Government Attitudes to the Empire

Support for the Empire

The British Empire was widely accepted among ruling elites and all levels of societies. The Liberal Party was less enthusiastic than the Conservative Party.

The Khaki Election

The 1900 General Election in the UK is known as the Khaki election.
The Conservative Party, who were the incumbents, won a 130 seat majority.
Many historians believe that the party won because of 'pro-imperialist fervour' during the Boer War in Africa.
People suggest a similar phenomenon happened after Margaret Thatcher won the 1983 General Election after the Falklands War against Argentina.

Conservatives vs Liberals

Support for the Empire looked different within each political party.
Rather like Education, Health, or Immigration, each political party had a different view on the aim of the Empire and which policies should be implemented. This meant that the Empire was used in a political game, with policy reversals or u-turns depending on who was in power, and what their ideology for the Empire was.
- The Conservatives advocated the need for ‘good government and white rule’.
- The Liberals promoted education to create self-rule and self-determination. The Liberals were far more reluctant towards imperialism and colonialism.

William Gladstone's view on the Empire

William Gladstone is the most notable Liberal Prime Minister who was more reluctant towards Britain's use of the Empire.
In 1879, Gladstone said "I wish to dissipate, if I can, the idle dreams of those who are always telling you that the strength of England depends, sometimes they say upon its prestige, sometimes they say upon its extending its Empire, or upon what it possesses beyond the seas. Rely upon it the strength of Great Britain and Ireland is within the United Kingdom."

Influential pro-Empire government ministers

The following Ministers were very pro-Empire:
- Lord Salisbury
- Alfred Milner.
- Joseph Chamberlain.

Imperialist organisations in the UK

Imperial activists created organisations and societies to encourage the growth and expansion of the British Empire internationally.
In 1901, the Victoria League was created to show support for the Empire in a non-political manner. Lord Salisbury (the pro-Empire Prime Minister)'s niece was involved in the founding of the Victoria League.

Celebrating the Empire

The first Empire Day was celebrated on the 24th of May 1902. Parliament officially authorised Empire Day in 1916.
Children would salute the Union Jack flag, sing patriotic songs and listen to stories of then-heroes, Clive of India, Gordon of Khartoum, and Rhodes of Africa.
Almost all people enjoy days of holiday and bank holiday weekends, so support for Empire Day came from across social classes and across the political spectrum.

Despite growing challenges towards imperialism, it was not the continuation of Empire that was questioned, more the manner in which Britain conducted itself abroad, with more concern for the ambitions of imperial rivals rather than the local population.

John A Hobson

A key critic of the British Empire was the economist, John A. Hobson, who worked as a correspondent in South Africa during the Boer War for the newspaper, the Manchester Guardian.
In 1902, he authored ‘Imperialism’ in which he called the Boer War a 'capitalist plot' by mine-owners.
Hobson wrote "the expansion of the empire appeals powerfully to the aristocracy and the professional classes by offering new and ever-growing fields for the honorable and profitable employment of their sons.”

Emily Hobhouse

Hobhouse was a welfare campaigner whose reports about the conditions of the concentration camps in the Boer War led to a government enquiry.
Over 20,000 people died in British concentration camps during the Boer War intended to house refugees displaced by the war. Over 90% of the people who died were children.
Hobhouse's report described "the terrible heat, and with the insufficient unsuitable food" and "the large uncomfortable communities of people whom you call refugees and say you are protecting, but who call themselves prisoners of war, compulsorily detained, and detesting your protection".
When Hobhouse returned to South Africa after the report, she was deported with no reason given.

William Digby

Digby was a writer who wanted to raise awareness of Indian grievances in Parliament.
Digby lived in India during the Great Famine of 1876-1878. 5.5 million Indian people are thought to have died in the Famine. The famine was caused by a drought. People died of famine and malaria (after they were weakened by malnutrition).
Digby believed that government intervention had been insufficient & campaigned for the more active resolution of famine by Parliament.

Gandhi: Digby's obituary

In 1904, Mohandas Gandhi wrote Digby's obituary: "By the death of William Digby CIE, India has lost a champion, whom it will be difficult to replace. His advocacy of the Indian cause was strenuous and well-informed".

1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time

1.1.2Key Questions About Empires

1.1.3Expansion into Africa

1.1.4History of Egypt

1.1.5Control of Egypt

1.1.6Control of Sudan

1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India

1.2.2The British Raj

1.2.3International Relations with other Powers

1.2.4Scramble for Africa

1.2.5The Informal Empire

1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire

1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce

1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce

1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers

1.4.2Missionaries

1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators

1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism

1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India

1.5.2Relations with South Africa

1.5.3British-Boer Relations

2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa

2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa

2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa

2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India

2.2.2Policy in Egypt

2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies

2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers

2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade

2.3.2Costs of the Empire

2.3.3Debates Over Trade

2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes

2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner

2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon

2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire

2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War

2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism

2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India

2.5.2Challenges in Africa

2.5.3Challenges in South Africa

2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War

2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran

3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW1

3.1.2Palestine

3.1.3Ireland & WW1

3.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire

3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine

3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions

3.2.3Imperial Defence

3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW1

3.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce

3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2

3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators

3.4.2Trusteeship

3.4.3Gandhi

3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow

3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins

3.4.6Imperialist Ideals

3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-1947

3.5.2The Middle East and Africa

4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation

4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa

4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa

4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia

4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW2

4.2.2The 'Winds of Change'

4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956

4.2.4International Relations 1947-1967

4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2

4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement

4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism

4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration

4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act

4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire

4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 1947

4.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising

4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

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