The impact of imperial propaganda in the 19th century
I can explain that the British government produced imperial propaganda to maintain British support for the Empire's expansion.
The impact of imperial propaganda in the 19th century
I can explain that the British government produced imperial propaganda to maintain British support for the Empire's expansion.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The expansion of the British Empire created huge financial benefits for Britain.
- Britain believed it had a duty to 'civilise' people within the Empire, which is known as a civilising mission.
- The British government used propaganda to increase support for empire so they could continue expanding.
- Many products were covered in images of the Empire and in 1887 a range of empire souvenirs were produced.
- Books and newspapers gave positive accounts of overseas wars in the Empire.
Keywords
Imperial - relating to empire
Civilising - the view that colonisation is justifiable because it involves bringing cultural, political and scientific advancement to colonies
Propaganda - the circulation of one-sided or misleading information usually to promote a political cause
Common misconception
The British public uniformly supported imperial expansion and wars.
British public opinion was not monolithic; there were varied reactions to imperial policies and military actions, including support, indifference and opposition.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The impact of imperial propaganda in the 19th century, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The impact of imperial propaganda in the 19th century, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Migration: in what ways did empire impact migration to and from Britain? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended