Jingoism
Jingoism – the nationalistic and patriotic belief that your country is best – was rife within the British Empire, especially at its peak in the late 19th century. The aggressive shows of force by Britain to maintain and expand its reach were naturally exaggerated by the press, and clever propaganda put almost anything the empire did in a positive light. The rise of other superpowers such as Germany and Russia only helped fuel jingoism, resulting in arrogant ideology such as splendid isolation and the naval arms race. Jingoism wasn’t a new phenomenon (Britain had always had fierce rivalries with Spain and France, for instance), but politicians were worried that a working-class electorate was dangerous to British politics. Both the Conservatives and Liberals came to realise that an assertive foreign policy was the best way to appeal to the public.