Great Britain

• The rise of the Empire

  • Technological advance
  • slave trade was abolished—> however, slavery in Britain continued
  • wanted possessions in North America at the beginning of 17th Century—> these possessions were lost after the foundation of the USA—> britains focus went to other parts of the world
  • reasons for expansion: - scientific curiosity (wanted to explore other places) - spread of Religion - strategic security - money
• The decline of the Empire

  • Empire denied others independence
  • after 2 WWs —> Britain was exhausted & bankrupt
  • one comparatively small island (GB) could not rule large parts of the world alone
  • Colonies turned out to be a burden
  • britons cared more abt basic needs (food, work, homes) —> empire had no support from their own people
  • independence movements
  • indian soldiers helped Britain in both wars—> extent of Britain‘s dependence on India for Defence on its empire
  • Britain increasingly lost its status as a global superpower
• British took advantage of the divisions in India back then
• British became a political and military power in India
• British East India Company (Trading company) represented Britain in India
• British pitted the Indian rulers against each other to secure control over minerals and trade routes
• Britain increasingly ruled much of India with and through the Indian rulers
• In 1858, India rebelled against British dominance
• Local princes were sent to be educated in England and every Indian ruler was assigned British advisers to "Anglicize" them, manipulate and reduce their power
• India became the Empire's most important colony and was seen as the "jewel in the crown"
• the rise of the empire

  • britain enlarged its empire and boosted its economy
  • by 1920: Australia, new zealand, burma, parts of china, large parts of africa, the middle east and carribean were part of the empire
  • policies suited british economic interests -> were never made for the benefit of the colonized
• Moral justification (Wie das british empire gerechtfertigt wurde)

  • Assumption of racial superiority over brutes and savages
  • „We rule more of the world than any other nation, therefore we must be superior to any other nation“
  • “We are the finest race in the world and the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race“
• The legacy of the Empire within Britain

  • „finding a role“ has been the main task of the British government for the last sixty years
  • imperial habit seems to remain a very hard one to break (noticeable in the way politicians speak)
• The legacy of the Empire outside Britain

  • Conventions of international trade and law
  • language of diplomacy, science and travel
  • union jack in th flags of Fiji, Tuvalu, New Zealand
  • architecture: schools, solid government buildings, ornate railway stations,..