1st Module: "Did the Sun ever set on the British Empire?": New trading routes

The last topic of this first module is the British Empire during Queen Victoria’s reign which got  a very important role in history. I would like you to memorize the main events so that you get a clear overview of the age, together with the literary aspects. 

As a definition, an  'empire' is a group of countries ruled over by a single monarch.  But it doesn't need an 'emperor'.

The British Empire comprised Britain, the 'mother country', and the colonies, which were countries ruled to some degree by and from Britain.

The British began to establish overseas colonies in the 16th century. The growth of the British Empire was due mainly to the competition for resources and markets which existed  between England and her continental rivals, Spain, France, and Holland.

During the reign of Elizabeth I, England set up trading companies in the East Indies, explored the coast of North America, and established colonies there.

In the early seventeenth century those colonies were expanded . By 1783 Britain had a large empire, with colonies in America and the West Indies. This 'first British Empire' came to an end after the American Revolution, when the U.S.A got independence.

However, in the 19th century, the British built a second  empire, based on British sea-power, India, and huge areas in Africa.

http://www.the-map-as-history.com/demos/tome05/

The 'Whig' historians regarded the Empire as the deserved result of Britain's  superiority. They were proud that their country  had put together such a huge empire. Some modern historians have criticised Britain's 'cultural imperialism', suggesting that it was based on nationalism and racist scorn for other people.

After the First World War it became difficult for Britain to hold on to her Empire. It was clear that  Britain could no longer afford an Empire and had no right to rule peoples who did not want to be ruled by Britain.

Britain realised that the Royal Navy was not strong enough to protect all the Empire anywhere in the world.

Ireland rebelled between 1919 and 1921. In 1920‒1921 it was divided into Northern Ireland, which was part of the UK, and the Irish Free State. In 1937 it became more independent as Éire. In 1949 Éire became the completely independent Republic of Ireland and left the Commonwealth.

There was a strong independence movement in India. Mohandas Gandhi led a non-cooperation movement which refused to obey British laws.

In 1935 the Government of India Act gave Indians control of everything except foreign policy.

The British Empire was dismantled and replaced by a voluntary organisation of former colonies called the Commonwealth.

In 1926, the British government agreed the Balfour Declaration – that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were completely independent countries, "freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations".

In 1947, India and Pakistan were given independence.

Most of Britain's African and Caribbean colonies achieved independence in the 1960s.

In 1997, Britain formally handed Hong Kong back to China.

Until the 1960s, Britain was part of a Commonwealth trading community based on the Empire.

In 1973, Britain joined the European Economic Community, and became part of a trading community based on free trade between the countries of Europe.

See you in class with a new topic to talk about!

Prof