topic 10 british attitudes

• Disraeli and the conservatives

  1870s- started to claim they were the "party of empire" and their liberal opponents would allow Empire to crumble

  this was demonstrated at his 1872 Crystal Palace speech. Conservative party had not won an election since 1841 therefore playing the imperialist card seemed to pay off when they won the 1874 election
• Gladstone and the liberals


  Gladstone lost support post FBW and the Sudan issue after refusing to deploy more troops showing his stance n Empire-> move existing colonies to independence rather than expand.

  Resigned in 1885 after overseeing the 1884 Parliamentary Reform Act which increased the vote to 5.5 million.

  Returned 1886 introducing the Home Rule Bill for Ireland
• British public

  Education Act of 1870 increased national literacy rates and the extension of the vote in 1884 made the public more politically aware of Empire hence Disraeli using this for political gain.

  The public were horrified at stories like Cawnpore and the heroic actions of General Henry-Havelock who they revered at and paid to erect a statue of him in Trafalgar Square. Egypt also received much media coverage occupying reporters and public interests.
• Impact of Empire at home

  Britain saw themselves as the most superior race- "empire of races". This was exuberated by Darwin's "Origin of Species" 1859
• Exhibitions


  South Kensington 1862: displayed 7000 from India alone

  Nubian village 1877 at London's Alexandra Palace

  African Exhibition 1890: showcase Stanley's African travels, justify British presence in Africa showing scientific and technological advances.