British Empire

• The British government was keen to expand the empire as it provided new markets, raw materials and sources of wealth.
• Britain's economy had grown rapidly during the Industrial Revolution but there were still many people living in poverty
• Expanding the empire would allow Britain to sell more manufactured goods overseas and buy cheaper raw materials from its colonies
• Britain's economy had grown rapidly during the Industrial Revolution but there were still many people living in poverty.
• Expanding the empire would allow Britain to find new resources such as cotton from India or tea from China which could be sold at high prices back home.
• Increasing trade with other countries also helped to reduce unemployment by creating jobs in industries such as shipbuilding and textiles
• i’m Many Britons believed that they had a duty to spread Christianity around the world
• Increasing trade with other countries also helped Britain become richer by providing new opportunities for investment and employment
• Many Britons believed that they had a duty to spread Christianity around the world and bring 'civilisation' to less developed parts of the globe
• Other historians believe that Britain's desire to expand its empire was driven by a sense of national pride and a belief that it was superior to other nations
• There were some negative consequences of expanding the empire including increased taxation and conscription (being forced to join the army)
• Some people wanted to expand the empire because it was seen as an opportunity to make money through trading with other countries
• Some historians argue that the main reason why Britain expanded its empire was because it needed raw materials (such as sugar) and markets to sell manufactured goods (like cloth)
• The British government wanted to expand its power overseas so it could protect its trading interests, especially against rival European powers like France and Spain
• Some saw this as an opportunity to improve their own lives by moving abroad and starting a new life in one of the colonies
• Some historians argue that Britain expanded its empire simply because it wanted to - it enjoyed being powerful and influential on the global stage