Attitudes towards Empire

• In the 1860's and 1870's the idea of Empire began to captivate the public imagination like never before. The main reason this was occurring was because of the press and media.
• The population of Britain in the 19th century was largely uneducated and therefore could not explore and discover Empire through books or newspaper.
• Due to many not knowing how to read and write, ideas of Empire were therefore experienced differently among the poor uneducated working class in comparison with middle and upper class peoples.
• To make people more politically aware:

  • The Education Act 1870 increased national literacy rates.
  • The Reform Acts of 1867 and 1884 extended the vote from 1 million adult males to 2.5 million.
• The press influenced attitudes towards the Empire through reports of the Indian Rebellion 1857.
• The British public were:

  • horrified of the stories of massacres and tortures at Cawnpore.
  • thrilled by the brave soldiers under Major-General Henry Havelock who recaptured Cawnpore (public hero).
  • however the press did not speak a word of the atrocities inflicted on the Indian rebels by British troops
• In 1882, Arabi Pasha's revolt in Egypt was widely spread throughout the press with florid tones. As a result Gladstone was well supported in his decision to intervene.
• By the 1870's stories of explores and missionaries were widely featured in newspapers and magazines.
• Social Darwinism is adapted by others and states that the British Empire is a thing because they are superior- "survival of the fittest". Views on Empire are therefore from a scientific, religious and moral perspective.
• At first the British government had resisted further colonisation because it was expensive and comes with great commitment. However in the 1870's attitudes had changed as European countries industrialised and Britain was faced with increasing economic competition.
• How many Suez Canal shares did Disraeli buy in 1875

  £ 4 million worth
• Disraeli launched two protracted conflicts: the invasion of Afghanistan in 1878 and the Zulu War in 1879.
• Disraeli's campaigns experienced many setbacks and military loses but ended with a costly British victory. This contributed to their resounding defeat in the 1880-82 election.
• • In 1880, the Transvaal Boers mobilised to overthrow the British leading to many garrisons being besieged across Transvaal.
  • Thus starting the First Anglo-Boer War (1880-81).
  • Ewart Gladstone was reluctant to commit further troops and money to uphold British hegemony in South Africa.
  • As a result the British lost, signing the Pretoria Convention.
• During the Mahdist Rebellion in Sudan 1884, Gladstone urged the withdrawal of Anglo-Egyptian troops and stated that the "Sudanese are rightly struggling to be free".
• Gladstone's hand was forced during Arabi Pasha's Uprising 1879 forcing him to divert troops and resources to secure the Suez.
• Germany's expansion in Papu New Guinea in 1884 forced Gladstone to send Thomas Macllwraith to occupy the islands south-eastern zone to prevent German hegemony.
• The Berlin Conference also occurred under Gladstone which officially started land grabbing in Africa.
• Ironically, the Empire grew more under Gladstone than it did under Disraeli, mainly due to British interests being threatened.