Residual Impact of the Empire

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Residual Impact of the Empire

As decolonisation spread, familiarity with and interest in Empire declined.

Influence of the US and western Europe

British cultural ties to the Empire declined as American culture and trade with Europe both grew.
The celebration of Empire Day was abolished in 1962.
The economic historian, Broadberry (2004) states that the period between 1945 and 1979 was 'associated with the shift of markets away from the Empire towards Europe'.
Tomlinson (2004) says that Britain's economic fortunes were "increasingly linked with the EU and less with the old sterling area".

Nostalgia for the Empire

The UK believed that, as one of the only Western European powers unconquered by Hitler, the Empire had single-handedly defeated Hitler.
Therefore the Empire was framed through fondness as victors over 'evil' in World War Two, rather than framing it through the cost to the millions of people living lives with no self-government and few rights under British rule in the Empire.
Expat communities are still strong in cities like Hong Kong.

Legacy of British culture

British culture was enforced (often violently) in its territories as it was a prevailing view that indigenous languages, customs and religions were savage and uncivilised.
- In particular, this legacy remains in former African colonies where the legacy exists in churches, stations, languages, flags, sport, and even the Last Night of the Proms.
The Anglican Church has more members in Africa than in Britain.
"Muscular Christianity" encouraged the practice of football and rugby as promoting values in concordance with the virtues of the Empire.
- To this day, football remains the national sport of many countries that were part of the British Empire.

Legacy of the Empire in Britain

British language absorbed some terms from the native languages of states under its control, such as:
- Pyjamas, jungle, and khaki (from India),
- Safari, jazz, zebra, and zombie (from Africa).

The Empire in Popular Culture, 1947-1967

In the post-war period, imperialist rhetoric in British popular culture became less overt but it did not disappear.

Films

Some films began to portray the complexities of decolonisation.
Guns at Batasi (1964) is an exploration of the decolonisation of an unspecified British Colony in Africa. It tracks the country's transition to independence and the rifts in its post-colonial political system.
Typical of films of this period, British characters are central to the narrative. The main character is the British officer who has been charged with overseeing the political transition.

Books

Comics–Eagle (1950-69):
- These children's comics were produced by Marcus Morris. Morris was a vicar in the Church of England.
Fed up with the messages in children's literature of the period, he decided to make his own comic which would better promote good morals to children.
He tried to challenge racial prejudice by making sure the comics did not fall into traditional literary tropes of villainising foreigners.
He also promoted diversity in his comics, ensuring there was always at least one ethnic minority character.

Television

'That was the week, that was’ was launched in the early 60s and provided a satirical critique of British society and its 'establishment' attitudes.
- Satirical sketches, monologues and discussions attacked contemporary political figures and lampooned a variety of targets including the British Empire.
However, some shows ridiculed immigrant communities.
- e.g. ‘Till Death us Do Part’ (1965-1975) was a BBC1 series that featured a racist, right-wing character called Alf Garnett. Whilst the creators claimed the sitcom was satirical, there was public outcry over the extremely racist content of some episodes.

Plays

Angry Young Men
- This theatrical genre was developed by British playwrights in the 1950s.
Their work tapped into the feelings of a generation of young people who were disillusioned with society.
The plays were about young, white, working-class men who were conflicted by the opportunities presented to them by social mobility and their grammar school education.
This genre also extended to novels, such as John Braine's Room at the Top (1957) which sold 34,000 hardback copies within a year of publication.

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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