How did consecutive british governments administer the Empire, 1947-1967 Flashcards
Attlee’s labour government - The Old Dominions
had their own interests and prepared to assert these
ANZUS military pact between Australia, USA and NZ, implied USA had taken over Britains responsibilities in the pacific
Attlee’s labour government - The New Commonwealth
association of free independent states, effective vhecile of british influence
no natural unity and members had little in common
had to recognise British monarch as ‘head of commonwealth’
Attlee’s labour government - the Sterling area
almost all Dominions used british pound sterling as the basis of their currency
danger of collapse of pound in 1947 threatened them all with bankruptcy
became a closer economic bloc
exceeded rival dollar area
Attlee’s labour government - development of colonies
optimistic about stability of African possessions
1948 Colonial Development Corporation to improve living standards
East African ground nut scheme - cost £3.6 million
labours imperial policy, 1945-51
economic colonialism - secure trade and modernise the economies
role of colonial administrators in the 1950s
required to raise colonial production and modernise economies at speed
protect trade in Britain’s interests
destroy insurgencies
impact on local indigenous leaders under labour policy
areas like Kenya where Britain had formerly relied on devolving powers to local elites were no longer practical
local elites were therefore cast aside
changes in settler colonies
Dominions had been governed by independent legislatures since 1931 but democratic rights were not extended to indigenous until decades later e.g. Aboriginals in Australia in 1965
impact in direct rule colonies
some (educated elite) acquired an increasing say in the management
creation of legislative assemblies in Kenya, Nigeria and Gold Coast were seen as gradual steps towards independence
who were the next 3 prime ministers after Attlee
Churchill, 1951-55
Eden, 1955-57
Macmillan, 1957-63
all conservative
international positions emerging from the war
USA and USSR emerged as superpowers
emergence of cold war situation
americas opinion on the empire in the early stages
anti imperialist, but suited the USA to have a strong britain against the USSR so turned a blind eye to it
USA role in the Balkans
stepped in when British support for those fighting the communists could no longer be sustained
Truman Doctrine of 1947 pledged to help countries ‘resisting attempted subjugation’
provided military and financial aid to Greece and Turkey
changed US opinion to empire
as the cold war hardened, more fearful of communist expansion especially in middle east and africa
believed the best way of preventing this becoming attractive to nationalists was to build these countries as economically stable and prosperous, dependent on american loans
Marshall plan
gave Britain $3.3 billion
became increasingly obvious that Britain could not combat nationalist movements without the US
NATO
1949
allowed Britain to harness US nuclear capacity
cooperated in Korean war in 1950-53 which came under US command despite being a UN mandate
SEATO
the dominions, who had previously turned to Britain as guarantors of their safety, now turned to the US
1954
Treaty of Rome and the European Economic Community (EEC) 1957
established free trade and common market
tariffs against non members
sought to improve living and working conditions
6 countries - Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and West Germany
outcomes of the EEC
within 5 years, biggest exporter and buyer of raw materials
why did Britain not join the EEC
keen to keep special relationship with the US
fear of a loss of sovereignty
not in complete control of own economy
fear it would weaken common wealth ties as C had population of 800million, compared to EEC 165 million
why did the French oppose Britain joining
Britains economy too weak
concerned about American influence
objected to concessions for Commonwealth - but French colonies were associates
de Gaulle rejected
when did Britain join the EEC
1973
who gave the winds of change speech and when
Harold Macmillan
1960
what did the winds of change speech imply
independence would be granted to African territories
impact of winds of change speech
colonial administrators tried to convey idea of working with nationalists to prepare colonies for independence
in reality it was bot like this as the pace of change set by the British rarely satisfied the nationalists and so British were compelled to move much faster
British control over Egypt and middle east in early stages
fearful about russias ambitions
10,000 troops in the Suez canal zone
control over air force bases in Iraq
financed and provided officers to Jordan army
response to Britain telling the middle east to reject communism
Arab League in 1945
not prepared to support the British while they maintained their Suez garrisons and controlled the Sudan
King Farouk of Egypt
in 1951, renounced the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian treaty
overthrown by Colonel Nasser in 1952
