Year 9 - History
Imperial decline
Interpreting the British Empire: how has it been commemorated and contested?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about how the British Empire was viewed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They analyse how imperial anxiety, decline, and decolonisation have all led to changes in its historiography.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the trend of British imperial decline that took place towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.
Key Notes
- By the early 20th century, Germany and the USA had overtaken Britain as dominant global powers.
- The British government created the 'two-power standard' in 1889 to maintain British naval supremacy.
- Anxiety around the decline of Britain's empire led to a movement called 'national efficiency'.
- By the end of the First World War Britain's power was severely weakened.
Vocabulary To Learn
- two-power standard: the 'two-power standard' was the British policy of maintaining a navy which was larger than the next two largest navies combined
- national efficiency: 'national efficiency' was the argument that British society needed to become more productive to maintain imperial dominance
- decline: decline is a gradual and continuous loss of strength
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The trend of British imperial decline was caused by foreign policy and external threats.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
By the early 20th century, Germany and the USA had overtaken Britain as dominant global powers. The British government created the 'two-power standard' in 1889 to maintain British naval supremacy.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'two-power standard'
the 'two-power standard' was the British policy of maintaining a navy which was larger than the next two largest navies combined.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The trend of British imperial decline was caused by foreign policy and external threats. Correction: There is a link between foreign and domestic policy, both of which contributed to imperial decline.
More Lessons In This Unit
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