British+Empire

=The British Empire=

The British Empire was, for over a century, the greatest power on earth. Though not actually a nation, but a group of colonies, dominions, protectorates, mandates and realms administered in part or fully by HM Government in London, the British Empire was mainly created as a result of exploration and imperialism from the 1500s until the years after WWII. 2.Imperial Century 3. World War 1 4. World ||
 * 1.Beginnings

**Beginnings**
The foundations of the British Empire were laid far before Scotland was part of what we now know as the United Kingdom. England first attempted colonization with the idea of establishing plantations in Ireland. From British Imperialism's origins, the idea was evidently one of profit for mother England. When James I of Scotland ascended to the British throne after the death of Elizabeth I, the first attempts at long-distance colonization were introduced and quite soon, England had created moderately successful colonies in the Caribbean and the East coast of North America (The Thirteen Colonies). In 1670, Charles II signed a charter that created The Hudson's Bay Company which was given a monopoly on the fur trade in Rupert's Land and was subject to many attacks by the French. Also created was the East India Company, which governed trade with the Mughal Empire (India).

The Act of Union 1707 formally combined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into Great Britain.

Australia was made a penal colony shortly after its discovery in 1770 by Captain James Cook. He also discovered New Zealand and claimed the North and South Islands for the Crown in 1769 and 1770.

During the American Revolution (1775), the British Empire lost possession of the Thirteen colonies after its defeat at the hands of George Washington. Many defeated loyalists fled to what is now Canada and at this point in history, Great Britain began contemplating the prospect of self-government of the colonies to avoid future wars. This allowed Canada to be created in 1867, as well as its precursor colonies of upper and lower Canada.

Amidst the French revolutions, Napoleon Bonaparte came to power and his armies swept Europe. He threatened the invasion of Europe, but the UK maintained power. The Franco-Spanish fleet was utterly defeated by a smaller British armada at Trafalgar in 1805, under the command of Lord Nelson. From the HMS Victory he flew the famous semaphore flags that read, "England Expects that Every Man Do His Duty." After several defeats and a final return, Napoleon was defeated once and for all by Field Marshal His Grace Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. The defeat of Napoleon marked the beginning of an era where //Britannia could really rule.//

"Imperial Century"


Britain became the most powerful force on both land and the seven seas. This began Britain's policy of "splendid isolation", as the world's most powerful country needed no allies. While formally controlling a territory in nearly every time zone, Britain also informally controlled the economies of Argentina, Siam and China, among others. In 1857, the English East India Company failed at stopping the Sepoy Mutiny and control was handed to the crown, who were able to crush the rebellion. Queen Victoria was made Empress of India.

Britain had also acquired South Africa after the Dutch were forced to withdraw their forces to defend against French invasion. The increasing amount of British immigration forced the native Afrikaners and Boers further and further north, vexing them greatly. They established independent states, but the tension between the Afrikaners and the British eventually led to the Boer Wars. This was one of the first times Britain called on its colonies to fight in a war not their own.

By 1882, the British had gained control of the Suez Canal, meaning that they ruled from "Cairo To Cape Town". This strategic water way not only allowed them to increase trade with India, but they now controlled both entrances to the Mediterranean.

As the years drew closer to the 20th century, technological advances further allowed Britain to maintain superiority on a global scale. The steam ship powered their 1st Rate Navy, and the "All Red Line" was a telegraph line that connected the entire empire. Not only did the British have better mobility than any other nation, but now they could communicate around the entire globe.

Throughout the 19th century, Britain became a champion for autonomy in it's white colonies, beginning with the 1839 Durham Report, and the Act of Union 1840, which combined the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada. The British North America Act, 1867, marked the creation of the Dominion of Canada, and our Confederation as a country. In the years to come, Britain would also grant autonomy to it's Oceanic Colonies in Australia and New Zealand, in 1901.

Britain's place as more powerful than the rest of the world combined was now being threatened by Germany. The British feared they would no longer be able to hold all of their colonies throughout the world if they were attacked at home.

