British interests

• 1870: Education Act
• 1924: London biggest exhibit was open and attracted over 17 million visitors. Very racist and applied through social Darwinism as the view of evolution was changed by the British as the white race was seen as more superior than any of the races.
• 1938: Another exhibition was opened in Glasgow and proved to be a great success with 12 million visitors.
• Literature by Rudyard Kipling was very famous, such as The Jungle Book published in 1894.
• 1962: The film Lawrence of Arabia is where Britsh view of the Empire were neglected and negative views towards the film started as the interest in empire decreased.
• 1939: Movie called the Four Feathers was about the Empire
• ww2: Left severe economic consequences for the British as Britain was left in rationing 10 Years after ww2 1945 to 1955.
• 1930s the Great Depression hit Britain severely as Britain relied heavily on America economically leaving most of the population unemployed.
• 1962: Empire day was abolished.
• 1902: empire day was created on Queen Victoria's Birthday on the 24th May.
• 1917: imperial history was being taught in universities e.g. SOAS
• EEC the European Economic Community created in 1958. Were becoming a lot more stronger economically.
• Britain applied 3 times to join the EEC but was rejected twice in 1961 and 1967 as France vetoed Britain's attempt to join the EEC by the President Charles De Gaulle, who did not agree with Britain's way of Empire and economy. But was finally, accepted the third time.
• Britain joined the EEC in 1973, and held a referendum in 1975 which showed 2/3 of voters supported UK membership.
• 1867: Reform Act, allowed 1.5million men to vote
• Before 1867 only 650,000 adult males could vote.
• 1887: Parliamentary Reform Act extended those who could vote to 5.5 million.
• BBC established in 1923 and the first director general was John Reith who was pro- imperial and covered lots of major imperial events.
• 1932: Christmas broadcast speech by the King talked of various items and adventure of the British Empire.
• Empire taught about in school subjects e.g. Geography, History and literature.
• Empire was seen as a place of excitement through cinema: Sanders of the River 1935
• BBC and education targeted the middle class social group, also majority attended the exhibitions.
• Aristocrats as a social group would have personal connection with those of higher status in the empire. Would travel to different colonies within empire through air travel with Imperial airways in 1924.
• Children celebrated Empire day in school by collecting stamps for buying imperial products and attend scouts.
• Women were targeted by advertising to buy consumer goods of products from the empire for cooking recipes as women were cooks of the house.
• Some women had the vote in 1918 due to the protest of the Suffragets.
• In the early 20th Century, National Efficiency was the fear of decline in power within Britain as lots of soldiers were unhealthy.
• 40% of British recruits had been tested and found unfit for military service.
• In Manchester 8,000 of the 11,000 soldier recruits were turned away for being unfit due to poor diets and living conditions weakened Britain's manpower.
• Sports: Main interests between British and those from the Empire. Through cricket, rugby and football, e.g. Commonwealth games.
• Similarities in the English language through influence: words from different colonies integrated into he English language like: zombie, bungalow from India and Africa entering the English language.
• British interest in Empire:

  • scout movements
  • sports
  • English Language
  • Imperial royal honors= MBE, OBE
  • Music= 'land, hope and glory'
  • Anglican Church still important in Africa.
• Little Interest in Empire:

  • Decolonistaion during the 1960s did not face much upset or protest.
  • Supporters of decolonisation, e.g. Governors like Andrew Cohen appointed in 1952, who supported Uganda's independence through encouraging the development of parties and expanding the University of Makerere.
  • 1962 Empire day abolished
  • Cinema and children stories
• Between 1946 and 1957: 1 million people left Britain for the Dominion countries.
• Mass observation survey in 1948: showed that around 25% of the population of Britain were in contact with relatives in the Dominions.
• Late 1950s: improved living standards in Britain and full employment within Britain, reducing the number of Britain's migrating and causing the Dominions to look elsewhere for labour and people.
• National Service started in 1939 and had ended in 1960.
• Australia barred immigration with the 'White Australia' policy from 1901 which did not allow migration into Australia by 'non- white', this policy continued until 1973.
• 500 Jamaicans would move to Britain for work.
• 1956: 200,000 Hungarians had migrated to Britain, due to the invasion of Stalin as the Hungarians failed. Migration of the Hungarians, can be seen as racist as those who are non white migrating were not accepted.