5.Attitudes Towards Imperialism In Britain Flashcards
(13 cards)
What was the early attitudes of Britons towards imperialism
Many didn’t see themselves as imperialists,They associated that term mainly with napoleonic France.Disraeli and Gladstone both opposed empire and wanted to rid Britain of the colonies
When was attitudes towards empire changed and why
1870s due to rivalries with other European countries
After the shift in attitudes towards empire,what happened politically at home
Conservatives claimed that the liberal party would allow the empire to crumble and that the conservatives were the empire party
What speech did Disraeli do to show the conservatives as the ‘empire party’
His speech at Crystal Palace in 1872
What was the liberal party’s stance on empire
Gladstone believed that Britain needed to avoid new acquisitions and concentrate on developing current colonies
What did Disraeli do whilst in office
From 1874-1880 Disraeli bought the Suez Canal shares.Employed viceroys in India.Invaded Transvaal and took on the Zulu people which eventually was a failure
What did Gladstone do whilst in office
From 1880-1886.He was forced to pick up the peices of Disraeli.He started the first Anglo-Boer war and was forced to withdraw troops during the Mahdist revolution of the Sudanese.He took over Egypt due to its importance to Britain.He also introduced a home bill for Ireland showing his reluctant imperialist status
How did the press influence public attitudes
Due to an increased literary rate due to the education act of 1870 the reporting of negative or good events in the empire could easily swing public opinion
How was the hierarchy of races justified by white Europeans
Techniques such as taking measurements of the skull were used to reach bogus conclusions about a hierarchy of races and the theory of evolution further reinforced this
What did many back home think of empire
They thought it was a part of their duty to carry out the expeditions and educate the lesser races
What were the Midlothian Campaigns
Series of foreign policy speeches given by Gladstone criticising the agressive foreign policy of the conservatives
How were attitudes shown to be triumphalist within the British empire from 1857-90
-Celebration of military successes such as the suppression of the Indian rebellion and the victories in Africa
-Boom in imperialist press
-Exhibitions and public displays such as the 1886 colonial and Indian exhibition in London and the Durbar of Roberta Lytton
How were attitudes between 1857-90 shown as not triumphalist
-Politicians such as Gladstone and Disraeli regarded empire as a ‘mill stone around our necks’
-Gladstone reluctant imperialist status such as the ‘home bill’ for Ireland and the local Twas and rulers being left in power
-Press views on Indian mutiny and events such as Cawnpore prompting revenge and deep anxiety on costs of empire
