Contribution of empire to WW1 + its impacts Flashcards
(27 cards)
How many colonial soldiers fought for Britain in the war?
2.5m
Who was part of the Imperial War Cabinet created in Spring 1917? What does this show?
The PMs of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa as well as Indian officials.
Shows how the war gave these nations a belief in a rite of passage to autonomy. They wanted to be partners rather than colonies.
How many Candians fought for Britain in the war? Why was conscription introduced in Canada in 1917?
600,000
Conscription was introduced in 1917 because their was increased national resentment to participation in the war, particularly amongst French Canadians
How many men did the British West Indies regiment number by 1915? How did the war increase tensions between these troops and their colonisers?
15,600
British officers were however very reluctant to accept Black troops into the British army. Hence, they felt under-appreciated and not respected
How many Australians and Newzealanders fought for Britain in the war?
380,000 Australians
100,000 New Zealanders
What happened to support for the war amongst Australians and Newzealanders? What shows this?
It declined significantly
Shown by how conscription was defeated in 2 plebiscites in Australia and the slackening of recruitment after the initial enthusiasm
How many Indians fought for Britain in the war? How many helped in non-fighting capacities?
1m soldiers
600,000 porters, labourers and railway builders etc.
How did nationalist figures such as Gandhi react to the war?
They supported it in hope of gaining concessions from the British after the war.
How many East Africans served in the King’s African rifles? Why did conflict in East Africa against the Germans contribute to increased nationalism?
10-11,000
The conflict was long and drawn out - Vorbeck didn’t surrender until after the armistice in 1918
How many South Africans served in WW1?
250,000
Where did South Africans serve during the war?
In German South West Africa and East Africa mainly
The South African Brigade and Mixed Race Corps did however serve in the Middle East (and Western Front for the SAB)
Which South African group had opposed joining the war? Which two key figures used the war as an opportunity to rebel against colonial rule?
The Afrikaaners
Koos de la Rey and Christian Beyers
What was Britain’s share of world trade in 1913? 1938?
1913 = 17% 1938 = 14%
How did the US gain in influence over Britain from the war?
- Its loans and supplies to Britain left Britain in $4bn debt to them
- It became the leading ship builder of the world
- It gained market share from Britain e.g. agriculture in Canada
What was the attitude of the 1918 government to the empire?
Pro-Imperialist
How many men did the British army number in 1918? By 1922?
1918 - 3.7m
1922 - 231,000
Where did Britain’s imperial territory expand after the war?
In the Middle East (Iraq, Palestine, Transjordan, Persia), German East Africa (Tanganyika) and Cameroon and Togoland
How much did Japan’s cotton industry increase by during the war?
55%
How much did Japan’s share of India’s import trade change between 1913-1918?
1% to 21%
What happened to Japan’s economy after the war?
There was a recession
What does Egyptian independence in 1922 and the GOI Act of 1919 suggest about the impact of the war on empire?
Suggests that colonial nationalism increased and that Britain was no longer equipped to be able to deal with this
What was the value of Britain’s imports from the empire each year 1915-1919? What was it previously?
£1161m 1915-1919
Previously it was £714m
Which treaty greatly weakened Germany’s international status compared to Britain? How much were the reparations?
The Treaty of Versailles
£2bn
Which treaty saw the break up of the Austo-Hungarian empire and restrictive military limits placed on it?
Treaty of Saint-Germain