World War I
The invasion of neutral Belgium brought Britain into the First World War. At this time every autonomous colony was actually a //dominion//. This meant these dominions could rule themselves in their own right, but all foreign relations were ministered by HM Government in London. Thus, when the UK declared war, so to did all the dominions. From the non-dominion colonies came hundred's of thousands of volunteers in the Caribbean, India, and Africa. Fighting throughout the war brought about further independence for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Canada's valiant efforts at Vimy Ridge set the stage for Canada's full-blown self-government, and the ANZAC Forces at Gallipoli earned Australia and New Zealand respect in a new light. Towards the end of the war, the colonial forces' commands were even handed over to officer's of their respective nationality, i.e., Canadian officers commanding Canadian brigades.

At the end of the war, with Allied Victory, the victors were given the German Colonies and areas of the former Ottoman Empire as //League of Nations Mandates//. Britain gained control of Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq, parts of Cameroon and Togo, and Tanganyika. Some of Britain's Dominions were even given mandates of their own: Australia got German New Guinea (Now Papua New Guinea), New Zealand got Western Samoa, and The Union of South Africa acquired South-West Africa (now Namibia). The acquisition of these mandates meant that the British Empire was now at its greatest land area, with the addition of another 1.8 million square miles and 13 million new inhabitants.

The years between WWI and WWII brought about a complete reassessment of the state of the Empire. It was known that with reckless governments taking hold in Germany and Japan, the Empire could not survive a simultaneous attack from both powers. To consolidate power, further autonomy was granted to the Dominions who were now known as "autonomous communities within the British Empire." The Commonwealth of Nations was set up on this idea; former possessions of Britain linked together by their past connection.

During the inter-war period, Ireland's Irish Republican Army began to fight British Control violently, and over time Ireland gained more and more independence until becoming the Republic of Ireland (not linked in anyway to the crown) in 1949.

Similar discontent was evident in India, where Indians sought to have their own country once more.

World War II
The declaration of war against Nazi Germany brought the Crown Colonies and India immediately into war, but the dominions, in acts of their true autonomy declared war only days later. After the fall of France, Britain was left on its own to fight Germany–a fight that without help from the rest of the Empire it would have surely lost. In December, 1941 when Japan entered the war with lightening strikes across the Pacific, many of Britain's formerly strong and prestigious colonies fell (including Singapore, which was hailed as an impregnable fortress). These defeats made Britain suffer loss of much respect as an imperial power.

The USA's entrance into the war did ensure the future safety of the Empire, but still with heavy losses including pacific territories mentioned above. Britain's inability to defend the Pacific coerced Australia and New Zealand to gain more serious relations with the United States, who were more capable of defending them. World War II brought about the decline of the British Empire.

Decline
From the end of the second world war to the 1997 transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong, every British Possession that wanted autonomy was granted so, and we are left with the current bound of British influence we have today. Risk of civil war in India between Hindus and Muslims made for the necessity of two states, Pakistan and India. Similar religious problems were seen in the British Mandate of the Palestine, where British control led to mass immigration of Jews to their ancient homeland. Out of this conflict, the State of Israel was created. After the majority of all territories had been transferred away, Argentina, acting on a claim dating back to the Spanish Empire, invaded the Falkland Islands. Britain immediately led a successful war and its ability to defend its territories was again recognized. The Argentinians will not screw with us again. The same year (1982), Canada repatriated its constitution, having earlier severed Britain's ability to create any laws for Canada (under the Statute of Westminster, which also took effect in Australia and New Zealand). The transfer of Hong Kong from Britain to China marked what many call the End of the Empire. Interestingly though, the new Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was not to take any of mainland China's communist policies. Since the handover, very little has changed in Hong Kong. This, along with evidence left in every former possession, shows the influence Britain has had on the entire globe. media type="youtube" key="dVZzRY0X6_g" height="349" width="425" Go to 6:05 for the symbolic transfer of power.