Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism

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Popular Culture and the Empire

The spread of education, literacy and political involvement created an audience for the imperialist message.

The Empire in music

Elgar's "Imperial March" and "Pomp and Circumstance" were patriotic pieces of music that were widely identified with the British Empire.

The Empire in the popular press

The Daily Mail was set up in 1896 as a newspaper to target the lower middle-class social group in Britain at an affordable price.
The Daily Mail was pro-imperialism.

The Empire in literature

The Empire was a key theme promoted in Boys Own Paper (a magazine for young boys).

The Empire in schools

History and Geography curricula in schools glorified British activity in the Empire.
Empire Day saw children salute the British flag and hear of the 'greats' of the British Empire - individuals like Clive, Gordon, and Rhodes.
Culturally, at the time, the British Empire was viewed as a generally positive thing.

Representations of the Empire in popular culture

The 'Imperial Leather' soap brand showed how imperialism filtered in the British psyche at the time.
King George V's coronation in 1911 was accompanied by a 'Festival of the Empire', an exhibition of the Empire's culture and trade.
Kitchen (1996) claims that people & society used the Empire as 'proof of Britain’s standing as a great, many would even say the greatest, power’.

The National Efficiency Movement

The National Efficiency movement was borne out of public dissatisfaction with Britain’s progress (or lack thereof) during the Second Boer War of 1899-1902.

Dissatisfaction

The Spectator magazine reported in 1902 there was "a universal outcry for efficiency in all departments of society, in all aspects of life."
White (1899) said that the empire needed to be better administered to be on a better footing and well placed to tackle the growing strength of Germany.

Supporters

In many ways, the National Efficiency movement was politically broad, uniting Conservatives, Unionists, Liberals and Fabians, albeit all wanting the improvements for different reasons.

Educational advancements

The historian Searle (1971) argued that educational advances were the most significant element of the National Efficiency movement.
- They led to the founding of the London School of Economics and the foundation of Imperial College.

Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Lesson’

This poem was about the Boer War.
The final stanza reads: 'It was our fault, and our very great fault--and now we must turn it to use. / We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse. / So the more we work and the less we talk the better results we shall get--/ We have had an Imperial lesson; it may make us an Empire yet!'

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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