OCR Specification focus:
‘The arts, metropolitan politics, international relations and the economy reflected empire.’
Between 1857 and 1965, Britain’s empire profoundly shaped its arts, politics, and economy, influencing national identity, domestic policy, and global relationships as imperial power evolved.
Arts and the British Empire
Imperial Themes in Art and Literature
The British Empire provided a rich source of inspiration for artists, writers and playwrights, shaping public imagination and reinforcing imperial ideologies.
Visual arts often celebrated imperial conquest and dominance, portraying colonies as exotic and Britain as a civilising force. Paintings by artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and John Everett Millais included imperial themes, while public art commemorated imperial figures and victories.
Literature reflected and shaped imperial attitudes. Authors like Rudyard Kipling, with works such as The White Man’s Burden, justified imperial expansion as a moral duty.
Adventure novels such as those by H. Rider Haggard popularised imperial exploits and reinforced notions of racial hierarchy and British superiority.
Imperialism: A policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonisation, use of military force, or other means.
Artistic representations contributed to the imperial myth, portraying Britain as benevolent and progressive while masking exploitation and violence. These works were widely circulated through exhibitions, books and school materials, embedding imperial pride in popular consciousness.
Exhibitions and Public Display
Imperial exhibitions and world fairs were central in displaying the empire’s reach and achievements:
The Great Exhibition of 1851, held in the Crystal Palace, showcased goods and resources from across the empire, presenting Britain as the global industrial and imperial leader.
These exhibitions functioned as propaganda tools, shaping public opinion and justifying imperialism by demonstrating its benefits.
Politics and the Empire
Imperial Influence on Metropolitan Politics
The empire was deeply embedded in British political discourse and policy-making. The Conservative and Liberal parties both relied on imperial issues to define their identities and policies.
Benjamin Disraeli promoted empire as central to Britain’s greatness, famously declaring Queen Victoria Empress of India in 1876, thereby linking monarchy and empire.
William Gladstone, while often critical of imperial expansion, could not ignore the empire’s significance, engaging in debates over colonial policy and governance.
Political parties used imperial issues to appeal to voters, and imperial patriotism influenced election campaigns and parliamentary debates. The rise of jingoism — intense national pride and support for imperial expansion — affected public opinion and political decision-making.
Jingoism: Extreme patriotism, often characterised by aggressive foreign policy and support for imperial expansion.
Empire and Reform
Imperial wealth and influence also shaped domestic reform. Imperial revenues supported infrastructure and social programmes, while imperial demands influenced military and administrative reforms. Debates over empire intersected with broader questions of democracy, governance and national identity.
Furthermore, the growing criticism of imperial practices — including debates over the morality of imperialism and the treatment of colonised peoples — influenced political movements and policies, especially in the early twentieth century.
International Relations and Empire
Imperial Power and Global Status
The British Empire was central to Britain’s international standing. As the world’s largest empire, Britain wielded immense influence in global affairs.
Control of strategic territories such as Suez and Singapore enhanced Britain’s ability to project power and protect trade routes.
Diagram showing the Suez Canal’s changing dimensions (1870–2010), indicating deepening and widening over time. While the timeline extends beyond 1965, it clarifies why Suez was—and remained—vital to imperial and global commerce. Extra post-1965 data are included but serve to illustrate the persistent strategic significance. Source
Imperial prestige underpinned Britain’s diplomatic power, but also drew it into conflicts and alliances. For example, imperial commitments contributed to Britain’s participation in both World Wars, as colonies provided troops, resources and strategic bases.
Shifts in Global Power
After 1945, the decline of empire transformed Britain’s international role. The rise of the United States and the Soviet Union, coupled with anti-colonial movements, diminished imperial authority. Britain sought new roles in international organisations such as the United Nations and reoriented its foreign policy toward European integration.
Economy and the Empire
Imperial Trade and Wealth
Empire was integral to Britain’s economic growth and industrial development. Colonies provided:
Raw materials such as cotton, rubber and minerals.
Markets for British manufactured goods.
Investment opportunities for British capital.
The economic relationship was characterised by mercantilism and free-trade imperialism, both designed to benefit the metropole.
Metropole: The parent state or core territory of an empire, in this case Britain, as opposed to its colonies.
Colonial products fuelled British industries, and the profits of empire enriched the British elite. Imperial wealth financed infrastructure, cultural projects and social reforms at home.
Financial Networks and Capitalism
Imperial expansion was closely linked to capitalist development. British banks and investors played a key role in financing colonial infrastructure, such as railways and ports, facilitating the extraction of resources.
The City of London emerged as a global financial centre, its prosperity tied to imperial trade and investment.