Edens response to Nasser rule
1953 - agreement on stages towards Sudanese independence
1954 - agreed to phase out troops from Suez, to be completed by May 1956
showed Britains financial difficulties and desire to improve Anglo-Arab relations
what did Britain get in return for Eden’s concessions
free access through the Suez canal
respect independence of the Suez Canal Company
maintenance of former British bases in an operational condition
Baghdad Pact 1955
between countries in middle east and Britain
repel any soviet threat
Nasser did not sign and tried to pressure Jordan to remain out
who did Egypt form an alliance with
communist Czechoslovakia
Syria
alarmed Eden
Nasser plans for the Aswan Dam
core of a programme of irrigation, flood control and electrification
could only build with promised USA and UK support
UK and USA response to Egypts alliances
withdrew promised funding in 1956 due to relations with communists
what did Nasser do in response to withdrawal of funding
nationalised the Suez canal - direct blow to British who had 44% of shares
French outraged
Israel joined as Israeli ships had been banned from the Suez and feared Nasser would repress them
initial international response to nationalisation of the canal
UN tried to resolve issue but rejected by the USSR and Czechoslovakia
secret Anglo-French military plans took place behind the scenes
Protocol of Sevres
secret agreement that Israel would attack Egypt on 29 October
France and Britain would then demand that both sides cease fighting and they would invade the canal to ‘defend’ it
issues with Protocol of Sevres
Arab allies would not like
USA opposed military intervention
invasion of the Suez 1956
Israeli forces routed through
Anglo-French force consisting of 45,000 British troops which had been built up in Malta landed at North of canal
Egyptians put up resistance by blocking the canal with sunken ships
immediate impacts of the Suez crisis
miscalculate US reaction - condemned them, only thing USA and USSR agreed on
US refused to support Sterling in the currency crisis - risked sterling’s international position
Britain announced a ceasefire in 5 days and France had to follow
those in Britain did not support
Eden forced to resign and UN moved in to clear the canal
long term consequences of the Suez crisis
clear that Britian would not act in international affairs wothout the approval of the USA, limiting its position as a world power
if nationalst movements pushed hard enough they could force the British to surrender
dispelled the notion that Britain could manage its retreat from the Empire
Commonwealth in the 1930s
Dominions with a high degree of domestic self rule
much of the real power resided in London
British aims for the Commonwealth
a vehicle for rebuilding british influence and economy
a mutually beneficial association
a defence system in a bloc equivalent to that of the USA or USSR
why did the meaning of commonwealth change post WW2
came to see it as a way of surrendering the costs of formal imperial control whilst maintaining informal ties which would help protect Britain’s global economic interests and influence
countries in south asia and the commonwealth
India and Pakistan joined 1947
Burma refused in 1949
why did the symbol of the monarch in the Commonwealth change
became ‘Head of Commonwealth’
role of the commonwealth in Britain
continuation of global power
family of friendly nations which would lend critical and qualified support as PM of Australia tried to of in the Suez
‘free and equal’ states with no legal obligation to each other but united by their history
trade in the 1940s and 1950s
empire and commonwealth were extremely important as provided essential imports of food and raw materials
1956 - 58% overseas investment in empire
trade in the 1960s
western europe became more important
trade statistics
IMPORTS
Commonwealth: 1954 48%, 1965 29%
Western Europe: 1954 24% 1965 30%
EXPORTS
Commonwealth: 1954 48% 1965 27%
Western Europe 1954 28% 1965 32%
post war recovery
recovered more quickly due to US help through Marshall Aid
changes in western Europe
creation of the EEC
rise in living standards
why did Britain apply for membership in the EEC
exports to europe outstripped those to empire in early 1960s
sterling devaluation of 1967 destroyed the old sterling area and hit at britains global imperial pretensions
Sterling devaluation 1967
lowered exchange rate, with a pound becoming worth $2.40, 14% cut
designed to cut Britain’s deficit by making British exports cheaper
how did Britain earn dollars
continued rationing at home to cut the costs of food imports
prioritised british industrial production
tried to develop productive colonies particularly in Africa
saved reserves of dollars
how did Britain develop the colonies
Colonial Development and Welfare Acts of 1940 and 1945
1948 Colonial Development Corporation to coordinate major projects
example of a successful and failed development plan
failed - Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme
Successful - Malayan Rubber, became a major contributor to the hard currency pool
