The British Empire - what kind of state is this? This is a power that included Great Britain and numerous colonies. The most extensive empire of all that has ever existed on our planet. In the old days, the territory of the British Empire occupied one quarter of the entire earth's land. True, almost a hundred years have passed since then.
When did the British Empire begin? Defining a time frame is not easy. We can say that it arose during the time of Elizabeth I, who ruled in the second half of the 16th century. It was then that England acquired an excellent navy, which allowed her to turn into the "mistress of the seas." Yet the real history of the British Empire begins with the appearance of the first English settlement in the New World.
What allowed this power to become the largest in the world? First of all colonization. In addition, the plantation economy and, alas, the slave trade were actively developing in the British Empire. For two centuries, these factors were the most important in the country's economy. Nevertheless, England became the state thatfirst opposed the slave trade. So, let's take a closer look at the most important events in the history of the British Empire. Let's start with the first colonial conquests.
Challenge Spain
Christopher Columbus, as you know, for a long time persuaded the monarchs to equip the expedition. He dreamed of reaching the countries of the East, but he met with support only from Queen Isabella of Castile. So the Spaniards became pioneers in the development of America, who immediately subjugated vast territories. The British Empire later became the most powerful. However, she did not immediately enter the struggle for the colonies.
In the second half of the 16th century, the crown of the British Empire belonged to Elizabeth I. It was during the years of her reign that the state acquired a powerful fleet capable of challenging Spain and Portugal. But for the time being, colonies could only be dreamed of. The question was not so much in technical capabilities as in legal aspects. Portugal and Spain divided the undiscovered lands at the end of the 15th century, drawing a line from south to north across the Atlantic. Closer to the 16th century, the monopoly of these states finally began to cause grumbling.
An important step in the formation of the British Empire was the so-called Moscow campaign. Captain Richard Chancellor received an audience with Ivan the Terrible. The result of this meeting was the permission of the tsar to trade with English merchants in Russia. It was in those terrible times when the crown of the British Empire belonged to a Catholic woman, who, due to her energetic struggle against heretics, received the nickname "Bloody". We are talking about Mary, the eldest daughter of HenryVIII.
England tried to reach the coast of China, but these attempts did not lead to anything. However, cooperation with the Russian tsars made it possible to develop new trade routes to Bukhara and Persia, which brought considerable dividends. However, despite the development of trade, America was of considerable interest to the British.
English pirates
How did the British Empire begin the development of the New World? The origin of English colonization took place according to an interesting scheme. The subjects of the British Empire initially wanted only to establish trade relations with America. But the Spanish queen did not allow them. The English navigators were upset, but not at a loss. They retrained as smugglers, and then as pirates.
Since 1587, the Queen of England supported the ambitious aspirations of her subjects at the official level. Each of the pirates was given a certificate of permission for sea robbery against representatives of hostile states. By the way, pirates with a special document were called privateers. A pirate is a more general concept. A privateer is someone who has combined a career in the Royal Navy with piracy. Got some great shots. Among the pirate sailors were Francis Drake, John Davis, Martin Frobisher - people who are devoted to many pages in the annals of navigation.
First Colony
Piracy is piracy, but the British Empire needed its own colonies. Why should the rich, vast lands of the New Worldget the Spaniards? This question finally matured by the end of the 17th century. The founder of the first colony was Sir W alter Raleigh - philosopher, historian, poet, favorite of the queen. His brother became the leader of the expedition in 1583. Sir Raleigh himself remained in London. As a result of the storm, one of the ships was wrecked. However, Gilbert, the head of the English expedition, managed to get to the coast and a large fishing settlement (now the Canadian city of St. John). Here he saw the waving flags of various states. Gilbert promptly erected a banner of the British Empire, confiscated the catch, and passed several dubious laws. However, things weren't going well for him. The navigators began to grumble and complain about the terrible climate. Some weighed anchor.
Gilbert decided to return to England. However, as a result of another storm, his frigate sank. Sir Raleigh mourned his brother, and then began to prepare for a new expedition. Finally, the British managed to get their way. They reached the shores of the New World, that part of it where there were no Spaniards yet.
Here was a wonderful climate, fertile soil. And most importantly, very nice and hospitable natives. Sir Raleigh decided to name this colony Virginia. However, another name has taken root - Roanoke (the territory of the northern part of the state of Carolina). The outbreak of war between the British Empire and Spain upset the colonial plans. In addition, there was an almost mystical story that testified that the natives were not so hospitable. 15 settlers are missing. The bones of one of them were found near the hut of an aborigine.
English slave trade
In 1664, the province of New Amsterdam, later renamed New York, became part of the British Empire. The Pennsylvania Colony was founded in 1681. The British began to master such a profitable business as the sale of slaves around the 70s of the 17th century. The Royal African Company received the monopoly right to this type of activity. Slavery was at the heart of the economy of the British Empire.
