How did the Empire influence British attitudes and culture: 1857-1890

Question 1

Attitudes towards Disraeli: Conservative Prime Minister 1868 and 1874-1880

Answer 1

Actions: Annexed Transvaal in 1877, launched invasion of Afghanistan in 1878 and bought £4 million share in Suez Canal

Crystal Palace speech (1872): Called Conservatives the ‘party of the empire’ and said that Liberals would allow the Empire to crumble

View - looked to expand the empire to gain popularity, imperialist

Question 2

Attitudes towards Gladstone: Prime Minister 1880

Answer 2

Actions: Urged withdrawal from Sudan during Madhist siege of Khartoum in 1884 and oversaw parliamentary act of 1884 (extended the vote to 5.5 million men)

View: Wanted to improve current colonies towards self-governance rather than more acquisitions and accused Disraeli of Jingoism (extreme empire-related patriotism, aggressive foreign policy)

Question 3

Press and the Indian Rebellion/Mutiny

Answer 3

Influence the public:
-Horrified following massacres and tortures at Cawnpore

-Thrilled by soldiers bravery and depiction of Major-General Henry Havelock led to statue, paid by public, in Trafalgar Square

Question 4

Imperial exhibitions

Answer 4

Public see (and inspired by) the adventures in the empire: example of self-congratulation as the ‘superior race’, example of ‘Social Darwinism’

• 1862 International Exhibition in South Kensington, featured over 28,000 exhibitors from 36 countries - 7000 exhibits from India
• 1890 Exhibition: Celebrated explorers and colonization, showing maps and photographs of British Expansion in Africa

Question 5

Press and self-governing colonies

Answer 5

• Times 1862 - Colonies were uniformly prosperous and desired to remain part of the empire - Canada self-governing dominion in 1867
• Working class journal ‘The Bee Hive’ collects 100,000 signatures for a petition asking for the Queen to state-fund emigration scheme for the unemployed, shows self-governing colonies were well liked

Question 6

Press and invasion of Egypt: Incensing the public led to support for Gladstone, made it easier to intervene in Egypt

Answer 6

Arabi Pasha’s revolt occupied reporters:
-Pall Mall Gazette - ‘the Moslem Mob’

-Daily Telegraph reports rebels had killed ‘all Christians they could find’