British Empire Geographical History Clasa (1)

8/6/2019 British Empire Geographical History Clasa (1)

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1651 The English Parliament passes the Navigation Act, which states imports

into English harbors and colonies could only be carried on English vessels or

ships of the producing company.

1655 England conquers the Spanish colony of Jamaica and it is the first

English colony taken by force.

1664 English presence increases along North America's East Coast, and in

1664 New Amsterdam was seized from the Netherlands and renamed New

York.

1670 The Hudson's Bay Company is established and holds a monopoly over

trade of the region and streams flowing into Hudson Bay in Canada. It is also

the year England and Spain sign the "Treaty of Madrid," and Spain

acknowledges English possessions in the Caribbean.

1672 The Royal Africa Company is formed and imports large numbers of

African slaves to the Caribbean.

1688 Continued war with France leads to further English expansion, and

colonies in New England grow rapidly with the Hudson's Bay Company

actively participating in the fur trade.

1700s Public interest in overseas affairs fades, and during his long premiership

Sir Robert Walpole adopts a policy of laissez-faire, in which the governmentdoes not interfere in economic affairs. A movement of free trade ensues.

Despite this, sugar becomes the main import into Britain, fuelling the West

Indian plantation economy, and also brings 70,000 slaves annually across the

Atlantic.

1701-1714 During the War of the Spanish Succession, England (by now Great

Britain) and its allies fought France and Spain, and British forces captured

Acadia and Newfoundland, as well as the Spanish Islands of Gibraltar and

Minorca giving Britain territorial presence in the Mediterranean Sea. The

Peace of Utrecht (1713) resolved the war and affirmed the British Empire'svictory.

1707 Social instability in India; Britain and France fight for power during the

Carnatic Wars which focused on the Carnatic region on the east coast of South

India.


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1756-1763 = the Seven Year's War are fought over control of Germany,

colonial North American and India. Britain makes enormous imperial gains

during the war, largely at the expense of France. In North America, conflict is

known as the French and Indian War, which is described as the harbinger of

the Seven Year's War and the fight for the greater empire - Britain attacked

French possessions in North America and in 1759 Quebec was captured,

ending the presence of France in Canada. The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven

Year's War and the French and Indian War, and as a result Britain gives

Guadeloupe and Martinique back to France but retains control of Canada.

The treaty confirms British dominance in India and North America.

1765 The British government wants to tap into American revenues and

therefore increases taxes through the Stamp Act, and colonists see this as a

violation of their rights so the act is repealed. However, other taxes are

imposed to compensate, which results in riots by colonies. In 1776, the UnitedContinental Congress establishes the Declaration of Independence and

eventually Britain loses its American colonies in 1783.

1769 The French East India Company loses France's financial support and the

British East India Company gains commercial monopoly. This year also

marks Europe's Industrial Revolution.

1783 Britain loses American colonies but its imperial influence increases

elsewhere in the world and its economy is hugely bolstered by the advent of

the Industrial Revolution. 1785 In an attempt to consolidate control over itsterritory in India and Canada, the India Act is established and subjects the

East India Company to board control, and the administration of India is

placed into the hands of professional civil service.

1791 The Canada Act is established in an attempt to ease tensions between the

French and British by separating the region into primarily English Upper

Canada and French Lower Canada.

1799-1815 Britain's Mediterranean position and its route to the East were

secured during the Napoleonic Wars, largely because of the naval prowess of

British Admiral Horatio Nelson. Nelson's victories during the Battle of the

Nile, which resulted in British control of the entire Mediterranean, and the

Battle of Trafalgar, which prevented French fleets from entering Italy,

secured British naval superiority for much of the 19th century. The British

Empire remains a stronghold in Canada, South Africa, India and other Asian

regions.


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1801 The United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland is officially

formed, including regions of Great Britain, Ireland and Scotland.

1800s-1900s the second British Empire = India, Canada and Australia. By this

time it controls roughly 20 per cent of the world's territory and some 400

million people, but growing nationalism among colonies eventually weakens

the empire. In 1824, Britain occupies Burma (Myanmar) to protect its

interests in India, and the empire also begins to grant what's known as

"responsible self-government." In 1867, Canada confederates, which allowed

Britain to withdraw its military presence in the country but retain control of

foreign affairs and external defense.

