How did the Empire influence British attitudes and culture: 1914-1947

Question 1

Industrial workers and empire

Answer 1

-Economic benefits – closer ties with Empire in terms of manufacture of goods for export and raw materials for import e.g. promoted the consumption in Britain of items produced in the Empire

-Access to popular culture – cinema. e.g. Films such as Sanders of the River (1935) and The Four Feathers (1939) by using them as exotic backdrops for adventure - signaling the public that empire was a place of excitement

-Although those without jobs directly related to Empire had little connection, factory workers in Lancaster following Gandhi’s visit (1931)

Question 2

Middle Class

Answer 2

-Radio – could afford radio in their homes and with BBC estab. 1922 e.g. John Reith, first Director General of BBC, was pro-imperialism and covered rance of imperial events, exhibitions and public celebration - King’s speech 1932

-Coverage of Amritsar Massacre 1919 – questioning of imperial ideal e.g. ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ - Noel Coward’s - imperial note but self-mocking of British ideas about themselves and Empire

Question 3

Aristocracy/Wealthy

Answer 3

-Tradition of employment in colonial service for young men of aristocratic birth – civil servants across the Empire e.g. Universities trained colonial servants such as London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies in 1917

-Cultured- Elgar- e.g. ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, ‘Empire March’, got the upper classes behind Empire

Question 4

Children

Answer 4

-Popularity of cinema amongst young people, 1938 newspaper survey reported that only 4% of twelve-year-olds never visited the cinema e.g. Three national cinema chains: Associated British Cinemas, Gaumont and The Odeon

-Empire Day – celebrated throughout Empire from 24th May 1902 – e.g. Wembley Exhibition in 1924 costing £2.2 million attracted 26 million across 1924-25 - Empire exhibition in Glasgow 1938 attracts 12 million

-Education in British schools had an Imperial flavor e.g. Geography, History and Literature became a focal point in school - studying pro-imperialist writers such as Rudyard Kipling - books celebrated empire such as G.A. Henty

Question 5

Women

Answer 5

Empire Marketing Board targeted women as responsible for buying family’s shopping e.g. tailored to and women to support the old styled imagery connected to the Empire, women buying empire products, especially food, spreading the idea of women as citizen-consumers.