Part 2 (A-Level): Imperial retreat c1914-1967
Section 3: Imperialism challenged, c1914-1947
How did the First World War impact the British Empire?
● First World War devastated Britain.
-40% of Britain’s merchant fleet sunk and Britain had debt of 136% GDP.
-Colonies sent approximately 1.4 million men to fight for Empire between 1914-1918, supporting 5 million men from British
Isles. Empire also supplied Britain with raw materials and food, ultimately playing huge part in victory, owing to policy of
‘imperial preference’ under Asquith.
● Increased Empire solidarity to an extent.
-In 1917, Lloyd George created Imperial War Cabinet to coordinate imperial military policy. Included Canada, Australia,
South Africa, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Agra and Oudh. Indian representatives also joined. Only held 2 meetings however
and was criticised by Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes as it was dominated by British after peace negotiations
regarding Australia were passed without discussions with the Australian government.
● The White Dominions praised for their war effort.
-Conscription was introduced in New Zealand in 1916 and Canada in 1917.
-The Australians and New Zealanders were applauded for their bravery in the Gallipoli campaign (1915) and the Canadians
for their contribution in the battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.
-Canada also supplied Britain with munitions which the British army used a 1/3 of between 1917-18.
-136,000 South African troops contributed to war effort.
● Many countries felt disillusioned by Britain, wanting less involvement from Empire.
-French Quebec regarded war as pro-British affair and in March 1918, there were protest riots against conscription.
-Australians also rejected conscription on two referendums, in October 1916 and again in December 1917 after troops were
slaughtered at Gallipoli.
-Republican movement in South Africa grew.
-Chanak Crisis of 1922 where Canada declined to commit troops to support British in Istanbul.
● India contributed immensely and wanted rewards for it.
- 1/3 of troops in France in autumn of 1914 were either Indians or British soldiers who formerly served in India. 1.5 million
volunteered. In 1917, Indian government contributed £100 million to war effort, nearly going bankrupt in the process.
- Indian National Congress became vocal and wanted independence for India. Montagu promised ‘responsible’
self-government for India. In 1919, Government of India Act was introduced.
● African countries contributed heavily to war and wanted rewards.
-Egypt turned into protectorate in 1914 and 1.2 million recruited to defend Egypt and Middle East. 100,000 Egyptians fought
in Europe, 50% died.
-Black South Africans and from the tropical colonies recruited to France as labourers. Many died, i.e. fighting Germans in
Tanganyika.
-First Pan-African Congress held in France 1919 and delegations from South Africa in Versailles conference wanted
concessions.
, How did the British Empire expand and contract during the inter-war years?
● Britain gained vast amount of land after end of First World War. British Empire reached greatest extent with addition
of 1.8 million square miles and 13 million new subjects because of League of Nation ‘mandates’.
-Treaty of Versailles in 1919 stripped Germany of former colonies and gave them to League of Nations to be administered as
‘mandates’. Guiding principle of treaty was Woodrow Wilson’s belief for ‘self-determination’.
Mandate system set apart 3 categories.
Category A was for countries that were seen as quite developed and independence would be a viable future option.
Category B was for countries which required long period of guidance before independence.
Category C was for small islands and areas which couldn’t be feasibly independent.
-Treaty of Sevres in 1920 and Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 continued this to the Ottoman Empire.
-The Treaty of San Remo in 1920 divided these territories amongst the allied powers.
-The British gained land in Middle East, Africa and Palestine.
Britain already seemingly had interest in the Middle East as shown by its former foreign endeavours. In 1915, the
McMahon-Hussain Correspondence between Arab king and British High Commissioner of Egypt was where
Britain promised support for an Arab state in exchange for defeating Turks. Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 was
also evident of Britain’s interest as they essentially divided up the Middle East with France, paying no attention to
ethnic borders. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 also shows how Britain wished to have influence by promising the
Jewish in their hopes for a Zionist state in the Middle East to gain the support of Americans in their influence in the
Middle East. Eventually proved problematic as Jewish and Muslim relations strained severely, with violent clashes
occurring due to increased Jewish migration.
● Britain gained Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), Palestine, Tanganyika, Togoland (Gold Coast), German South-West
Africa and many of the dominions gained mandates of their own (Australia and Papea New Guinea).
● Britain’s oldest colony Ireland was lost because of war.
-Ireland had joined in 1801 and had vociferous Home Rule movement. Gladstone had failed to carry Irish independence and
though Asquith had come close, never happened à Third Home Rule Bill in 1913 provoked uprising in Ulster, which wanted to
remain united.
-Because of war, it was never implemented. Irish prepared armed rising against British. April 1916 Dublin Easter Rising was
put down but followed by period of guerrilla warfare only ending in 1921 when Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed. New Catholic
Irish Free State established and giving ‘Dominion’ status. 6 northern territories objected and remained in Northern Ireland.
-1937 Statute of Westminster gave Ireland full independence as ‘Eire’.
● Britain also lost its mandates Egypt and Mesopotomia in the inter-war years.
- In 1922, Egypt was granted formal independence after being made a protectorate at outbreak of First World War, though
remained British client state till 1954. British stationed in Egypt until signing of Anglo-Egyptian Treaty in 1936 where troops
would withdraw but stayed in Suez Canal zone.
- In Iraq, Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1932 granted independence but maintained economic and military ties with Britain, including
air bases in the country.
