Did the British government want to decolonise? C aim

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Did the British government want to decolonise? C
aim to explain how the British governments
attitudes towards decolonisation changed over
time B aim to explain why the British
governments attitudes towards decolonisation
changed over time A/A aim to explain why and
the impact of the British governments attitudes
towards decolonisation over time
This shows you the titles of offices looking
after colonial matters. What do these titles
show you about decolonisation?
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New Divider!

• Did the British want to decolonise?
• Government and public attitudes, Kenya
• Periphery, metropole, attitudes, causes

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• The strategy adopted by the Labour party was one
  of unified and distanced opposition to
  colonialism. It accelerated decolonisation.
• Do you agree?

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Attitudes are positive
Attitudes are negative
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Labour 1945-1951

• What would they traditionally think of
  imperialism?
• Why did they support it from 1945-1951?
• Bevin
• More completely than ever before economics and
  empire had come together
• Cripps said we should increase out of all
  recognition the tempo of African economic
  development....boosting production of
  anything....that will save dollars or will sell
  in a dollar market.
• Groundnuts and Tanganyika.
• It was estimated that the colonies could provide
  an extra 400,000 troops for the army.

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Conservatives 1951-1964

• 1951 strong and free colonial policy as part of
  the election campaign
• There were tensions in the Conservatives. Who
  were they between?
• The preferentialists who wanted closer economic
  integration over free trade, the Suez group who
  didnt want Britain to pull out of Suez, and the
  white-settler lobby who became known as the
  Monday Club
• From 1954 older imperialist Tories were
  marginalised as they failed to economically unify
  the colonies, prevent withdrawal from Egypt or
  decolonisation of Cyprus

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Labour in opposition 1951-1964...

• Fenner Brockway and Tony Benn started the
  Movement for Colonial Freedom. They tried to show
  the Conservatives at backward looking racists.
• It is questionable how much influence they had on
  the leaders
• Form 1956 Labour campaigned on one man one vote
  in Eastern and southern Africa and criticised the
  Conservatives for holding onto outdated concepts
  of multiracialism.
• However, in 1961, Callaghan said that the party
  was committed to supporting British interests in
  Africa and creating a African dominion in East
  and Central Africa

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Conservatives 1951-1964

• 1959 election new younger Tories entered
  parliament, including Macmillan and Macleod who
  appeared to accept Labours pragmatic approach to
  decolonisation and introduce black-majority rule
  and depart from multiracialism. Macmillans wind
  of change speech contributed to this. This kept
  the older imperialist die-hards happy as they
  felt that decolonisation was the continuation of
  empire by other means.
• What came from above went as the Tories were very
  hierarchical. The preference for political rather
  than military solutions led to a blurring of
  lines on colonialism.
• It was hoped that the Commonwealth would remain
  part of a great British-cenrted world system
  where the countries would continue the ideals
  that Britain had installed in them.

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Wind of Change Speech

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vsx0sxm9VTs8
• What is the message of this speech?
• How would this speech affect decolonisation?

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Labour 1964-1970

• Traditionalist Labour
• Wanted Britain to remain a world power, linked by
  the Commonwealth
• One man one vote on election campaigns
• Couldnt say no to nationalism

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• The strategy adopted by the Labour party, one of
  unified and distanced opposition to colonialism,
  speeded decolonisation.
• Do you agree? Are there any other factors?

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How did attitudes change over time?
Did the British government want to decolonise? C
aim to explain how the British governments
attitudes towards decolonisation changed over
time B aim to explain why the British
governments attitudes towards decolonisation
changed over time A/A aim to explain why and
the impact of the British governments attitudes
towards decolonisation over time
How did these views affect decolonisation?
Why did political parties have their particular
viewpoints?
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Homework Due Thursday

• read the chapter on Conservative attitudes and
  add detail to your graphs.
• Research the treatment of the Mau Mau in Kenya by
  the British. Write down three key things to tell
  the class.