The Role of Individuals 1890-1914

Question 1

Who was Joseph Chamberlain?

Answer 1

Conservative Colonial Secretary 1895-1903. He was a supporter of Rhodes’ South African ambitions, and presided over success in the Second Anglo-Boer War. He fought for imperial preference in 1905 failed.

Question 2

What were Joseph Chamberlain’s attitudes to Empire (3)?

Answer 2

1) Believed Empire needed to be preserved if Britain was to stay a world power.
2) A strong advocate for colonial development.
3) A high imperialist, believing in imperial duty: ‘I believe that the British race is the greatest of the governing races that the world has ever seen’.

Question 3

How did Joseph Chamberlain attempt to reinforce imperial bonds in 1897, and in 1902?

Answer 3

Chamberlain summoned and chaired 2 Colonial Conferences in 1897 and 1902, discussing imperial defence and a customs union. These conferences only included self-governing colonies, who rejected Chamberlain’s idea.

Question 4

Why did Joseph Chamberlain resign as Colonial Secretary in 1903?

Answer 4

Whilst popular at the start of the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1899, as the war dragged on he lost some of his glory. When Salisbury retired in 1902, he was passed over as Prime Minister for Balfour, and retired as Colonial Secretary in 1903.

Question 5

What was the Tariff Reform campaign (2)?

Answer 5

1) A campaign conducted by Joseph Chamberlain to try and convince the public of the need for duties on all foreign goods, including food, in order to give the colonies imperial preference. Chamberlain believed it would reduce unemployment and benefit Britain.
2) The Tariff Reform League was formed, distributing leaflets and playing Chamberlain’s recorded message to large crowds on a gramophone.

Question 6

What was the significance of the Tariff Reform campaign on Joseph Chamberlain’s political career (3)?

Answer 6

1) The Conservatives were split over the idea, contributing to Balfour’s resignation in 1905.
2) He failed to convince the public in the 1906 election, who feared rising costs.
3) In the election, the Liberals won their largest majority since 1830. Chamberlain suffered a stroke soon after. His political career was over.

Question 7

When did Cecil Rhodes become Prime Minister of Cape Colony?

Answer 7

July 1880.

Question 8

How did Rhodes impose social Darwinist views on Cape Colony (3)?

Answer 8

1) The use of his vast fortune.
2) Use of political power.
3) Control of Cape newspapers.

Question 9

What is Rhodes’ quote on British superiority?

Answer 9

“I contend that we are the first race in the world, and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race.”

Question 10

How did Rhodes attempt to link the Cape to Cairo (2), and why did it fail in 1891?

Answer 10

1) Sent settlers and BSAC troops to establish Fort Salisbury in Ndebele territory in 1890, violently expanding into nearby territories later known as Rhodesia.
2) Construction of a Cape to Cairo railway, starting from the Cape through Bechuanaland. Rhodes hoped it would eventually reach the Nile.
This was blocked by the German acquisition of East Africa in 1891, and was never completed.

Question 11

Why and when did Rhodes resign as Prime Minister of Cape Colony?

Answer 11

Following the Jameson Raid in 1896, Rhodes resigned as Prime Minister of Cape Colony in the same year.

Question 12

When did Rhodes die?

Answer 12

March 1902.

Question 13

When was Curzon Viceroy of India?

Answer 13

1899-1905.

Question 14

What policies did Curzon implement to consolidate British control of India (6)?

Answer 14

1) Established commissions and legislations to improve India’s administration and agriculture.
2) Re-arming of Indian regiments.
3) Expansion of the provincial police.
4) Promotion of scientific and medical education.
5) Construction of further 6000 miles of railway track.
6) Founded the Imperial Cadet Corps to give nobles a military role, keeping Indian elites loyal.

Question 15

Why was Curzon reluctant to give Indians responsibility (2)?

Answer 15

1) He had a low opinion of the abilities of Indians, stating in 1902 “you cannot do without us.”
2) Believed Indians lacked an ‘Englishman’s authority and self-confidence’, refusing to appoint Indians to senior positions as he believed they were ‘rather inclined to abdicate or to run away’.

