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The Rise and Fall of the British Empire
The Rise and Fall of the British Empire
What is an Empire?
What is an Empire?
An empire is a group of countries ruled over by a single monarch or ruling power. An empire doesn't need an 'emperor'. The British Empire comprised of Britain, the 'mother country', and the colonies, countries ruled to some degree by and from Britain.
In the 16th century Britain began to establish overseas colonies. By 1783, Britain had built a large empire with colonies in America and the West Indies. By 1900 Britain ruled the largest empire the world had ever known. Britain ruled over 450 million people living in 56 colonies around the world.
How did Britain get its empire?
How did Britain get its empire?
The British Empire: 1783-1924
The British Empire: 1783-1924
In the century 1815–1914, 10 million square miles of territory and 400 million people were added to the British Empire. By the British Empire Exhibition of 1924, Britain controlled a worldwide empire which covered a fifth of the land in the world.
Many British people at the time took great pride in the British Empire and their power. However, this was not a view shared by the people of the colonized lands. Many people living in British colonies faced political and economic inequality and the decline of their culture and religion. In India the rule of the Mughal dynasty which had lasted since the 1500s came to an end in 1857. In Australia violence, disease and inequality contributed to a decline in the Aboriginal population by 90% by the 1920s.
Attitudes towards empire
Attitudes towards empire
At this time Britain regarded itself as 'ruler of the waves'. The songs 'Rule Britannia' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' serve as evidence of this belief.
Most British people at the time thought that they were doing the right thing by taking the British government and Christianity to the rest of the world, ending slavery and barbaric traditions and bringing 'civilisation' and an international 'Pax Britannica', or 'British peace'. The British generally felt that the way they lived their lives was the right way. They believed that colonising various countries was a means of helping others to become like Britain and therefore improve.
However, not all British people felt this way; there were groups within society who believed that Britain controlling other countries was wrong. Some people argued that colonies had their own cultures and traditions before the arrival of the British. Therefore, trying to impose a different way of life or religion on people was wrong. Others such as the Liberal Party in Parliament were divided over Britain using warfare to maintain and defend its Empire. An example of this was the Second Boer War (1899 – 1902) during which Britain fought to consolidate its control over South Africa against the Boers (descendants of Dutch settlers). The war divided Liberal opinion as well as some sectors of the British public who felt the war could not be morally justified.
Why was there resistance to the British Empire?
Why was there resistance to the British Empire?
America
America
White Europeans first settled in the West Indies where slaves were exploited as part of the slave trade.
In the 1600s settlers began to start new lives in North America. The British set up 13 colonies on the east coast. The first one in 1607 was named Virginia after Elizabeth I (The ‘Virgin’ Queen).
The settlers had brutal lives. The weather and living conditions were tough and they were constantly under attack by Native American tribes whose land they had taken.
The settlers were still seen as British subjects and therefore expected to pay taxes to the King. However they were not ‘represented’ by government and had no say in how the colonies were ruled or how they lived.
India
India
The British first became involved in India through trade.
The East India Company (EIC) was set up in 1600 and it bought and sold exotic silks and spices for example.
Years of civil wars between Indian Hindus and Muslims threatened this trade so the EIC built its own army and took over.
It hoped to introduce Christianity and make the Indians more like the British.
Westerns laws and religion would hopefully bring order, allowing the EIC to make profit from trade and tax the Indian people in peace.
How did the colonies resist the empire?
How did the colonies resist the empire?
America
America
Initial resistance came from Native Americans. The British settlers took their lands and scared away the animals that they hunted. The Native way of life was threatened so they fought back in brutal attacks, famously ‘scalping’ those they captured.
As the British began to colonise America the settlers took on an American identity. They were angry about being taxed heavily by the King but having no say in their own affairs. They called this ‘taxation without representation.’
In 1773 a Tea Act was passed. It allowed the East India Company to sell tea in America tax free because Americans were forced to pay the tax. In 1773 this led to the Boston Tea Party. A group of demonstrators boarded the British ships in the harbor and destroyed all the cargo of tea.
The British responded violently and took away even more rights from the colonies. In response all 13 colonies protested and this caused the eventual American Revolution. The war lasted until 1783 when the Americans defeated the British and broke away from the British Empire.
India
India
The EIC made huge profits from Indians through trade and taxation. The Company controlled the country and the Indians had no say in their own affairs.
The Company also allowed Christian missionaries into India. They tried to convert the Hindus and Muslims and change the way they lived.
There were several small rebellions against the British. In 1857 rumours spread that new gun cartridges were being coated with pork and beef fat (offensive to both Hindus and Muslims). This caused the Indian army to revolt in the violent 1857 Indian Mutiny.
Eventually order was restored and Britain formally made India part of the Empire, directly ruled by Queen Victoria. Taxes were now paid directly to the British government, and the Indians had to pay for their own army which Britain could use for free.
After helping Britain in WWI and WWII the Indians began to violently protest because they felt they had earned their independence. In 1947 Britain reluctantly made India independent to avoid a war.
Why did Britain lose its empire?
Why did Britain lose its empire?
COLONIES
COLONIES
In 1783 America broke away. In 1921 Britain allowed the partition of Ireland. Ireland split into Northern Ireland (British) and the Republic of Ireland (independent). This sent a message that it was possible to leave the Empire.
ATTITUDES
ATTITUDES
By the 1960s people in Britain began to support giving others freedom rather than using force to control them. In the colonies themselves nationalism (the ‘growth of national consciousness’) became popular and people demanded and fought for independence (eg. India, Egypt, Ghana, Sudan).
COMMONWEALTH
COMMONWEALTH
After 1926 Britain set up the Commonwealth. This was a group of similar nations who were loyal to the British Crown. To start with this only included white countries (eg. New Zealand, Canada, Australia). After 1948 this was expanded to include all countries in the Empire. It allowed nations to peacefully gain independence whilst keeping them allied to Britain.
TRADE
TRADE
Britain eventually lost its advantage from the Industrial Revolution and other nations caught up. Britain lost trade to its rivals as they began to sell to the Empire. It became very expensive maintaining soldiers to defend the Empire.
Outcomes Focused, Child Centred
Outcomes Focused, Child Centred
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