The Nature of the British empire

Question 1

By which year had most of the colonies with a substantial number of British settlers been granted self-government?

Answer 1

1857

Question 2

While a fair few colonies with high number of British settlers had been granted self government, what 2 things would Britain have remained in control of?

Answer 2

That country’s foreign relations and also it’s defence.

Question 3

3 facts about colonial rule in crown colonies.

Answer 3

a. British appointed governments had full executive power.
b. British rule almost everywhere relied on the support of the elites.
c. There was no consistent law throughout the empire and especially in settler colonies there were areas where the local law remained.

Question 4

Why did British rule almost everywhere rely on the support of elites?

Answer 4

i. the British didn’t have to spend a lot of money on hiring a large number of British officials or maintaining a big military presence to control the area.
ii. Instead, they could use the cooperation and influence of the local elites to help maintain order and govern the territory.

Question 5

Please answer in pretty vague terms. What were some impacts of many British people assuming that they were God’s chosen race?

Answer 5

That that gave them the right to rule over “lower races”.
They were also very opposed to socially mixing with the native people of their colonies as well as “diluting” white rule by allowing natives to become officials.

Question 6

Informal Empire
- Gen.

Answer 6

a. Did not directly control countries but relied on influence of bankers, merchants, consoles, and royal navy to “ensure” a “great deal” of control.
b. British influence varied according to circumstances, not least the cooperation of local politicians and the policies of rival powers.

Question 7

Informal Empire
- China

Answer 7

a. Britain wanted to trade there.
b. As long as the Chinese emperors provided security for trade then Britain was happy but if it didn’t Britain was ready to fight.
c. Despite the decline in China at the time most British politicians didn’t want to destroy it but to exploit it.

Question 8

Informal Empire
- The Ottoman Empire

Answer 8

a. The British supported them as to stop Russia from gaining power in the area as it was physically positioned between the British and Russian Empires (some of this is from memory).
b. The ambassador in Constantinople exercised a lot of power.

Question 9

Informal Empire
- Latin America

Answer 9

British financiers had an important role especially in some countries. This provided a considerable influence in those places.

Question 10

Reluctant imperialism (2)

Answer 10

1. Imperialist attitudes
2. British interests

Question 11

Reluctant imperialism
1. Imperialist attitudes (3)

Answer 11

a. Due to the industrial revolution, Britain dominated world trade and so it might have seemed that Britain no longer needed so many expensive colonies. (Even though they are arguably still useful in this regard in my opinion)
b. It no longer really needed to expand for defensive reasons as with a notable exception of India most of its colonies were relatively safe from danger.
c. The loss of the American colonies could have been seen as an indication that they were all bound to be lost eventually so there was little point attaining them.

Question 12

Between which years did the empire grow on an average of 100,000 square miles a year?

Answer 12

1837 to 1872

Question 13

How many square miles on average did the British empire grow each year between 1837 and 1872?

Answer 13

100,000 square miles a year

Question 14

Please contextualise the speed by which the empire grew between 1837 and 1872 with some comparison.

Answer 14

Almost the same rate as the second half of Victoria’s reign which is considered “the golden age” of territorial expansion.

Question 15

Reluctant imperialism
2. British interests (2)

Answer 15

i. Little prospects of Britain abandoning their empire
ii. If there were any perceived threats to their interests, this often led to further expansion.

Question 16

British strengths – (4)

Answer 16

1. Military strength (2)
2. Emigration (2)
3. Economic strength (2)
4. Imperial weakness (2)

Question 17

British strengths – (4)
1. Military strength (2)

Answer 17

a. During the 50s and 60s the Royal Navy was turned from a fleet of wooden sailing ships into iron coal fuelled steam ships.
b. The British army was better equipped and trained than any of it’s colonial enemies. (2)

Question 18

British strengths – (4)
1. Military strength (2)
b. The British army was better equipped and trained than any of it’s colonial enemies. (2)

Answer 18

i. Highly effective instrument of defence and expansion.
ii. It fought 15 wars between 1857 and 1899 and won them all.

Question 19

British strengths – (4)
2. Emigration (2)

Answer 19

a. 1815-1930 19 million brits emigrated (*2 as many as from other parts of Europe).
b. Some parts such as Scotland and Ireland had an especially large number of emigrants due to economic troubles.

Question 20

British strengths – (4)
3. Economic strength (2)

Answer 20

a. Fun facts by 1870 (3)
b. Worlds financial centre (4)

Question 21

British strengths – (4)
3. Economic strength (2)
a. Fun facts by 1870 (3)

Answer 21

i. It accounted for half the worlds trade in textiles and metal manufactured goods.
ii. It’s gross national product (the total value of all goods and services produced within country plus the income from all investments abroad) was higher than that of china and Russia combined.
iii. It’s merchant fleet carried half of the world’s sea carried trade.

Question 22

British strengths – (4)
3. Economic strength (2)
b. Worlds financial centre (4)

Answer 22

i. Income from commercial services like shipping and insurance continued to increase, and Britain’s economic and financial strength allowed it to invest in its colonies.
ii. This strengthened the relationship between Britain and its colonies, with the colonies producing goods either for Britain or for other British colonies.
iii. Colonial economies became dependent on long-distance trade with Britain, making it difficult to break away.
iv. For some people, the British connection was important for maintaining their status and wealth as they may have benefited economically, socially, or politically from the relationship between Britain and its colonies. They may have held positions of power or wealth within colonial society, or they may have had economic interests tied to British trade and investment in the colonies, etc.

Question 23

British strengths – (4)
4. Imperial weakness (2)

Answer 23

a. The belief that colonial rule was a duty entrusted to Britain for the benefit of the colonized people until they became free was likely to lead to the downfall of the Empire. (1)
b. Britain was far from its distant colonies, with a small population and geographic base relative to its overseas possessions. (2)

Question 24

British strengths – (4)
4. Imperial weakness (2)
a. The belief that colonial rule was a duty entrusted to Britain for the benefit of the colonized people until they became free was likely to lead to the downfall of the Empire. (1)

Answer 24

i. By 1857, some of Britain’s colonies, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, had already gained almost complete independence.

Question 25

British strengths – (4)
4. Imperial weakness (2)
b. Britain was far from its distant colonies, with a small population and geographic base relative to its overseas possessions. (2)

Answer 25

i. Although Britain had advantages in industry, commerce, and navy in 1857, it was likely that rivals would challenge these advantages.
ii. By 1860, the United States had already surpassed the UK in population size and was well on its way to becoming a serious competitor.

Question 26

How many wars did the British army fight and win between 1857 and 1899?

Answer 26

It fought 15 and it won them all.

Question 27

Between which years do i want you to know that the British army fought in, and won 15 wars?

Answer 27

1857-1899

Question 28

How did the British army compare to that of it’s colonial enemies?

Answer 28

Better trained and equipped

Question 29

What might ONE impact of the industrial revolution on the navy be?

Answer 29

the Royal Navy was turned from a fleet of wooden sailing ships into iron coal fuelled steam ships