![]() ![]() The British Empire and Indigenous Peoples She was even Empress of India! Here she is pictured on a Canadian postage stamp during her reign. The British Empire was larger and more powerful than ever…Īs Queen of Great Britain, Queen Victoria was also Queen of all the countries in the British Empire. By the early 1900s, huge parts of Africa – including Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and large areas of southern Africa – all came under British rule. Colonies were founded in parts of Australia, and later Trinidad and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Singapore and Hong Kong ( China) as well as other parts of Asia.įrom 1881 to 1902, Britain competed with other European empire-builders in what became known as the ‘ Scramble for Africa’. This marked the end of what is now called the ‘ First British Empire’.Īlthough Britain had lost a huge part of its North American territories, it claimed new lands in the late 18th Century and early 19th Century, forming the ‘ Second British Empire‘. With the help of Spain, France and the Netherlands, they won the war, and gained independence, becoming the United States of America. #Kingdom vs kingdom new lands free#Feeling ‘American’ rather than ‘British’, and resentful of sending money back to Britain, 13 colonies in North America united and fought to be free from British rule. The years 1775-1783 were a turning point in British history, as the nation lost a huge part of its empire in the American War of Independence. This company became so powerful, it allowed England to control of the trade of luxury goods like spices, cotton, silk and tea from India and China, and it even influenced politics. Trading settlements were also created in India by a company called the East India Company. Here, the climate was perfect for growing crops like sugar and tobacco, so they set up farms known as plantations. Over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries, England gained major colonies in North America and further south in the West Indies, today known as the Caribbean Islands. This sometimes meant fighting with other European nations to take over their colonies. Over time, the English would claim more and more territories. It wasn’t until 1607 that Captain John Smith founded the first permanent English colony at Jamestown in Virginia. Creating colonies was no easy task for the English! In 1585, the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh tried and failed to build an English settlement at a place called Roanoke in Virginia. The first English colonies were in North America, at the time known as the ‘ New World‘. Other European countries were also exploring the world, discovering new lands and building empires, too – the race was on, and England did not want to be left behind… *It wasn’t until 1707 that Scotland joined with England and Wales to become The Kingdom of Great Britain. The colonies also offered money-making opportunities for wealthy Englishmen and provided England’s poor and unemployed with new places to live and new jobs.īut they weren’t alone. These colonies would provide England with valuable materials, like metals, sugar and tobacco, which they could also sell to other countries. The 16th Century is often referred to as the ‘ Age of Discovery‘ – new thinking about the world and better shipbuilding led to more exploration and the discovery of new lands.Įngland, in what is now Britain, wanted more land overseas where it could build new communities, known as colonies. ![]() This was no different with the British Empire… What was the British Empire? Throughout history, empire builders have introduced new people, practices and rules to their ‘new’ lands and used its resources for their own gain, at the expense of the indigenous people – the people that inhabited the land first. For example, the Roman Empire (1st – 5th Centuries A.D.) stretched all the way from Britain to Egypt. Those lands can be close by or even thousands of miles away. Empires are built by countries that wish to control lands outside of their borders. What is an empire?Įmpire is a term used to describe a group of territories ruled by one single ruler or state. This brought huge changes to societies, industries, cultures and the lives of people all around the world. ![]() In the 16th Century, Britain began to build its empire – spreading the country’s rule and power beyond its borders through a process called ‘ imperialism‘. Let’s find out more in our British Empire facts… #Kingdom vs kingdom new lands full#And today more than ever, people are recognising, questioning and understanding the full story behind this important part of world history. Spanning over 400 years, historians continue to research and discover new things about the British Empire. ![]()
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