1.1.2
Key Questions About Empires
Questions about the British Empire
Questions about the British Empire
When evaluating the British Empire, you will stumble upon ethical, political, and economic territory. These lenses could be helpful when evaluating the British Empire.
The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
- The Golden Rule is an ethical principle included in many religions. It says 'treat others how you wish to be treated'.
- By inverting the Golden Rule, you get the Silver Rule: 'don't treat others how you wouldn't want to be treated'.
Free trade
Free trade
- A lot of Britain's economic policy was based on Adam Smith's (1776) work on free trade and free markets.
- However, Britain granted monopolies to chartered companies. Monopolies are the opposite of the free market competition that Smith supported.
- Britain also imposed higher tariffs on foreign goods vs British goods, which also violates the principle of free trade.
Democracy
Democracy
- Ideologically, Western countries talk about democracy a lot.
- The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines self-determination as "free choice of one's own acts or states without external compulsion" and democracy as "a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation".
- Although Britain supported democracy at home when Mossadegh was elected in Iran he was overthrown by a British-supported coup.
Imperialism
Imperialism
- Imperialism is the political ideology that promotes the gaining of foreign territories to increase the global economic and political control of a particular state.
- An imperialist state seeks to form an Empire.
Nationalism
Nationalism
- Nkrumah of Kenya, Nasser of Egypt, and Nehru & Gandhi are often described as nationalism leaders.
- Nationalism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups".
- Although nationalism can have negative connotations, British actions to create and maintain an Empire were nationalistic - aiming to support British culture and interests.
Transition to independence
Transition to independence
- After the British Empire began to collapse, ensuring the peaceful transitions happened was a difficult task.
- In Malaya, a 12-year civil war broke after a move towards independence began.
- Uganda became independent in 1962. Idi Amin seized power in Uganda in 1971 in a military coup.
- Nigeria became independent in 1960. In 1966, there were two coups. There were coups in 1975 and 1976, and in 1983 and 1985.
- The transition to independence was not always clean-cut, making the transition more difficult.
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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