Impact of WW1

White Dominion Support for the British Empire During WW1

Just after WWI, Britain’s empire reached its largest ever size. Article 22 of Versailles divided Germany's overseas colonies between Britain, France, and Belgium.

The Imperial War Cabinet

The Imperial War Cabinet was created in 1917 to orchestrate Britain's military policy across the British Empire.

White Dominions (Australia and New Zealand)

During the war, the Dominions (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa) were mainly supportive of Britain's war effort against Germany.
Australian and New Zealand army corps (Anzac) troops were sent to support the British war effort by Australia and New Zealand.
Anzac Day is still celebrated on the 25th April in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate the Anzac troops who have died in wars.

Anzac losses during WW1

The heaviest Anzac losses were taken at the Battle of Gallipoli (1915) in Turkey.
26,111 Australians were injured and 8,141 Australian soldiers died in the Gallipoli operation. Only 50,000 Australian soldiers were involved in Gallipoli.
Australia rejected conscription twice, first in 1916, then again in 1917.

White Dominions (Canada)

The Canadians helped the British defeat the Germans at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France (1917).
During the First World War, Canada expanded its wheat exports to Britain, making wheat one of Canada's most important exports.
However, the Dominions didn't support the British war effort unconditionally.
- Protests broke out in French Quebec (Canada) in 1918.

Indian and African Support for the British Empire During WWI

Just after WWI, Britain’s empire reached its largest ever size. It had commandeered Egypt from the Ottoman Empire at the start of the war. Over 1 million Indian soldiers fought for the British overseas.

Indian military support for Britain

During World War One, over 1 million Indian soldiers fought for the British overseas.
Most Indian soldiers fought in the trenches against the Germans on the Western Front (in France and Belgium), against German East Africa (which is now Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania), or against the Ottoman Empire in Egypt and Gallipoli.
The Indian Army was split into 'Expeditionary Forces' which were sent to support the British war effort in different regions.
In 1915, sepoys guarding the crew of the German ship, the SMS Emden, rebelled in Singapore. This is known as the Singapore Mutiny. The Germans refused to join the mutiny.

Indian financial support for Britain

In 1911, income taxes generated 2% of India's budget. By 1917, this had reached 12%, reflecting the higher tax burden on India to support Britain's war effort.
In 1917, Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India proposed the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, which committed to increased self-government in India.
This introduced the idea of dyarchy (dual government).

African support for the British war effort

At the start of the war, Egypt was theoretically under Turkish control, but Turkey fought alongside the Germans in World War 1. Britain named Egypt a protectorate and promised to consider Egyptian-led rule after the war.
1.2 million Egyptians defended Egypt and the Middle East as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Some Egyptians fought in Europe and over 50,000 Egyptians are estimated to have been killed in World War One.

League of Nation mandates

After WW1, the Allies seized German and Ottoman overseas territories.
The rights to take these territories from Germany were called 'mandates'.
Countries overseeing mandates were meant to be helping the nations reach a stage where they could become independent.
A grade mandates:
- These regions were developed and capable of independence in the near future. e.g. Palestine and Syria.
B grade mandates:
- These territories required guidance before independence. e.g. Tanganyika.
C grade mandates:
- Independence was not considered viable. e.g. New Guinea and Samoa.

How many troops fought and died for Britain in WW1?

According to Kitchen (1996), Canada, Australia, and New Zealand "did not question Britain's declaration of war" and "even extreme nationalist Indians did not oppose the war".
56,638 Canadians, 59,330 Australians, 16,711 New Zealanders, 7,121 South Africans, 62,056 Indians and 3,000 people from East & West Africa died fighting for Britain in World War 1.

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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