Imperialist ideals/ Attitudes towards Empire in Britain ?

Question 1

What was public opinion of the British Empire ?

Answer 1

• very few people questioned the Empire’s importance and became more aware of the Empire

Question 2

How was Empire seen in Britain ?

Answer 2

• seen as a sign of Britain’s importance, prestige and economic prosperity
• reason they fought two world wars
• valuable asset

Question 3

Did people see the Empire as key to British victory ?

Answer 3

• Empire was seen as key to Britain’s victory, especially in WW1

Question 4

Did people see the Empire as morally right ?

Answer 4

• Most people continued to see the Empire as benevolent and as a force for good
• repression was justified to maintain Britain’s control

Question 5

Why did people voted Labour in 1945 ?

Answer 5

• did not vote for Labour in 1945 because they supported Indian independence in 1945
• voted Labour for domestic issues

Question 6

How did Labour view the Empire ?

Answer 6

• Labour party recognised that remaining colonies were key to Britain’s recovery and future prosperity

Question 7

Public reaction to Indian independence ?

Answer 7

• people lamented the loos of India in 1947

Question 8

Did people support the end/ ultimate dissolution of the British Empire ?

Answer 8

• people didn’t support the idea of the ultimate dissolution of the British Empire

Question 9

How did the message of Empire change ?

Answer 9

• message of Empire as explicit jingoism lost its attraction after horros of WW1
• Empire presented more as a family of nations led by the British - a place of peace and co -operation.

Question 10

How did the government present/ promote Empire ?

Answer 10

• Empire Marketing Board
• Exhibitions

Question 11

How was Empire promoted in other ways ?

Answer 11

• non government and private organisations like BBC
• Through education
• in literature, film and music
• advertising
• emigration

Question 12

Why was the Empire Marketing Board made ?

Answer 12

• effort made to encourage trade with Empire
• promote the Commonwealth and imperial unity

Question 13

Who and when was Empire Marketing Board set up ?

Answer 13

• set up by Leo Emery ( Secretary of State for Colonies and Dominions )
• in 1926

Question 14

What was Empire Marketing Board ?

Answer 14

• promoted the consumption in Britain of items produced in Empire through advertising campaigns and posters
• imperial imagery

Question 15

How did the Empire Marketing board become more active ?

Answer 15

• became more active with the onset of the Great Depression, interrupting world trade. Important to the British economy

Question 16

How was Empire presented through Empire Marketing board ?

Answer 16

• presented Empire as key in day to day life

Question 17

Example of Exhibitions ?

Answer 17

• Wembley Exhibitions, 1924

Question 18

How much did the Government spend for the Wembley Exhibition ?

Answer 18

• contributed to half the 2.2 million cost

Question 19

What did the exhibition include ?

Answer 19

• pavilions advertising every country in the Empire
• funfair was erected
• sports stadium became a permanent legacy of the exhibition

Question 20

Success/ support of the Wembley Exhibition and other exhibitions

Answer 20

• Over 17 million visitors attended in 1924, another 9 million in 1925, final year
• exhibit inion in Glasgow. Great success - attracted 12 million and offering a chance to boost the Scottish economy after the Depression

Question 21

Who and when was the BBC established ?

Answer 21

• established in 1923
• under its first Direct General, John Reith

Question 22

View on imperialism of the BBC ?

Answer 22

• BBC took as strong pro- imperial stance

Question 23

How did the BBC promote imperialism and empire ?

Answer 23

• covered as many major events, exhibitions and many major imperial events as possible
• there were Christmas broadcasts from 1932 which included the King’s speech, and various items about the Empire

Question 24

What power did the radio have ?

Answer 24

• the radio had the power to focus the loyalty of all the empire’s subjects as the figure of imperial unity - the monarch

Question 25

Success/ Impact of radios ?

Answer 25

• Radio strengthened imperial links
• promoted a sense of identity
• exposed the empire’s subjects to other cultures and ideas, not all of them conductive to imperial harmony

Question 26

How was empire in education ?

Answer 26

• Empire formed a focal point for the teachings of geography, history and literature in schools

Question 27

What writer was drawn upon in schools ?

Answer 27

• the poetry and writings pf such pro- imperial writers such as Rudyard Kipling

Question 28

How was Empire involved in universities ?

Answer 28

• Historical study of Empire became established in universities
• with special professorship in Imperial History being created such as the Vere Harmsworth Choir at Cambridge

Question 29

Role of education in individuals/ Colonial Servants ?

Answer 29

• Universities played an important tole in training Colonial Servants, as exemplified by the role of London’s University’s School of Oriental and African Studies, formed, in 1917

Question 30

Why was film an unprecedented opportunity ?

Answer 30

• an unprecedented opportunity to spread the imperial message to the masses

Question 31

Impact of feature films such as Sanders of the River ( 1935) and the Four Feathers ( 1939)

Answer 31

• used the Empire as a backdrop for adventure
• singling to the public that the Empire was a place of excitement and showing that the Empire was a force for human progress

Question 32

Impact of Ministry of Information films such as 49th Parallel and West Indies ?

Answer 32

• stressed the need for tolerance and understanding of other ethnicities in the Empire

Question 33

What were the beliefs of filmgoers about Empire ?

Answer 33

• that their empire represented stability and equity
• was managed by brave, right minded men who knew what was the best for natives