Section 2 Imperial Consolidation and Liberal Rule c1890-1914 Chapter 11 Attitudes Towards Imperialism in Britain
Chapter 11: Attitudes Towards Imperialism in Britain
Imperialist Supporters
• Empire was widely accepted among the ruling elites
• It was widely supported at all levels of society which could be seen in the Conservatives impressive win in the
khaki election of 1900
• It was often seen as a moral responsibility, or even a burden from God to bring stability, order, civilisation,
welfare, the rule of law and freedom from local oppression to the world
• The liberals aimed at the education and improvement of the colonies – with the ultimate purpose of self-rule
• Both the liberals and the new labour party supported freedom through empire rather than freedom from empire
• Most of the enthusiastic imperialists were conservatives, arguing in favour of a stronger, more united empire to
create an economic superpower
• Lord Salisbury (conservative PM 1885-86. 1886-92, 1895-1902, foreign secretary 1878, 1885-6, 1886-92,
1895-1900) was a moderate imperialism who believed European rule was important for the advancement of the
‘backward races’. He imposed rule by force e.g. Sudan 1896-99. He opposed alliance commitments which he
believed unnecessary and dangerous for Britain. His foreign policy was dictated by the defence and
enlargement of the Empire
• Curzon thought that the Empire was ‘so great an instrument for the good of humanity’
• Milner believed a British man should feel equally at home anywhere in the Empire
• ‘High Imperialists’ wanted a strong empire ruled by the white people. Non-white people were subjects and not
citizens
• Joseph Chamberlain believed only the Empire could solve the national crisis of the industrial and military
advances of other powers. He believed a reorganised empire would enable industrial recovery, provide
employment, generate wealth to fund social reforms and strengthen the British people's moral fiber. He
believed educating the public about the value of empire would win loyalty from the working class. He tried to
create a strong union between Britain and the colonies of settlement for the purposes of defence and trade but
his ideas failed to win widespread support
• Most imperialists argued for the economic benefits of Empire
• Some sought ‘colonial development’ beyond the white colonies and India and favoured the policy of imperial
preference
• Lord Meath, a diplomat, spoke in more social terms and argued that state-organised emigration and
colonisation were essential to check the expansion of British cities and simultaneously strengthen the Empire
• Many Imperial activists were members of societies like the Royal Colonial Institute, founded in 1870 to
provide a meeting place for those interested in colonial and Indian affairs
• The Victoria League, founded in 1901, was a non-political organisation founded by women to promote a closer
union between different parts of the Empire through ‘hospitality, fundraising, friendship, and education’
• The Round Table movement was founded in 1909 on an idea of Lord Milner, to promote a closer union
between Britain and its self-governing colonies. Round Table groups were formed in South Africa, Australia,
New Zealand and Canada in 1910 and 1911
• Such societies proliferated in the early 20th century
• The Empire Day movement followed the lead of Lord Meath in 1896. Empire Day was not celebrated until
1902 and was only officially recognised in Parliament in 1916. The idea of a day of festivities was intended to
reinforce imperial unity and celebrate the image of a motherly Queen Victoria, Empress of India. The
movement was part of the imperialists’ drive to educated the British public about Empire
• Journalists such as Leopold Amery and Lord Beaverbrook (who was to become the Chief proprietor of the
Daily Express in 1916) helped to represent the Empire to the British people, emphasising the imperial family
and portraying imperial values
Critics of Empire
• One of the strongest critics was John A. Hobson. His views were catalysed by the Boer War. He believed that
imperial expansion benefited the rich capitalists who made profit through investment, he believed this small
and powerful elite were who shaped imperial policy. He thought empire was a ‘capitalist plot’
• There were concerns about the conduct of the Boer War, rather than a direct challenge to Empire
Chapter 11: Attitudes Towards Imperialism in Britain
Imperialist Supporters
• Empire was widely accepted among the ruling elites
• It was widely supported at all levels of society which could be seen in the Conservatives impressive win in the
khaki election of 1900
• It was often seen as a moral responsibility, or even a burden from God to bring stability, order, civilisation,
welfare, the rule of law and freedom from local oppression to the world
• The liberals aimed at the education and improvement of the colonies – with the ultimate purpose of self-rule
• Both the liberals and the new labour party supported freedom through empire rather than freedom from empire
• Most of the enthusiastic imperialists were conservatives, arguing in favour of a stronger, more united empire to
create an economic superpower
• Lord Salisbury (conservative PM 1885-86. 1886-92, 1895-1902, foreign secretary 1878, 1885-6, 1886-92,
1895-1900) was a moderate imperialism who believed European rule was important for the advancement of the
‘backward races’. He imposed rule by force e.g. Sudan 1896-99. He opposed alliance commitments which he
believed unnecessary and dangerous for Britain. His foreign policy was dictated by the defence and
enlargement of the Empire
• Curzon thought that the Empire was ‘so great an instrument for the good of humanity’
• Milner believed a British man should feel equally at home anywhere in the Empire
• ‘High Imperialists’ wanted a strong empire ruled by the white people. Non-white people were subjects and not
citizens
• Joseph Chamberlain believed only the Empire could solve the national crisis of the industrial and military
advances of other powers. He believed a reorganised empire would enable industrial recovery, provide
employment, generate wealth to fund social reforms and strengthen the British people's moral fiber. He
believed educating the public about the value of empire would win loyalty from the working class. He tried to
create a strong union between Britain and the colonies of settlement for the purposes of defence and trade but
his ideas failed to win widespread support
• Most imperialists argued for the economic benefits of Empire
• Some sought ‘colonial development’ beyond the white colonies and India and favoured the policy of imperial
preference
• Lord Meath, a diplomat, spoke in more social terms and argued that state-organised emigration and
colonisation were essential to check the expansion of British cities and simultaneously strengthen the Empire
• Many Imperial activists were members of societies like the Royal Colonial Institute, founded in 1870 to
provide a meeting place for those interested in colonial and Indian affairs
• The Victoria League, founded in 1901, was a non-political organisation founded by women to promote a closer
union between different parts of the Empire through ‘hospitality, fundraising, friendship, and education’
• The Round Table movement was founded in 1909 on an idea of Lord Milner, to promote a closer union
between Britain and its self-governing colonies. Round Table groups were formed in South Africa, Australia,
New Zealand and Canada in 1910 and 1911
• Such societies proliferated in the early 20th century
• The Empire Day movement followed the lead of Lord Meath in 1896. Empire Day was not celebrated until
1902 and was only officially recognised in Parliament in 1916. The idea of a day of festivities was intended to
reinforce imperial unity and celebrate the image of a motherly Queen Victoria, Empress of India. The
movement was part of the imperialists’ drive to educated the British public about Empire
• Journalists such as Leopold Amery and Lord Beaverbrook (who was to become the Chief proprietor of the
Daily Express in 1916) helped to represent the Empire to the British people, emphasising the imperial family
and portraying imperial values
Critics of Empire
• One of the strongest critics was John A. Hobson. His views were catalysed by the Boer War. He believed that
imperial expansion benefited the rich capitalists who made profit through investment, he believed this small
and powerful elite were who shaped imperial policy. He thought empire was a ‘capitalist plot’
• There were concerns about the conduct of the Boer War, rather than a direct challenge to Empire
