Imperial Federation League facts for kids

The Imperial Federation League was a group formed in the 1800s. Its main goal was to bring the different parts of the British Empire closer together. They wanted to create a single, strong union, much like how the areas of British North America joined to form Canada.

The League hoped to unite the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Cape Colony (which later became Union of South Africa) into one big state. They believed this would make the Empire stronger and help everyone work together.

Forming the League

The Imperial Federation League started in London on November 18, 1884. W. E. Forster helped create it and became its first leader.

Here were some of their main ideas:

• They wanted to form a group called "The Imperial Federation League."
• Their goal was to keep the Empire united forever through federation.
• They believed that local governments should still control their own local matters.
• Any plan for Imperial Federation should fairly share the Empire's resources. This would help protect common interests and organize defense.
• The League would use peaceful ways to achieve its goals. They wanted support from people of all political groups.
• Anyone in the British Empire could join if they agreed with the League's ideas and paid a small fee.
• They asked for donations to help run the League.
• They invited British subjects everywhere to join and form local branches. These branches could send representatives to the main committee.

Branches of the League soon appeared in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados, and British Guiana. After Forster passed away, Lord Rosebery became the President. Later, Edward Stanhope took over.

Important people like Francis Labilliere, William Westgarth, and John Dennistoun Wood helped write the League's plans. They looked at countries like the United States and Canada as examples. These countries showed how large areas could be managed well with a central government.

The League tried to stay out of regular party politics. It included politicians, journalists, and thinkers like Sir John Robert Seeley, James Bryce, Alfred Milner, Froude, and Lord Tennyson.

League in Canada

A large branch of the Imperial Federation League started in Toronto, Canada, in 1887. This happened partly because the United States was suggesting a trade union with Canada. Dalton McCarthy was a founder of the League in Canada.

Other well-known Canadian members included Sir Charles Tupper, Sir Sam Hughes, and brothers G.T. Denison and Frederick Charles Denison. George Robert Parkin traveled widely to speak about the League's goals.

The League was especially worried about Canada possibly joining the United States in the late 1880s and early 1890s.

League in Australia

A branch of the League was also set up in Victoria, Australia, in 1885.

Alfred Deakin supported the League and became the President of the Victorian branch in 1905.

Thanks to people like Henry D'Esterre Taylor, the Victorian branch continued even after the main London branch closed.

Many in the Victorian branch thought that the Federation of Australia was a first step. They hoped it would lead to the larger Imperial Federation.

What the League Wanted

Supporters of Imperial Federation believed Britain had two choices: unite or fall apart. They felt Britain's future depended on joining with its "Old Commonwealth" countries.

The League wanted a closer union of the British Empire under an "Imperial Federal Government." They didn't agree on exactly how this would work. Some thought it should be a Federal Parliament, others a Council or regular meetings. But everyone agreed it should include representatives from all parts of the Empire. This new body would handle foreign policy, defense, and trade. It was generally thought of as a kind of Imperial Parliament.

This Imperial Parliament would manage foreign affairs, the army, the navy, and colonies with mostly non-British populations, like India. It would also have a final court for appeals. Local parliaments would handle local matters like police and education.

The League was generally in favor of keeping the United Kingdom together.

There were disagreements within the League. Some members wanted a clear plan for Imperial Federation right away. Others thought it was better to discuss general ideas first. They believed this would build support, and the details could be worked out later. For example, Parkin in Canada argued this was how Canadian Confederation happened.

Another point of disagreement was about trade. Some supported free trade, meaning no taxes on goods between countries. Others wanted tariff protection, which meant taxes on imported goods to help local businesses. The League didn't take an official side, but members could share their views. Howard Vincent MP, who supported protection, was an active member.

The League eventually broke up in 1893 because its members had too many different ideas.

Some notable opponents of the League included Edward Augustus Freeman, Goldwin Smith, and Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie once called the League Rosebery's "amusing Imperial Federation fad (which, happily, is impossible)."

Achievements and Challenges

The League successfully made many people across the Empire think about imperial federation.

One big achievement was helping to organize the First Colonial Conference in 1887. This meeting happened during Queen Victoria's golden jubilee celebration.

The League also sent groups to meet with two Prime Ministers, Salisbury and Gladstone. Salisbury agreed to the Colonial Conference but later said federation was "nothing more than a word." Gladstone was not interested in the Empire and quickly dismissed the League's plans in 1893.

After the League

Some members of the League started a new group in 1894 called the British Empire League.

Alfred Milner, a former member, later helped unite South Africa. He also started the Round Table movement, which continued to promote closer ties within the Empire.