1915
Gb and France secretly agreed to divde Ottoman Empire after the war with GB and France encouraging Arabs rebellion against the Turks, key figure incldes T.E Lawrene (Lawrence of Arabia)
THe Allies implied they would support Arab rule post war………………..

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21
Q

When was the Balfour Declaration?

A

1917

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22
Q

What was the Belfour Decleration?

A

Arthur Belfour (GB Foreign Secretary) attempted to win over ant-imperialist Americans and worte a letter to Walter Rothschild expressing sympathy for Zionism and directly promising GB support for “national homeland” in Palestine

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23
Q

What immediate problems did the Balfour Decleration create?

A

Jewish population in Palestine rapidly grew
e.g 60,000 in 1918 and 175,000 by 1931
Zionsit commission establsihed in Palestine in 1918 to campaign for Jewish rights which led to the Muslims and Arabs setting up the Muslim-Christian Association in response

=1918-1920 violent clashes between the two groups

24
Q

During WW2 what type of mentality took ahold of Britain?

A

Siege Mentality
Idea they were stading on their own………………………………..in reality= extensive imperial support

25
How much money did Britain borrwo from the Sterling area during WW11?
£2.7 billion
26
How much money did Canda give GB between 1942-1943?
approx £3 billion
27
How many Indian troops served in WW11?
2.5 million
28
How many Canadian troops served in WW11?
1.2 million
29
What happened in North Africa during WW11?
=key battle ground GB desperate to maintain control of Egypt Axis driven back at the battle of El Alamein But North Africa all back in Allied hands by May 1943
30
What happened in South East Asia during WW11?
Early 1942= Japan conquered most of GB empire in South East Asia Including the fall of Singapore in Feb 1942 (singnifcant naval base which had cost over £60 million) and the largest ever surrender in British Military history 1941= Japan conquered Hong Kong Feb 1942= Malaya and Burma by May 1942
31
Why was Axis occupation of South East Asia during WW2 so signficant?
Ended the myth of "white invincibility" and encouraged Asian independece movements with some former imperial subjects foighting with the Japense e.g 30,000 Indian troopss captured at Singapore formed the Indian National Armny under Subhas Chandra Bose and fought the British in Burma e.g Aung Sang formed the Burma Indepedence Army
32
What happend in India during WW11?
May 1942- Japanse conquest of Burma meant a direct threat to Indian borders Autumn 1943=new south East Asia Command under Admiral Lord Mountbatten improved organisation in the Asian theatre Spring 1944= Japense launch invasion of India but repulsed by Indian army at battles of Imbhal and Kahima and Japense retreat across Burma
33
How many Indian civilian deaths during WW11?
3 million Though mostly due to 1943 Bengal Famine (Famine caused by climte conditions and failed local government policies that were worsened by war time supply issues)
34
State a conclusion to WW11 regarding the contraction and expansion of empire
Everything occupied was regained BUT did cause major cahgne in attitudes -international political attitudes intolerant to imperalism -domestic political appetite shifted away from empire -doemstic public prorites focused on rebuilding and welfare ALSO change in economic strength =gov in £27 billion plus debt and global trading system now dominated by USA, Japan and EU)
35
What did WW1 highlight to Britain?
Showed continued improtance of empire as a basis for GB security in 20th century, but also stimulated change in relationship with imperial subjects= GB control weakened
36
What happened in India in the inter-war years in regards to Nationalism?
Nationalsit demand fro self-government grew after WW1 resulting in Government of India Act 1919 -Limited self-government with sharing of powers between Indians and viceroy -GOIA as an attempt to show increase towards Dominion status BUT givernment concerned reform might increase nationalist pressures so adopted a "twin track policy" = reform but also clear polciy that mass resistance would not be tolerated Rowlatt Act March 1919
37
When was the Amritsar Massacre?
13 the April 1919
38
What happened at the Amristsar Massacre?
Rowlatt Act had opposite of desired effect= caused increased resistence General Dyer ordered a comapny of his men to open fire on a paceful gahtering of over 100,000 people. The soldiers fired into the crowd until their ammunition ran out= 1,000 were killed and similarly wounded =caused many moderates to abandon loyaty to Britain Rowlatt eventuallu repealled March 1922
39
Who led the All Indian Muslim League?
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (wanted a seperate, independent Muslim state)
40
Who led the Indian National Congress?
Mohandas K Ghandi (wanted a united Indian state but not allmembers supported his peaceful approach)
41
State some other Nationalist Groups in India
The Untouchables
42
When did Nationalist groups in India suspend their protest?
1939
43
What did Ghanda launch in 1942?
Quit India campaign = Ghandi arrestd and spent next 2 years in prison and Britain increasingly favoured the loyal Muslim League
44
Which party won in July 1945 and with how many seats?
Labour Party (145 seats) PM= Clement Attlee Labour priority= rebuilding and improving social welfare, not retaining empire at all costs
45
How did the post war withdrawls of India occur?
Labour gov wanted to grant India indepdence as soon as possible as keeping India was not feasible or desirable e.g Nationalist groups and resistance stretching GB troops and India no longer as important market for GB goods =cost of staying outweighed economic benefit
46
Who was appointed as Viceory in Feb 1947?
Lord Mountbatten tasked with bring India to indepdence by June 1948
47
When did India gain indepedence?
15 th August 1947 through rapid partition which allowed for worsened Muslim-Hindu violence
48
How many were killed when trying to move across to India or Pakistan?
1 million= legacy of bitterness between India and Pakistan
49
What happened to Burma during Japense occupation in WW2?
Significant damage to infrastructure with 1 million dead and the Burma Independece Army under Aung San supporting Japanese invasion =Puppet state created and BIA became Burma National Army
50
What happened in August 1944 in Burma?
Aung San joined with socialist and communist leaders to create the Anti-Fascist Organisation to resist Japanese occupation and by early 1945 Burma back to British control and GB governor focused on policy of prioritising physical reconstruction over political change =March 1945 AFO evolved into Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (Nationalist organisation dedicated to independence for Burma from all colonialism)
51
What happened in Sept 1945 onwards in Burma?
Sep 1945- Britain announces merger of BNA and new official Burmese army designed to elevate Aung San but he refuses to co-operate Sep 1946- increasing civil disobedience led to Sir Hubert Rance replacing Dorman- Smith, Aung san accepted his offer to run a new ruling Executive council Dec 1946- PM Anttlee announces he will not be willing to commit troops to enforce GB rule April 1947- assembly elections = AFPFL majority 19 July 1947- Aung San and other cabinet ministers assassinated 4 Jan 1948- Burma becomes independent
52
What did GB do regarding Palestine in Feb 1947?
Referred issue to UN (over who should occupy Palestine Jews or Arabs)
53
What did the UN recommend in Nov 1947 regarding Palestine?
Partition however civil war escalates
54
What happens to Palestine in 1948?
GB mandate ends, UN commission takes over control, but a new state of Israel also declared
55
"The contraction of the British Empire was started by the First World War, but accelerated by the Second". Assess the validity of this view.

British Empire 1914-1945 (7 decks)

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