Section 3 Flashcards
1
Q
What role did empire play in WW1?
A
- Many men from Empire volunteered to fight (E.g 1.4m Indians)
- Empire supplied resources (raw materials, food, etc)
- Joint decision making -> Colonial leaders wanted a say in where their troops were going
- Imperial War cabinet (showed union of empire BUT only 2 sessions and GB dominated)
- Imperial preference introduced
- Revealed racial tension still (GB didn’t let black man fight a white man -> believed it could compromise law in order in empire
- Curzon ‘GB flag never flew over a more united or powerful empire’
- Imperial enthusiasts -> used WW1 as demonstration of Imperial unity and how colonies were happy BUT failed to realise colonies made sacrifices which they expected to be compensated for
2
Q
How did GB show its prejudice + racial tension in WW1?
A
- GB didn’t let blacks fight whites as they believed it would compromise law and order in Empire
- During Palestine campaign West Indian volunteers endure Racial slurs
3
Q
White dominions involvement in WW1?
A
- Large amounts of ;Canadians Australians, New Zealanders
- Fought in Europe, Middle East, Africa
- New Zealand + Canada adopted conscription
- Canada supply GB with 1/3 of munitions + wheat uses by GB in France 1917-18
- The South African Defence Force (fought successfully Germany and its colonies)
- Smuts (Ex Boer in Boer war) joins Imperial war cabinet
4
Q
Example of White dominions independence during WW1
A
- National leaders insisted on their forces maintaining distinct national identities
- Final final say in conscription
- Boosted Self worth + confidence promoted desire for independence
5
Q
WW1 White Dominions Key battles?
A
- Gallipoli 1915 (Australians + New Zealanders) BUT they still lost (showed Turkish army had beat white army)
- Vimy Ridge 1917 (Canadians)
6
Q
White dominions Discontent with WW1
A
- 1918 Canada Quebec City Protests + Riots against conscription (French Canadians)
- Austrians reject conscription in two referendums (1916, 1917)
- Australians + Canadians alienated from GB identity due to GB rigid social systems
- South African Republican movement + Afrikaner movement questioned imperial connection + grew
- GB dominate Imperial war cabinet
- Boosted confidence + Self worth = increased desire for independence
7
Q
WW1 effect on India?
A
- Army + senior officers physically + mentally unprepared to fight modern European war
- Fought with hope to become equal part of empire
- Major contributions in Africa + Middle East
- 1917 Indian Gov contributed 100m
- Heavy losses = low moral + agitate sepoys
- Independence movement support grows (Indian Secretary of State Montagu promised responsible self gov for India in 1917)
- Promise included democratic representation for ordinary Indians + Review of India’s status once war had ended
8
Q
WW1 Effect on African colonies.
A
- 1914 Egypt becomes protectorate (Egyptians resent)
- 1.2mil Egyptians Recruited to Protect Egypt + Middle East (50k died in Europe)
- Famine + Disease problematic (100K labourers dead employed by both sides)
- Black men discovered new worlds = New ideas (question empire)
- Tarantoin Mutiny 1918 ( black man freedom to govern themselves)
9
Q
League of Nations mandates?
A
- Mandates supposed to help counties become independent
3 CATEGORIES;
-Category A; independence possible in the future (E.g Palestine)
-Category B; Needed way longer + more help (E.g Cameroon)
-Category C; Independence not considered (New Guinea)
-GB Argued; German + Ottoman colonies politically + economically underdeveloped THUS they needed guiding - Main GB aim Project India + economic factors
- 13m subjects gained
10
Q
What did Treaty of Severs (1920) + Treaty of Lausanne (1923) do?
A
- Strip Ottoman Empire of its colonial territories
11
Q
What treaty Stripped Germany of its colonies after WW1?
A
Treaty of Versailles
12
Q
America + Wilson’s view on Ex-German + Ottoman colonies?
A
- Future of the countries would be decided after balancing interests of the population
- Wilson keen on SELF-DETERMINATION
- GB didn’t like this but needed USAs finance
13
Q
Why did GB dominate League of Nations?
A
- USA was in isolation (didn’t join)
14
Q
Why did GB want to acquire Palestine?
A
STRATEGIC REASONS;
- Route to India + Asia
- Close to suez
15
Q
Why did GB want to acquire Iraq?
A
ECONOMIC
- Oil
16
Q
1915 Sykes-Picot
A
- GB + French secretly divide Ottoman Empire
- GB take; Jordan, South Iraq, Palestine
- French take; East Turkey, Northern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon
17
Q
Who was Lawrence of Arabia?