Asia
In the 16th century, trading companies were founded that exported spices from India. The first belonged to Holland, the second to the British Empire. Close contacts between Amsterdam and London and their intense competition led to a serious conflict. However, as a result, it was the British Empire in India that was firmly and permanently entrenched. However, in the 17th century, Holland still occupied a strong position in the Asian colonies. At the beginning of the 18th century, the British Empire managed to overtake the Netherlands in terms of economic development.
France and England
In 1688, a treaty was concluded between Holland and the British Empire. The war that began that same year made England a strong colonial power. At the very beginning of the 18th century, a war began against France and Spain, which resulted in the Utrecht Peace Treaty. The British Empire expanded. After the conclusion of the peace treaty, she received Arcadia and Newfoundland. From Spain, which lost most of its possessions, she got Menorca and Gibr altar. The latter at the beginning of the 18th century became a powerful naval base, which allowedThe British Empire control the exit to the Atlantic from the Mediterranean Sea.
American Revolutionary War
Since 1775, the colonists have fought hard for their independence. Ultimately, the British Empire had no choice but to recognize the States as an independent state. During the war, the Americans attempted to invade British Canada. However, due to the lack of support from the French-speaking colonists, they failed to achieve their goals. Historians perceive the loss of strategically important territories in the New World by the British as the boundary between the first and second periods in the history of the British Empire. The second stage lasted until 1945. Then began the period of decolonization of the Empire.
Why India was called the pearl of the British Empire
Who owns this metaphor is not exactly known. There is a version that this phrase was first uttered by the British politician Benjamin Disraeli in the 19th century. India, without a doubt, was the richest English colony. Many natural resources were concentrated here, which were highly valued all over the world: silk, cotton, precious metals, tea, grain, spices. However, India did not generate income only due to the abundance of natural resources. It also had cheap labor.
Thirteen Colonies
What does this term mean? These are colonies of the British Empire in North America. In 1776, they signed the Declaration of Independence, that is, they did not recognize the authority of Great Britain. This event was preceded by the War forindependence. List of colonies:
- Massachusetts Bay.
- Province of New Hampshire.
- Connecticut Colony.
- Rhode Island Colony.
- Province of New Jersey.
- New York Province.
- Province of Pennsylvania.
- Colony and Dominion of Virginia.
- Province of Maryland.
- Delaware Colony.
- The Colony of Virginia.
- Province of South Carolina.
- Province of North Carolina.
- Province of Georgia.
Abolition of slavery
At the time when the debate about the abolition of serfdom was just beginning in Russia, the fight against the slave trade was already in full swing in the British Empire. In 1807, a ban was issued on the export of African slaves. Eight years later, a congress was held in Vienna, during which England proposed to impose a final ban on the slave trade as a form of business. And soon the International Maritime Organization was established, the purpose of which was to prosecute violators.
At the Congress of Vienna it was only about the export of African slaves. That is, within the state, everyone also continued to exploit free labor. In 1823, an anti-slavery society was formed. Ten years later, a law came into force that banned not only the slave trade, but also slavery in all its manifestations.
East India Company
In the policy of the British Empire, the main goal for a long time was to hold possessions in India. As already mentioned, the richest resources were concentrated here. The East India Company was the main instrument of expansion in the 19th century.century. And in the thirties, she developed the business of exporting opium to China. After the Chinese authorities confiscated several thousand cases of the hard drug, the British Empire launched a campaign known in history as the "First Opium War".
In 1857, a mercenary rebellion took place in India. Around this time, the East India Company was liquidated. At the end of the 19th century, India was gripped by famine caused by crop failures and the unsuccessful regulation of trade duties. About 15 million people died.
XX century
At the beginning of the century, one of the largest military states was Germany, which the British regarded as a dangerous enemy. That is why the British Empire had to go for rapprochement with Russia and France. During the First World War, England managed to consolidate its status in Cyprus, Palestine, and some regions of Cameroon.
Between the First and Second World Wars, the British economy was strengthened by exports. Some threat was represented by the States, Japan. In addition, revolutionary movements in Ireland and India developed during this period.
England had to choose between an alliance with the US or Japan. Initially, the choice was made in favor of Japan. In 1922, the Washington Naval Agreement was signed. However, in the thirties, militarists came to power in Japan, and therefore friendly relations with this state had to be terminated.
Great Britain played an important role in World War II. AfterFrance was occupied, the empire was formally left alone against Nazi Germany and its allies. This continued until 1941, when the Soviet Union entered the war.
The collapse of the British Empire
It was a long process that began in 1945. The British Empire was one of the winners in World War II. Nevertheless, the consequences of this grandiose armed conflict were horrific for her. Europe was under the influence of two states - the USSR and the USA. The British Empire narrowly escaped bankruptcy. Its complete collapse as a world power was publicly demonstrated by the Suez Crisis.
Most of the British colonies were located in the new territories, which were leased in 1898. The lease term was 99 years. The British government made unsuccessful attempts to maintain power in these lands. Yet in 1997 one of the world's greatest empires was gone.