View of the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England, a symbolic heart of the City’s imperial finance. This scene illustrates the metropolitan institutions that facilitated overseas investment and managed trade flows within the empire. It directly supports the syllabus emphasis on how the economy reflected empire. Source
Profits from empire sustained ‘gentlemanly capitalism’, a form of capitalism driven by the interests of bankers, merchants and landowners rather than industrialists.
Gentlemanly Capitalism: A term describing Britain’s imperial economy as driven by financial, commercial and landed elites rather than industrialists, influencing imperial policy and expansion.
Economic Shifts and Imperial Decline
By the mid-twentieth century, imperial economic dominance waned. The costs of empire — military defence, administration and the suppression of resistance — grew, while global economic competition intensified.
The Great Depression of the 1930s exposed vulnerabilities in the imperial economic system, prompting new policies such as imperial preference, which favoured trade within the empire.
Post-war decolonisation forced Britain to adapt to a global economy increasingly dominated by the USA and multinational corporations.
Despite imperial decline, the legacy of empire persisted in trade patterns, financial institutions and economic networks well into the post-colonial era.
Empire and Domestic Prosperity
Empire influenced Britain’s class structure and social change. Imperial wealth underpinned the growth of the middle class, funded urban development, and contributed to the expansion of education and public services. At the same time, imperialism’s economic benefits were unevenly distributed, contributing to social inequalities and political debates.
FAQ
In the mid-19th century, imperial art focused on conquest, exoticism and Britain’s civilising mission, often portraying colonised peoples as passive subjects.
By the late 19th century, with New Imperialism, art became more celebratory, glorifying imperial expansion and emphasising British power and prestige.
In the 20th century, particularly after the First World War, imperial art became more reflective and sometimes critical, exploring the human cost of empire and shifting attitudes towards decolonisation.
Imperial exhibitions were more than trade fairs — they were cultural events that shaped how Britons understood their place in the world.
They celebrated imperial unity, portraying Britain as a benevolent leader.
Displays of colonised peoples and cultures reinforced ideas of racial hierarchy and British superiority.
Exhibitions promoted imperial patriotism, influencing school curricula, public discourse, and youth movements.
They also provided opportunities for colonial representatives to assert their identities, contributing subtly to evolving debates on self-government.
Imperial debates shaped British politics by forcing parties to define their stance on expansion, governance, and morality.
Conservatives generally championed imperialism as central to Britain’s greatness.
Liberals often questioned its morality and cost, with figures like Gladstone challenging aggressive expansion.
These debates influenced broader issues, including suffrage and governance, as imperial subjects’ rights were discussed alongside domestic reforms. They also helped shape Britain’s emerging welfare policies, as imperial wealth created expectations for state-led development at home.
The post-war decline of empire disrupted trade networks and reduced access to cheap raw materials. Britain faced increased competition from the United States and newly industrialised nations.
Sterling’s status as a global currency weakened without imperial markets.
Investment shifted from colonies to domestic reconstruction and European integration.
Imperial preference policies became less relevant as Britain pursued new trade agreements.
This transition accelerated Britain’s reorientation from an imperial to a European-focused economy.
Profits from empire flowed into British society in multiple ways, shaping class structures and opportunities.
Wealth funded the growth of cities, public buildings, and cultural institutions.
Expansion of education and public health was partly financed by imperial revenues.
The middle classes, particularly merchants and financiers, benefited most, while industrial workers gained less direct advantage.
At the same time, debates about imperial wealth distribution fuelled demands for social reform, laying groundwork for welfare policies in the early 20th century.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Identify two ways in which the British Empire influenced the arts in Britain between 1857 and 1965.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for each correct way identified.
Possible answers:Inspired literature such as Rudyard Kipling’s works which justified imperialism.
Provided subject matter for visual arts portraying British dominance and colonial “exoticism.”
Led to major imperial exhibitions like the Great Exhibition of 1851 displaying imperial achievements.
Promoted patriotic and imperial themes in public monuments and architecture.
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain how the British Empire influenced Britain’s economy during the period 1857–1965.
Mark scheme:
Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic statements with limited detail or explanation.
Example: “The empire provided Britain with raw materials.”
Level 2 (3–4 marks): Developed explanation with some supporting detail.
Example: “The empire supplied raw materials such as cotton and rubber, which helped British industries grow. Colonies were also key markets for manufactured goods.”
Level 3 (5 marks): Well-developed explanation showing clear understanding of multiple ways the empire influenced the economy.
Example: “The empire supplied essential raw materials like cotton and rubber, fuelling British industrial growth. Colonies acted as secure markets for manufactured goods, while imperial investment opportunities enriched the British elite and made the City of London a global financial centre. ‘Gentlemanly capitalism’ linked imperial trade and finance directly to metropolitan prosperity.”
