British Empire Essay Plans 1914-47
‘The contraction of the British Empire was started by the First World War, but accelerated by the
Second.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1914 to 1947
• Impact on the economy - Fighting in two major wars damaged the British economy which drove
forward contraction. No longer the economic superpower, in massive debts and eclipsed by the
USA. In WW1, Britain borrowed $4 billion from US, struggling to keep up with competition in its
overseas markets e.g. Japanese textile industry. Economic issues made worse by WW2, debts of
£3500m, borrowed a further £900m from the USA after the war - reduced Britain’s ability to act
independently, under influence of anti-imperialist USA. Britain sold 1/3 overseas assets to help to
repay its debts - contraction of the ‘informal’ trading empire. Britain could no longer offer economic
benefits to the colonies - they had little motivation to remain in the empire and therefore increased
the desire for independence. Britain could no longer afford to keep areas that were not
economically beneficial. Trade that had once held the empire together was greatly reduced
because of the cumulative effect of the economic costs of both WW1 and WW2
• Increase of nationalism - Contribution empire made towards war effort in both wars caused
increased nationalism which helped bring about contraction of empire. Dominions especially
gained a sense of themselves because of the sacrifices made together on the battlefield e.g.
Gallipoli in 1915. WW1, Edwin Montagu promised more responsible self-government for India in 1917
after their huge contribution of 1.4 million troops and £100 million to the war effort. The Government
of India Act in 1919. Sense of nationalism increased in the interwar period and was accelerated by
WW2, India contributed of 2.5 million volunteer troops. ‘Quit India’ and the Indian National Army and
the Burman Independence Army actively fought against the British. Nationalism was significant
because large numbers of troops would have had to be deployed to regain control of India –
something which would have been very unpopular both with the public and the international
community and would be expensive, too expensive for a country with a war-shattered economy.
India had been denied independence for so long, but it was quickly granted after WW2, showing
that this contraction was accelerated by the events in WW2
• End of white invincibility - Defeats at Gallipoli in 1915 and at Singapore in 1942 ended the idea that
Britain was undefeatable. Accelerated by the ideological struggle against Hitler’s ideas. Notions of
white superiority became hard to justify. Britain’s supposed reason for the empire – the civilising
mission – was shown to be illogical, untrue and immoral. Led to contraction because Britain could
not justify its presence in the colonies – especially difficult post WW2
• Contraction before WW2 - Mandates came with the expectation of independence. Iraq 1932. Egypt
1922. Statue of Westminster 1931. This contraction took place before WW2 – completed without the
need for further pressure from WW2. However, lesser significance than those which came after,
because Britain still gained the benefits of these areas
• Changed world after WW2 - Two major powers, USA and USSR, and UN were anti-imperialist. Britain
no longer had the dominant position in the world as it had had after WW1. Signalled that the age of
imperialism that was seen as legitimate internationally had come to an end. Contractions of the
empire after WW2 seemed certain. Less significant than economic factors and nationalism because
they meant retaining the empire had become unfeasible and inevitable as well as reducing Britain’s
status as a world power. The shifting balance of international power after WW2 simply put more
pressure of Britain to contract its empire, further accelerating the reduction of the empire.
Overall, this statement is a valid because the economic problems and increased nationalist sentiment that was
started by the First World War and accelerated by the Second led to major contractions to the empire in this period.
Although some contraction took place before WW2 this was still started by WW1 and it was in areas of less
significance than the contractions which took place after WW2. Furthermore, some of the problems the empire faced
were started by WW2, however, these issues were less significant because they simply put more pressure on the
British to contract its empire – something which was already inevitable because of the issues created by both of the
world wars.
‘The contraction of the British Empire was started by the First World War, but accelerated by the
Second.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1914 to 1947
• Impact on the economy - Fighting in two major wars damaged the British economy which drove
forward contraction. No longer the economic superpower, in massive debts and eclipsed by the
USA. In WW1, Britain borrowed $4 billion from US, struggling to keep up with competition in its
overseas markets e.g. Japanese textile industry. Economic issues made worse by WW2, debts of
£3500m, borrowed a further £900m from the USA after the war - reduced Britain’s ability to act
independently, under influence of anti-imperialist USA. Britain sold 1/3 overseas assets to help to
repay its debts - contraction of the ‘informal’ trading empire. Britain could no longer offer economic
benefits to the colonies - they had little motivation to remain in the empire and therefore increased
the desire for independence. Britain could no longer afford to keep areas that were not
economically beneficial. Trade that had once held the empire together was greatly reduced
because of the cumulative effect of the economic costs of both WW1 and WW2
• Increase of nationalism - Contribution empire made towards war effort in both wars caused
increased nationalism which helped bring about contraction of empire. Dominions especially
gained a sense of themselves because of the sacrifices made together on the battlefield e.g.
Gallipoli in 1915. WW1, Edwin Montagu promised more responsible self-government for India in 1917
after their huge contribution of 1.4 million troops and £100 million to the war effort. The Government
of India Act in 1919. Sense of nationalism increased in the interwar period and was accelerated by
WW2, India contributed of 2.5 million volunteer troops. ‘Quit India’ and the Indian National Army and
the Burman Independence Army actively fought against the British. Nationalism was significant
because large numbers of troops would have had to be deployed to regain control of India –
something which would have been very unpopular both with the public and the international
community and would be expensive, too expensive for a country with a war-shattered economy.
India had been denied independence for so long, but it was quickly granted after WW2, showing
that this contraction was accelerated by the events in WW2
• End of white invincibility - Defeats at Gallipoli in 1915 and at Singapore in 1942 ended the idea that
Britain was undefeatable. Accelerated by the ideological struggle against Hitler’s ideas. Notions of
white superiority became hard to justify. Britain’s supposed reason for the empire – the civilising
mission – was shown to be illogical, untrue and immoral. Led to contraction because Britain could
not justify its presence in the colonies – especially difficult post WW2
• Contraction before WW2 - Mandates came with the expectation of independence. Iraq 1932. Egypt
1922. Statue of Westminster 1931. This contraction took place before WW2 – completed without the
need for further pressure from WW2. However, lesser significance than those which came after,
because Britain still gained the benefits of these areas
• Changed world after WW2 - Two major powers, USA and USSR, and UN were anti-imperialist. Britain
no longer had the dominant position in the world as it had had after WW1. Signalled that the age of
imperialism that was seen as legitimate internationally had come to an end. Contractions of the
empire after WW2 seemed certain. Less significant than economic factors and nationalism because
they meant retaining the empire had become unfeasible and inevitable as well as reducing Britain’s
status as a world power. The shifting balance of international power after WW2 simply put more
pressure of Britain to contract its empire, further accelerating the reduction of the empire.
Overall, this statement is a valid because the economic problems and increased nationalist sentiment that was
started by the First World War and accelerated by the Second led to major contractions to the empire in this period.
Although some contraction took place before WW2 this was still started by WW1 and it was in areas of less
significance than the contractions which took place after WW2. Furthermore, some of the problems the empire faced
were started by WW2, however, these issues were less significant because they simply put more pressure on the
British to contract its empire – something which was already inevitable because of the issues created by both of the
world wars.
