Section Three-Impact of the First World War

Question 1

How many men from the Empire fought in the war (alongside British)?

Answer 1

• 1.4 million from colonies

- 5 million from Britain

Question 2

How did the Empire help Britain during the war?

Answer 2

Empire also supplied Britain with vital raw materials

Question 3

How did the white dominions participate in WW1?

Answer 3

• Australians and NZ applauded for bravery in Gallipoli campaign and Canadians for their part in battle for Vimy Ridge in April 1917
• Canada supplied British with 1/3 of munitions used by British in France 1917-18
• Large number of volunteers joined the armed forces
• South African Defence Force set up by General Smuts fought successfully against Germans in its colonies

Question 4

How did the white dominions start questioning their loyalty after the war?

Answer 4

• French Canadians in Quebec regarded war as pro-British affair; in March 1918 there were protest riots against conscription in Quebec City
• Australians rejected conscription in two referendums in October 1916 and December 1917
• Australian and Canadians were appalled by the rigidity of Britain’s social systems; which led to an increased alienation from British identity

Question 5

How did WW1 affect India?

Answer 5

• In 1917, Indian government contributed £100m to Britain’s war effort
• Around 1/3 troops in France in autumn of 1914 were either Indians or British soldiers who had formerly served in India
• In response to growing support for Indian independence the SoS for India,, Edwin Montagu, promised more ‘responsible self-gov for India in Aug 1917

Question 6

How did WW1 affect Africa?

Answer 6

• 1.2m Egyptians recruited to defend Egypt and Middle East
• 100,000 Egyptians fought in Europe; 50% killed
• Black people did not fight but were recruited to work in France as labourers and carriers; 100,000 died from British EA forced to serve in Tanganyika
• First Pan-African Congress held in France in 1919

Question 7

What were the post-war treaties after WW1?

Answer 7

• ToV (1919) stripped Germany of its former colonies making them mandates
• Treaty of Sevres (1920) and Treaty of Lausanne (1923) also stripped Ottoman Empire of its colonial territories

Question 8

What is a mandate?

Answer 8

A former German colony

Question 9

How did the League of tNations sort the mandates out into categories?

Answer 9

Category C - Territories where independence was not considered feasible

Category B - Territories that needed a longer period of guidance

Category A - Territories seen as quite developed and independence might be possible in near future

Question 10

What are examples of countries in category C?

Answer 10

Samoa & New Guinea

Question 11

What are examples of countries in category B

Answer 11

Tanganyika, Togoland & Cameroon

Question 12

What are examples of countries in category A?

Answer 12

Palestine & Iraq

Question 13

Why did the British want to acquire Palestine?

Answer 13

• It incorporated the main overland route to Britain’s Indian and Asian Empire
• Had proximity to Suez Canal

Question 14

Why did the British want to acquire Iraq?

Answer 14

Economic reasons as it was oil-rich

Question 15

How did Britain mess up with the dealings of Palestine?

Answer 15

• Britain encouraged Arab rebellions against Ottoman rule especially in Palestine; led to Palestine being more unstable
• 1917 Balfour Declaration; British made promises to Jews about Palestine and promised ‘national homeland’ for Jews- Violent clashes between Arabs + Jews and became even more unstable

Question 16

How did Britain deal with Egypt after WW1?

Answer 16

• 1922 Britain gave Egypt formal independence although continued to be British client state until 1936
• Anglo-Egyptian Treaty (1936); British troops withdrew from Egypt except to defend the Suez Canal Zone

Question 17

What occurred with Ireland during and after WW1?

Answer 17

• Dublin Easter Rising (1916) for independence; followed by Guerilla warfare that ended only by Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)
• Anglo-Irish Treaty led to new Catholic Irish Free state being set up and given ‘Dominion’ status
• Irish Free State took the name of Eire and achieved full independence in the 1937 Statue of Westminster
• Significant as it showed that violent uprising and government action could lead to independence from Britain and inspired other nationalist movements

Question 18

How did Britain deal with Iraq after WW1?

Answer 18

• Britain ruled Iraq for 12 years as mandated territory after 1920
• However, Iraq given independence in 1932 under King Faisal I; although new government maintained close economic and military ties with Britain