Imperialism challenged, 1914-1947 - NEEDED FOR EXAM COPY

Question 1

What country is Mesopotamia?

Answer 1

Iraq

Question 2

In Iraq, what issues occurred?

Answer 2

Curbing costs of administration by managing internal conflicts between ethnic groups shaped by colonial policy

Question 3

What were the British forced to do in Iraq in 1920 and why?

Answer 3

Intervene militarily (largely through airpower) when Muslim demonstrations against British rule in Baghdad turned into a recolt

Question 4

When was the Cairo Conference?

Answer 4

1921

Question 5

What was decided at the Cairo Conference?

Answer 5

The British allowed some local self-government, whilst retaining full British control of military and foreign affairs

Question 6

When was the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty?

Answer 6

1922

Question 7

What did the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty do?

Answer 7

Confirmed Faisal I to rule Syria as King but had Snr British advisors appointed to gov departments

Question 8

What was Faisal I regarded as and why?

Answer 8

An ideal compromise candidate due to having good relations with the British and Muslim/Arabs

Question 9

What did Britain control in Iraq?

Answer 9

Major military bases and had much influence over the Iraqi army due to training them

Question 10

When was the second Anglo-Iraqi Treaty and what did it do?

Answer 10

1930 and it promised full consultation between the two powers on matters of foreign policy

Question 11

What was an important aspect of British interest in Iraq?

Answer 11

The oil fields in Mosul which had become part of the Iraq mandate after WW1

Question 12

Before WW1, how did Britain secure their interests in the oil fields in Mosul?

Answer 12

They had a deal with the Ottoman Empire for the British-controlled Turkish Petroleum Company to extract oil in exchange for the Turkish gov to have a 20% share in company

Question 13

After the Iraq mandate, what happened regarding the Turkish Petroleum Company? 3 things

Answer 13

1. The Iraqis were promised a 20% share
2. British didn’t honour it and Iraqis had to accept British terms
3. Company renamed to the Iraq Petroleum Company

Question 14

When did Iraq become independent?

Answer 14

1932

Question 15

Despite Iraq becoming independent, what did the British do?

Answer 15

Held on to their influence due to their control of the oil industry

Question 16

What did WW1 do to the Dominions?

Answer 16

Made them aspire to be independent

Question 17

What was the British gov concerned about?

Answer 17

The rising nationalism in the Dominions after WW1, particularly in Canada and SA

Question 18

Due to the concerns about nationalism in the Dominions, what was established?

Answer 18

The Commonwealth

Question 19

By joining a British ‘Commonwealth of nations’ what could Dominions and other colonies do?

Answer 19

Gradually become fully independent nations while retaining a special relationship with Britain

Question 20

What was the concept of the Commonwealth based on?

Answer 20

The free association of equal nations while remaining loyal to the British monarch

Question 21

Where was the idea of a commonwealth given substance and when?

Answer 21

At the Balfour Declaration of 1926

Question 22

What was the Balfour Declaration?

Answer 22

A meeting of the British and Dominion PMs at an Imperial Conference

Question 23

When was the Statute of Westminster?

Answer 23

1931

Question 24

What 3 things did the Statute of Westminster recognise?

Answer 24

1. Certain Dominion nations should become independent
2. Laws passed in Britain couldn’t be enforced in Dominion countries without the permission of their own parliaments
3. Dominion countries were free to pass their own laws without interference from or approval of Britain

Question 25

When did the Statute of Westminster come into effect?

Answer 25

Immediately in Canada, SA and the Irish Free State

It had to be ratified by the parliaments of Australia and New Zealand

Question 26

When did the Statute of Westminster become law in Australia?

Answer 26

1942

Question 27

When did the Statute of Westminster become law in New Zealand?

Answer 27

1947

Question 28

What happened to Newfoundland after the Statute of Westminster?

Answer 28

They never ratified it so reverted to Crown Colony status before becoming a province of Canada in 1949

Question 29

How was the Statute and emergence of the Commonwealth portrayed?

Answer 29

Evidence of the civilised nature of the British Empire

Question 30

What could the Statute and Commonwealth be regarded as?

Answer 30

As ways of ensuring British global influence, without the heavy costs of imperial rule

Question 31

What were the three key problems relating to imperial defence?

Answer 31

1. Britain was in severe economic difficulties during inter-war years
2. In the 1930s, new aggressive regimes emerged in Europe and Asia, posing a threat to the Empire and Britain
3. Rise of nationalist independence movements, particularly in India, made the need for military resources urgent

Question 32

During the inter-war years, what happened to British industries?

Answer 32

Key industries lost out in international markets

Question 33

What did the Great Depression of the 1930s mean?

Answer 33

That the cost of defending the Empire become a much greater burden

Question 34

What two European countries were a threat during the inter-war years?

Answer 34

1. Fascist Italy in Africa who posed a threat to British interests in Egypt
2. Nazi Germany

Question 35

What did Britain have to do in response to the threats to imperial defence?

Answer 35

They had to prioritise and balance the costs and military demands of defending the Empire

Question 36

What was the hope in the 1920s and early 30s?

Answer 36

That the League of Nations could provide the security in international affairs that the British needed

Question 37

What happened to the hope of the League of Nations being able to help Britain?

Answer 37

By the mid-1930s, it was clear that they couldn’t provide the security Britain needed

Question 38

Due to the lack of support from the League of Nations, what policy did Britain adopt and why?

Answer 38

A policy of appeasement in order to allow the deployment of resources to other areas

Question 39

What did the policy of appeasement do regarding Germany and Italy?

Answer 39

Britain tried to diffuse tensions by allowing them to have territorial demands in Europe

Question 40

By succumbing to Italy and Germany’s territorial demands, what did this strengthen for Britain?

Answer 40

Their ability to be strengthened against a possible attack on the Empire in Asia from Japan

Question 41

Why did appeasement to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy not work?

Answer 41

Because Hitler and Mussolini weren’t reasonable politicians and Britain eventually ended up going to war against Germany

Question 42

Once Britain entered war with Germany, what happened to British policy in Asia and why?

Answer 42

It unravelled due to the Japanese attacking Singapore in Feb 1942 and meaning Britain could no longer protect their interests in Asia due to WW2 involvement