1804 Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, or Napoleon III, becomes Emperor of France

by popular acclaim, and sets out to build a great empire in an attempt to

conquer the world.

1854 British and French forces join the Ottoman Empire against Russia in the

Crimean War (1853-1856), which broke out due to the so-called Eastern

Question and the region of the frail Ottoman Empire (Turkey).

1858 Britain assumes direct authority of India through the British East India

Company.

1869 The completion of the Suez Canal facilitates trade with India, leading to

the British occupation of Egypt.

1871 Prussian victory over France marks the rise of the German Empire.

1899-1902 The British defeat the Dutch Boers of the Transvaal and the

Orange Free State in southern Africa, the strongest opponents to British

expansion. However, the British government grants South Africa self-

government in 1907, which paves the way for the Union of South Africa in

1910.

1914-1918 During World War I the British Empire remains largely united,though many colonies express desire for independence. For example, the

Easter Rebellion in Ireland on April 24, 1916, reflects this discontent by Irish

nationalists.

1919 The Treat of Versailles, which essentially ends the First World War I,

gives Britain most of the German Empire in Africa, while the collapse of the


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Ottoman Empire in the Middle East had led to the British acquisition of

Palestine and Iraq in the previous year. After the war, British government

grants independence or constitutional autonomy for many of its colonies.

1931 The Statute of Westminster eliminates control by the British Parliament

over dominion governments, and also establishes the British Commonwealth

of Nations (later the Commonwealth of Nations) as an association of equal and

independent states united by common allegiance to the British Crown.

1939-1945 Japan conquers some British possessions such as Hong Kong and

Burma during the Second World War. In 1941, British Prime Minister

Winston Churchill joins with United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt in

signing the Atlantic Charter, which declares the right of self-determination for

all countries. Afterward, many colonies gain independence such as India and

Pakistan in 1947 and Ceylon, Burma and Palestine in 1948. Many Africannations gain independence swiftly during the 1950s and 1960s.

1949 = the Republic of Ireland completely disavows itself from the British

Crown and the Commonwealth of Nations.

1997 Hong Kong remains under British control until July 1, 1997, when it is

returned to the People's Republic of China and is now officially known as the

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Today there are 54 nations included in the Commonwealth.


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GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE


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The North American colonies: the First British Empire

The 13 American colonies attracted religious emigrees, farmers andmerchants from the British Isles. They would be augmented by Europeans and

would also start the importation of slaves from Africa. Together, these

colonists would build one of the most commercially successful realms in the

British Empire.

The War of Independence was a complicated affair caused by the interests of

the colonisers being pitted against the interests of the Imperial government;

generally, over land and money. A long, drawn-out campaign, with French

and Spanish interventions, saw the eventual humiliation of the Imperial

government as it was forced to relinquish control over these colonies. The

financial and diplomatic costs of this disaster would curb any British interest

for Imperial endeavours for years to come.

The coast of Canada was initially colonised in much the same way as the 13

American colonies, but with the added complication of the presence of the

French. The War of Independence shaped Canada in that it acted as a safe

haven for loyalists fleeing from the rest of the Americas. This massive influx of

British subjects tilted the delicate balance with the French and helped to turn

Canada into a most loyal colony.


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South America

The British didn't need to exert formal control over the countries and peoplesof this continent. The Monroe doctrine imposed by America, served British

interests quite well enough.

The Monroe Doctrine: - United States policy introduced in 1823, by President

James Monroe which said that further efforts by European governments to

colonize land or interfere with states in the Americas would be viewed by the

United States as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention. It became a

defining moment in the foreign policy of the US. and one of its longest-

standing tenets, invoked by U.S. presidents.


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Africa

The continent of Africa provided some of the earliest and many of the latest

colonies of Empire. The earliest colonies, on the West Coast of Africa, were a

legacy of the fabulous fortunes that could be made out of the Slave Trade in

that area. Gold and ivory were other lures for early traders of all European

countries. Fortunately for many Africans the climate and naturally occurring

diseases meant that most Europeans found it difficult to live in the equatorial

areas of Africa. Malaria was the chief barrier to early colonization.