A
- Britain +France encouraged Arab rebellions vs Ottoman Empire
- Laurence (GB army officer) was key in these revolts
18
Q
What was the 1917 Balfour declaration?
A
- Balfour (foreign secretary) sends letter to Lord Rothschild (Banker + Jewish key figure) gets LEAKED
- GB support for National homeland for Jews
19
Q
GB aim with Balfour declaration?
A
- Keep Jewish bankers supportive of the war
- Win support of anti-imperialist American public to accept GB influence in Middle East
20
Q
Why was the Balfour declaration troublesome for GB + Palestine mandate?
A
- Jews set up Zionist commission (1918) campaign for more rights
- Arabs respond by setting up Muslim-Christian association (1918)
- 1918-20 Violent clashes between Jews + Arabs
- More Jews migrate to Palestine (175k by 1931 = 18% of population while was only 7% in 1918)
21
Q
Egyptian independence?
A
- Egypt a protectorate 1914
- 1919 Serious demonstrations show it shouldn’t be permanent
- GB wanted protect strategic positions + economic interest (Suez)
- 1922 Independence BUT becomes client state (GB control foreign policy + keep GB army in suez)
- 1936 Anglo Egyptian treaty
22
Q
1936 Anglo- Egyptian treaty
A
- GB troops withdrew BUT 10k troops allowed in Suez Canal Zone (but Emergency = Unlimited)
- Egypt assisted to join League of Nations
23
Q
What were the key events of the Irish Free State
A
- Dublin Easter Rising (1916) brutal
- After WW1 IRA guerrilla warfare
- Sinn Fein set up Irish Parliament in Dublin
- 1921 Anglo Irish treaty (New Irish state established)
- 1931 Statue of west minister (parliamentary independence)
- 1937 Irish free state renamed Eire
- 1949 Leaves commonwealth + declared a republic
24
Q
1921 Anglo Irish treaty
A
- New catholic Irish free State set up (But king still head of state
- 6 Protestant northern counties excluded
- Irish free state granted dominion status
25
When and who bought £4 million of shares of Suez?
- 1875
| - Disraeli
26
Why was Irish independence so significant?
- Oldest colony
- Close to home
- Example of violent uprising + government action leading to independence
27
What category was Iraq?
- Category A
28
Detail the rocky road to Iraqi independence?
- Category A BUT GB governed for 12Y from 1920 + maintained some control after
- Nationalists = Big problem (e.g 1920 revolt suppressed with difficulty)
- Colonial secretary (determined to find rule that benefited GB + Iraq)
- GB grant Iraqi independence 1932+ chose Feistal 1 as king (son of Arab leader) BUT 0 previous connection to area
- After Iraqi independence GB still keep economic + military ties with Iraq
29
What economic + military ties did GB keep with Iraq after their independence in 1932?
- Air bases in the country
- right of transit for its forces through the country
- Monopoly on oil exploration + production (GB controlled Iraqi Petroleum company)
30
Middle East involvement benefit the GB after to WW2?
- Countries were rich in oil (fuelled GB industry + Navy)
| - Strategic position (Prevented India being governed by Muslims + land route to Asia)
31
Middle East involvement a burden after WW2?
- Arabic + Jew conflict
| - Nationalism
32
Was GB in control of the decolonisation of GB empire in Egypt, Iraq, Ireland ?
- Lost formal control BUT still strong influence in countries
- Remained client states
33
Did GB face any competition from major powers after WW1 in terms of empire ?
- GB Navy still dominate (GB = 42 capital ships while whole 🌎 =44) but this didn’t guarantee security
- No serious internacional competition (Germany destroyed, France = Allie, Russia civil war = weak, USA forced into isolation)
34
Post WW1 positives
- Royal Air Force = new cheap policing methods
- No threats from superpowers
- GB navy 42 -> Rest world 44
- GB relied on cheap methods of policing (Tribal leaders, royal families ect given power) due to stretched forces
35
When was Arab revolt?
1936
36
WW1 Economic impact
- Industrial powers eclipsed by USA
- GB sold many overseas investments
- No combatant power spent as much as GB (Nearly 10 Billion)
- Costs now out way Positives
37
WW2 Impact on Empire
- Colonies had new demand for greater autonomy
- Empire brought benefits to war effort but also many liability’s
- Dominions contributed (5m troops)
38
WW2 situation in India impact
- Viceroy declares war on India without consultation
- 2.5M India’s volunteer
- Many opposed war (Gandhi)
- some Nationalists worked with Germany + Japan
- INC + Neru refused to support without independence guarantee
- Congress called provincial Govs to resign (they did )
