Imperialist Ideals Flashcards
How did the British public feel about the Empire 1914-1947
- Very few people would have questioned the Empire’s importance and more became aware of the empire.
- It was seen as a sign of Britain’s importance, prestige, economic prosperity and the reason they had fought 2 world wars.
-> It was seen as a valuable asset of which the British people could feel proud. - see the Empire as benevolent and as a force for good – repression was justified to maintain Britain’s control.
- Even the Labour Party believed that the remaining colonies were key to Britain’s recovery and future prosperity.
How did the Government promote the Empire
- Through mass communications and social organisations, the British population was bombarded by imperial imagery.
- The Empire Marketing Board, promoted the consumption in Britain of items produced in the Empire through posters and advertising campaigns (gov. intervention in advertising, not only private companies now).
- Exhibitions were staged, such as the Wembley Exhibition of 1924 to which the government contributed half the £2.2m cost.
-> give visitors an experience of the British Empire ‘in miniature’. - Over 17m visitors attended in 1924 and another 9 million in 1925. They came away with an impression of a thriving, forward-looking and diverse empire and memories of.
How did the BBC promote the Empire
- established in 1923, under its first Director General, John Reith, took as strong pro-imperial
stance and covered as many major imperial events, exhibitions and public celebrations as possible. - Christmas broadcasts from 1932 which included not only the King’s speech but also various items about the Empire.
-> The Radio had the power to focus the loyalty of all the empire’s subjects on the figure of
imperial unity – the monarch. - Radio was a device which would strengthen imperial links and promote a sense of common identity among the empire’s subjects.
-> exposed the empire’s subjects to other cultures and ideas.
How did education promote the Empire
- empire formed a focal point for the teachings of geography, history and literature in schools, drawing for the last on the poetry and writings of such pro-imperial writers as Rudyard Kipling.
- The historical study of the Empire became established in universities, with special professorship in Imperial History being created such as the Vere Harmsworth Chair at Cambridge (1919).
- universities played an important role in training Colonial Servants, as exemplified by the role of London’s University’s School of Oriental and African Studies, formed in 1917.
How did literature and film promote the Empire
- The emergence of cinema as mass entertainment was another source of imperial culture. It was the greatest source of entertainment between the wars – offering an opportunity to spread the imperial message to the masses.
- gov insisted that every film which portrayed the empire or its servants showed both in a flattering light.
-> the British Board of Film Censors, founded in 1912, job to ensure films were fit to show. - Filmgoers went home with a satisfying belief that their empire represented stability and equity.
How did music promote the Empire
- At the 1924 Empire Exhibition, the composer Edward Elgar conducted mass choirs in the singing of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and a new eight-song ‘Pageant of Empire’ and ‘Empire March’ were performed.
- death in 1934 signified the passing of the ‘grand’ imperial era.
- Noel Cowards’ 1931 song, ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’, adopted an imperial note, but it was more gently self-mocking of British ideas about themselves and the Empire.
How did commercial advertising and private companies promote the Empire?
- used imperial motifs to promote their products and continued to do so.
- Large traders with the empire such as the Co-operative Wholesale society celebrated their global and imperial links in their advertising
-> especially in their supply of products such as tea with packets containing collectable cards illustrating places in the Empire.
How did emigration and missionaries promote the Empire?
- provided informal links as many people had relatives who had emigrated to the colonies or who had served in the army or the navy bringing them in direct contact with the Empire.
- Former missionaries spoke in Church about their experience in the Empire.
How did Empire Day continue to promote the Empire?
- sought to create a sense of belonging to the family of nations, owing allegiance to the same monarch.
- celebrated right across the empire with participants often wearing their national dress of other costumes representing the different colonies in the Empire.
- During the early stages of WW2, it was believed to be important to promote positive images of empire, given the importance of the Empire and Commonwealth to the war effort.
How did service in the armed forces during the war shape British Attitudes to the Empire?
- British troops served across the empire in both World Wars which encouraged support for the empire because they felt that they had fought and comrades had died for something important.
- British troops in WW1 fought in the trenches alongside troops from Canada, Australia, New Zealand & South Africa.
- Service in the armed forces encouraged an affinity to and desire to protect Britain’s overseas Empire.
- Soldiers relayed their experiences of the Empire and service alongside colonial troops to their relatives back in Britain, during the wars and afterwards.
Summarise the extent of imperialist ideas
- there was a great deal of pro-imperial propaganda -> this is not proof that it influenced those who consumed it.
- Some argue that such a strenuous effort was undertaken to promote the empire because so few of the mass population were either aware of or interested in it.
- It was affected by people’s different social groups and classes e.g. member of the affluent middle classes may have had family members employed in colonial service or others involved in trade with the empire.
-> Many working-class people did not feel that it was relevant or important to their lives.
to what extent were the working class influenced by Imperialist ideas
more so:
- The press & books (increased literacy rates
because of the education act).
- Empire Day.
- Experience of fighting in the empire during the
wars.
- Cinema – cheap, accessible, exciting.
less so:
- Concerns of ‘buying British’ or ‘buying
empire’ were more expensive.
- Concerned with social reforms and setting up a
welfare state.
- Focused on bread and butter issues e.g. work
(may increase interest).
To what extent were the middle class influenced by imperialist ideas
More so:
- Radio, BBC.
- organised the education curriculum.
- Education in universities about the empire.
- Personal connections with those who served in the Empire.
- Exhibitions (accessible to all, more likely to be engaged in it).
Less so:
- Concern for international developments: communism, Nazism.
- the Great Depression.
to what extent were the upper class influenced by imperial ideas
more so:
- Travel to the empire –> flights.
- Personal connections with people who served
in the empire.
to what extent were children influenced by imperial ideas
more so:
- Co-operative wholesale movement. Cards to collect.
- Education in schools.
- Stamps.
- Empire Day.
- Scouts.
