The British Empire: History, Colonization, and Decline

Posted on May 25, 2024 in History

Q2.1 Great Britain – Past and Present: Character of a Nation

1. Great Britain – Tradition & Change

1.1: The British Empire

Motives:

• Trade + economics to increase wealth (monopoly on trade with Asia – British East India Company)
• Adventure politics (to prevent other countries from becoming too powerful)
• Religion (to spread Christianity)

Brief Overview of the History of Colonization:

1. First British Empire: (1583 – 1783)
   • Related to the North American continent (Caribbean, America)
2. Second Empire: (after 1783)
   • Focus on Asia (most of all India), (large parts of) Africa, the Pacific
   • Role of the global policeman (1815-1914)
   • India as the most valuable possession of the crown: British Raj, Queen Victoria as the Empress of India
3. Decolonization and Decline:
   • 1945-1997: Decline in prestige and political impact after WWII (bankrupt, GB had to rebuild its own country)
   • Since 1931: Increasing anti-colonial movements: Canada as the 1st self-responsible colony (1839): peaceful disengagement
   • 1947 independence of India by partitioning the country into Pakistan and India – violent conflicts among the population
   • By 1980 all African colonies were granted independence
   • 1982 Falklands conflict reversing the downward trend – still a British overseas territory
   • 1997 = symbolic end of the empire – the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong to China

The British Empire at its Territorial Peak in 1920

• Largest Empire + global power in history: 1/4 of the World Population at the time, more than 24% of the Earth’s total land area
• “Empire on which the sun never sets”: A phrase to describe the expansion – the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories

Declaration of Independence 1776

• “Birth of the USA”
• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Content: All American citizens are created equal with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness:
  1. Pursuit of happiness: no limitation in fulfilling your dream, free choice of religion and career, to become rich/to own a house/farm etc.
  2. “All men are created equal” → doesn’t include blacks
• Opportunity for every American (not woman) to pursue their lives the way they want to, making their own personal dreams come true -> Foundation of the American Dream
• Stresses the rights of the Individual -> Individuality/Individualism
• The thirteen colonies declared their independence from England. -> Provoked King George III by saying all men are equal -> War with England = American Revolution

3) The American Constitution: The Political System of the US

• System of government is based on its constitution
• Britain’s American colonies had gained their independence in 1776 → war of independence (1776-1783) between colonies and Britain
• Central government needed more power if the country was to become and remain united
• Was formulated in 1787 and ratified in 1788

The Promised Land – New World – New Canaan

• 1620 Puritans (believed to have been guided by God)
• God’s chosen people led to the promised land!

Article: Captain John Smith: “A Description of New England”

• Coined the phrases “New World” + “land of opportunity”
• Plenty of goods
• Natives: Convert to Christianity
• Richness of the country
• Reaching the ultimate goal to please God

“If you don’t work, you don’t eat” – Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)

• Author of the Federalist Papers
• First Secretary of Treasury (1789 -1795)
• Shaped the financial system of America
• Founded the New York Evening Post (Federalist Newspaper)

4) Bill of Rights 1791: Extension to the US Constitution, Basic Civil Rights of the American People