Question 16

When was Evelyn Baring Consul-General in Egypt?

Answer 16

1883-1907.

Question 17

What was the ‘Granville Doctrine’?

Answer 17

Allowed Baring to dismiss Egyptian Ministers who refused to accept British directives.

Question 18

What were Evelyn Baring’s views on Islam?

Answer 18

Baring believed that Egypt was under the control of Islam, a religion he deemed outdated and as a set of regressive customs, detrimental to a modern Egypt. He was concerned with ‘acceptance’ of slavery, an ‘antiquated’ justice system and ‘subjugation’ of women.

Question 19

When and why did Evelyn Baring resign as Consul-General?

Answer 19

Following the Denshawai Incident in 1906, Baring resigned in 1907, as it revealed the inequality and discrimination in the ‘superior’ British justice system he oversaw.

Question 20

What type of views did Evelyn Baring possess?

Answer 20

Orientalist views.

Question 21

What did Baring do after his resignation in 1907 (2)?

Answer 21

1) Returned to Britain, where he received £50,000 from Parliament for his services in Egypt.
2) Published a 2-volume set of books on Modern Egypt in 1908, portraying his orientalist views, describing Egypt as a country of ‘religious prejudice, antique and semi-barbarous customs.’

Question 22

Who was Alfred Milner?

Answer 22

A British administrator, serving as High Commissioner for South Africa and Governor of the Cape Colony 1897-1901. He was a high imperialist, helping to bring about the Second Anglo-Boer War.

Question 23

What is suzerainty?

Answer 23

Control of another state while allowing the subservient nation internal autonomy.

Question 24

How did Milner take Britain into the Second Anglo-Boer War (2)?

Answer 24

1) In February 1898, Kruger was re-elected as President of the Transvaal, and Milner declared ‘there is no way out of the political troubles of South Africa except for reform in the Transvaal, or war.’
2) Demanded full citizenship rights for Uitlanders after 5 year residence, and by the time of the Bloemfontein Conference (May-June 1899), he had already used force to get his way. Kruger declared war October 1899.

Question 25

What did Milner gain from the Second Anglo-Boer War (2)?

Answer 25

1) When Britain annexed the Orange Free State and the Transvaal in 1901, Milner left his post as Governor of the Cape, and took over the administration of these areas.
2) As High Commissioner, he negotiated the Peace of Vereeniging (31 May 1902), and was made a baron (1901) and a viscount (1902) for his services.

Question 26

Explain why Milner was investigated by the British press in 1904-5 (4).

Answer 26

1) After the War, Milner, alongside a group of young administrators and lawyers (‘Milner’s Kindergarten’) worked to resettle the Boers and promote economic growth.
2) Milner hoped to attract British settlers, and introduced an English education programme to anglicise the area. However, more Brits left than arrived during the years of depression following the Second Anglo-Boer War.
3) Milner and the government decided to use Chinese labourers (‘coolies’) on 3 year contracts to work in the gold-mining industry. The first Chinese workers arrived in June 1904, but were often flogged and racially abused by the white mine managers.
4) This led to an investigation by the British press and questions being asked in Parliament to whether Milner knew or approved of the poor conditions.

Question 27

When and why did Milner resign his posts and return to England?

Answer 27

The Conservatives lost the 1906 election, probably partially due to the treatment of the Chinese workers. The new Liberal government rejected Milner’s plans for the future of the Transvaal. Milner resigned his South African posts and returned to England in 1905.

Question 28

What is Orientalism (3)?

Answer 28

1) How Western societies perceived countries in North Africa and Asia, particularly nations they had colonised.
2) It was based on preconceived stereotypes that all ‘Eastern’ societies were fundamentally similar to each other, and different to ‘Western’ societies.
3) E.g. Eastern countries were static and unchanging rather than progressive or superstitious rather than rational.