3.4.6
Imperialist Ideals
Promoting the Empire, 1914-1947
Promoting the Empire, 1914-1947
In the early 20th Century the British establishment worked to promote the Empire.
1910s
1910s
- 1917: SOAS was established as part of the University of London. The institution aimed to breed a generation of skilled colonial administrators.
- At SOAS, men were taught about the language, customs and religions of part of the Empire they would work in.
- Similar projects were set up in other European countries like France and Germany at this time.
- 1919: Cambridge University created a special professorship for the studying and writing of Imperial History.
1920s
1920s
- 1924: With the nation feeling insecure about its position as a world power after WW1, the government decided to create an exhibition in Wembley park which would showcase the British Empire.
- It cost £2.2 million to build the stadium which hosted the exhibition and over 27 million people visited.
- 1926: The Empire Marketing Board was established.
- The aim was to promote intra-Empire trade and to encourage people to buy goods produced in the Empire.
- It promoted this through advertising campaigns and events like special weeks when people should 'Buy Empire'.
1930s
1930s
- 1931: Noel Coward wrote the folk song, "Mad Dogs and Englishmen".
- The song joked about colonialism and made fun of indigenous people.
- Its popularity showed that it was socially acceptable to make fun of people of different races and nationalities and highlights some of the racial stereotypes the public held.
- 1932: George V's Christmas Day message was broadcast to British colonies. This started a tradition which remains today of broadcasting the message to the Commonwealth.
- This was another attempt to impose patriotism and British culture onto the Empire.
Representations of the Empire, 1914-1947
Representations of the Empire, 1914-1947
British representations of Empire continuously shifted throughout the first half of the 20th Century in response to events at home and abroad. They were particularly affected by the two World Wars.
1914 - 1918
1914 - 1918
- At this time, eugenicist ideas of racial hierarchies were the norm across the Western world, including in Britain.
- Social Darwinism played a significant part in Europe's descent into a world war in 1914 as each country wanted to prove it was racially, socially and economically superior to its neighbours.
- Despite the significant contributions made by colonial subjects to the victory of the Allied powers in WW1, violent and intense racism remained in Britain and its Empire.
Post-WW1
Post-WW1
- After WW1 discussion of the Empire in public discourse was framed around it being a 'family of nations'.
- This was an attempt to justify continuing British rule against the backdrop of the dissolving Ottoman and Russian Empires and the rise of nationalist movements around the world.
- Indeed, even the president of the US, Woodrow Wilson was pro the self-determination of nations (to some degree).
- Empire Day celebrations were held in British colonies and dominions around the world.
- The aim was to inspire patriotism and allegiance to the British crown around the world.
The extent of imperialist ideals
The extent of imperialist ideals
- It is important to remember that the British public did not necessarily view the Empire in the way that they were encouraged to.
- Contemporary historians work to show that the boundaries between empire and 'home' were not as rigid as people often imagine.
- The ideas of empire, its goods and its profits were deeply intertwined with everyday life.
- Empire supported life for Britons as they knew it.
Social class
Social class
- When thinking about the relationships British people had to Empire, it is important to consider how different identities affected their view.
- For example, middle-class people were more likely to be involved in the colonial services, to know someone who lived abroad or to own a business that profited from or relied upon the goods of Empire.
- This is not to say that working-class people did not have an interest in the Empire. Particularly in areas with ports, working-class people benefited from the Empire. They worked on docks and ships and traded imported goods.
WW2 and the post-war period
WW2 and the post-war period
- During WW2, the Ministry of Information produced a few short films which were designed to challenge racism in Britain.
- For example, West Indies Calling was a short film broadcast by the BBC in 1943.
- It challenged the idea that it was only white Britons working at the home front. The film showed that people from different ethnic backgrounds, including black women, were involved in the war effort in Britain.
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
Jump to other topics
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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