3.4.1

Colonial Administrators

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Colonial Administrators

Colonial administrators took on the role of governing and administrating British colonies.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

  • Colonial administrators had various responsibilities. These included:
    • Collecting taxes from indigenous people who lived and worked on British-owned land.
    • Upholding British imposed laws.
    • Defending British colonial rule by suppressing growing nationalist movements which sought greater representation or independence.
The Colonial Office

The Colonial Office

  • Originally, there was one Colonial Office which was first created in the 18th Century to manage Britain's colonies in America.
  • In 1925, this was split into two separate departments.
    • The Dominions Office oversaw the running of British Dominions.
    • The Colonial Office oversaw the running of British Colonies.
    • This can be seen as pre-empting the legislation that was passed in 1931 that gave autonomy to the Dominions.
    • There was a separate Office for the running of India. This was called the India Office.
Impact of the Statute of Westminster

Impact of the Statute of Westminster

  • The Statute of Westminster passed through Parliament in 1931.
    • This statute gave the dominions the autonomy to make their own laws and to govern themselves as they wished.
  • The Governor-General in each of the dominions therefore, no longer had any legislative power.
    • The role simply became that of a figurehead and their presence served as a reminder of the relationship these countries had to the Crown and the Commonwealth.
Colonial Services

Colonial Services

  • In 1930, various sub-services for administrating the colonies were merged into one Colonial Service.
    • This provided a more centralised system for organising personnel within the service.
    • As a result, recruits became more generalised in their skill-base and their administrative qualities improved.
    • To work in the Colonial Service was quite prestigious and something middle-class people aspired to.
    • Public schools and top universities like Oxford and Cambridge churned out young men, normally trained in the humanities, who were ready for the Colonial Service entrance exams.
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1

High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1

Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time1.1.2Key Questions About Empires1.1.3Expansion into Africa1.1.4History of Egypt1.1.5Control of Egypt1.1.6Control of Sudan
1.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India1.2.2The British Raj1.2.3International Relations with other Powers1.2.4Scramble for Africa1.2.5The Informal Empire
1.3

Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce
1.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers1.4.2Missionaries1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism
1.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India1.5.2Relations with South Africa1.5.3British-Boer Relations
2

Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1

Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa
2.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India2.2.2Policy in Egypt2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers
2.3

Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade2.3.2Costs of the Empire2.3.3Debates Over Trade
2.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism
2.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India2.5.2Challenges in Africa2.5.3Challenges in South Africa2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran
3

Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1

Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW13.1.2Palestine3.1.3Ireland & WW13.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire
3.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions3.2.3Imperial Defence
3.3

Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW13.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2
3.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators3.4.2Trusteeship3.4.3Gandhi3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins3.4.6Imperialist Ideals
3.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-19473.5.2The Middle East and Africa
4

The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1

Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia
4.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW24.2.2The 'Winds of Change'4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 19564.2.4International Relations 1947-1967
4.3

Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2
4.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism
4.5

Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire
4.6

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 19474.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

Practice questions on Colonial Administrators

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  1. 1
    Which of these are true of recruitment to the Colonial Service after 1930?True / false
  2. 2
    Which of these was NOT a duty of colonial administrators? Multiple choice
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Economic Impact of WW2

Trusteeship