The role and influence on attitudes to empire of explorers, missionaries,…

The idea

Between 1857 and 1890, key individuals profoundly shaped British attitudes towards the empire. Explorers like David Livingstone captured the public imagination through published accounts, framing imperialism as a noble quest. Missionaries promoted the 'civilising mission', influencing Britons to view empire as a moral duty to spread Christianity and end slavery. Traders, including Cecil Rhodes, highlighted the economic benefits of expansion. Meanwhile, colonial administrators like Evelyn Baring projected an image of efficient, paternalistic governance. Together, these groups fostered a popular domestic consensus that the British Empire was a necessary force for global progress, morality, and economic development.

What earns the marks

• Assess how explorers' publications and public lectures stimulated domestic fascination and support for imperial expansion.
• Evaluate the role of missionaries in promoting the concept of a 'civilising mission' and framing the empire as a moral and religious imperative.
• Analyse how traders and commercial figures influenced government policy and public opinion by emphasising economic opportunities and national prosperity.
• Examine the impact of colonial administrators in establishing a narrative of British racial and administrative superiority, fostering a sense of paternalistic duty.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating these groups as entirely separate entities.

  Put it right: In reality, their roles often overlapped, such as David Livingstone acting as both an explorer and a missionary.

• Assuming the British public was universally enthusiastic about the empire.

  Put it right: While these figures boosted support, there was still domestic apathy and anti-imperial sentiment that must be acknowledged.

• Focusing solely on the actions of these figures abroad rather than explicitly linking them to their influence on domestic attitudes in Britain, which is the core requirement of the specification.

Exam tips

• Always link the actions of specific individuals, such as Livingstone, Rhodes, or Baring, back to how they shaped public or political attitudes within Britain.
• Consider how the popular press, literature, and public exhibitions amplified the influence of explorers and missionaries on the Victorian public.
• Compare the relative influence of different groups; for example, debate whether moral arguments presented by missionaries or economic arguments presented by traders were more persuasive to the public.