Section 3: Imperialism challenged 1914 - 47 - Impact of WW1

Question 1

How did WW1 weaken Empire economically?

Answer 1

War cost = £35,000million and £4bn had to be borrowed from USA
The strain on the economy - arms manufacturing and industry which had to support campaigns in Turkey and Egypt and Europe

Question 2

How did WW1 contract Empire?

Answer 2

The growth of nationalism - the promises of independence had not been granted e.g GB had promised Arabs in the middle east but not fulfilled such promises

Question 3

Which country became independent from Empire in 1922?

Answer 3

Egypt - but remained client state till 1954

Question 4

What nationalist took place in 1916?

Answer 4

The Easter Rising in Ireland - 450 killed and 2,000 injured - Irish rebels who wanted a free state became martyrs for Irish independence, IRA established ]weakening Empire - guerilla warfare

Question 5

What social issues did WW1 reveal

Answer 5

Racism - e.g fears about white nurses tending to Indian and Black soldiers

Question 6

How did WW1 strengthen Empire through expansion?

Answer 6

New territories - League of Nations mandates (from Ottoman Empire) included:

1. Palestine
2. Iraq or Mesopotamia

Question 7

Why was the Palestine mandate important for Empire?

Answer 7

For economic and strategic reasons - the main overland route to India and proximity to Suez

Question 8

Palestine - key declaration in 1917?

Answer 8

Balfour declaration - the GB foreign secretary sent letter to Walter Rothschild (a prominent Jewish banking family) expressing sympathy with Jewish zionists (wanted a separate Jewish homeland)

Question 9

What was the Balfour declarations motive?

Answer 9

Made it clear that a separate Jewish state would not be granted and Palestinians would not be undermined - wanted to win support of anti-imperialist Americans for GB influence in Palestine

Question 10

Why was Palestine unstable (socially and politically)

Answer 10

Zionism growth - Commission in 1918 for Jewish rights - Muslims and Arabas responded with own orgs. = violent clashes between Arabs and Jews. Jewish immigration to Palestine grew to 6.8% by 1918

Question 11

How did Dominion involvement in WW1 strengthen Empire?

Answer 11

Australia, New Zealand, and Canada contributed troops to war effort - solidified and unified relations

Question 12

When did New Zealand and Canada introduce conscription?

Answer 12

New Zealand 1916

Canada 1917

Question 13

How did India contribute to WW1?

Answer 13

Economically: 917 - gave $100 million to war effort
Militarily: 1/3 of all troops in British army in France were from Indian army

Question 14

How did Africa contribute to WW1

Answer 14

Egypt (protectorate since 1914)

• defended Egypt and Middle East
• sent 100,000 troops to Europe

Black Africans (southern Africa) - not recruited to fight but forced to work as labourers, porters e.g 1 million in Tanganyika against Germany

South Africa - 136,000 white troops in Middle East and France