the british empire - the development of imperialism - issues in Britain

What was the British government’s approach to imperialism like before 1870?

Before 1870, the government had no decisive stance

Why did the British government have no decisive stance on imperialism before 1870?

• limitations due to technology - only telegraphs & letters could be used to communicate this meant that the government couldn’t pass information etc to the companies which were stationed 1000s of miles away

• the British government felt they were in a stable position in commercial strength as they had defeated the colonial ambitions of France, Germany etc

• belief in Free Trade - anti-interventionism meant that governments didn’t want to interfere in famine in India etc as they would create moral hazard and so inhibit free markets

What were the Conservative attitudes to imperialism like before 1870?

1852 - Disraeli believed "those wretched colonies will all be independent in a few years and they are all a mill-stone around our necks.’’ (1852).

aka the empire is destined to fail and is another unneeded burden on Britain

What were the Liberal attitudes to imperialism like before 1870?

Gladstone promised to "abstain from any territorial acquisition"

He also appointed Ripon as Viceroy of India when he became PM and Ripon gave the local govs more power & reduced censorship.

aka the Liberal party hasn’t been expansionist for a very long time and in this time isn’t imperialist either

What government actions show that there was no decisive approach to imperialist before 1870?

• In 1865, the Parliamentary Select Committee recommended Britain withdraw from its West African settlements. This was because they were considered too costly.

What were governmental attitudes to imperialism like from the 1870s onwards?

The British government adopts more imperialist policies - a shift from their lack of policies and even anti-imperialist sentiments.

Why was there a shift in governmental attitudes to imperialism from the 1870s onwards?

• imperialist ambitions of other European powers - Britain needs to respond to this and the associated economic competition

• the Long Depression - started in the 1870s -80s and meant that foreign export markets were needed/more attractive in order to improve economically

• protectionist tariffs in Europe & America - mean exporting manufactured good is difficult there so a need for other markets opens

• increased poor conduct of the individual chartered companies forcing intervention or taking control of protectorates - more central governance & control is needed e.g. EIC