Advances in technology eventually provided Europeans with the means to

colonise Africa at a time of peculiarly intense competition between the

European powers. Hence, the scramble for Africa provided the British Empire

with a substantial increase in her African territories. The already impressiveAfrican presence was further added to with the defeat of Germany in the

Great War and the confiscation of her colonies.

The Dark Continent held intense fascination for many of the British public.

Missionaries and explorers brought back stories and tales of wonderful beasts,

colourful peoples and incredible geography. It is not hard to see why

Victorians were so keen on expansion of Empire into this the most mysterious

of continents.


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Asia

Asia provided one of the first commercial reasons for establishing and

maintaining an Imperial presence through the hugely rewarding spice trade.

From the sixteenth century, European ships could make fortunes carrying

exotic foodstuffs from the Orient back to the cities and peoples of Europe. A

combination of European state rivalry and technical expertise over the local

populations made the extension of Imperial control possible and commercially

desirable. The Dutch, Spanish, French and Portuguese all vied with Britain for

access to these rich commodities that could often fetch their weight in silver

and gold back in the European market.

Over time, increased size and speed of ships reduced the value of these

products as supply approached the demand for the spices. However, Asia

maintained its commercial viability by the existence of the enormous economicpowerhouses of both China and India. Textiles, Tea and Opium would provide

economic incentives for trade throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth and even

up to the twentieth century. Control over the sources of these commodities and

naval bases to protect the shipping lanes meant that Imperial control was

taken as economically and strategically necessary. Asia was always the most

commercially successful area of Imperial endeavor.


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South East Asia

South East Asia was the location of the fabled Spice Islands. These

islands attracted European sailors and adventurers since the

Elizabethan era for fame and fortune. Consequently, South East Asia

provided plenty of competition between the European powers as the

Dutch, Portuguese and British fought one another for commercial

advantage in the area.

Even when the spice market grew less important, the region still

maintained its commercial and strategic importance by being the main

trade route to the highly profitable Chinese markets. The busy sea lanes

would also attract the more unsavoury attention of pirates and

brigands; a reputation which the region has still not managed to shake

off to this day.

The colourful peoples and places of this region, the maritime traditions

of the area and the exotic climes all combined to make this area into one

of the wilder and more fascinating areas of the Empire.


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Pacific

Sheer distance did not prevent the British from establishing a strong presence

in the Pacific region. The seafaring nation appreciated the strategic

importance of islands and bases to re-supply her ships in. The combination of

vast distances, isolation from Europe and the strength of the Royal Navy

meant that Britain was in a prime position to establish dominance in the

region.

The name of Captain Cook is synonymous with British history in this region.

His cartographic endeavours filled in some of the last missing pieces of the

world map jigsaw puzzle. The beautiful islands and lands that he described

would spur intrepid explorers and Christian missionaries to the region. These

two groups of British society were often the shock troops of Imperial advance;

disrupting local societies through challenging local customs and authorityfigures and dazzling locals with the products of Industrial Europe. The

isolation of the pacific islands also meant that local peoples could offer little or

no resistance to even a single British ship.

The remoteness and isolation of Australia actually contributed to her Imperial

usefulness, by providing a suitable location to dump Britain's undesirables in.

The pleasant climate of New Zealand was to attract a different class of British

immigrant throughout the nineteenth century. Together, these two colonies

would transform themselves into two of the most successful of Britain's

colonies.


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The Commonwealth of Nations (the Commonwealth or the British

Commonwealth)

- Intergovernmental organization of fifty-three independent member states.

Most of them were formerly parts of the British Empire. They co-operate

within a framework of common values and goals: promotion of democracy,

humanitarian rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty,

egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism, world peace.

A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the sixteen sovereign states within the

Commonwealth of Nations that recognize Elisabeth II as their respective

monarch.These countries are independent kingdoms, and the sovereign is

separately monarch of each state; thus, the Commonwealth Realms are in

personal union with one another.

Current Commonwealth RealmsFlag Country

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

The Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Grenada

Jamaica

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Saint Kits and NevisSaint Lucia

Saint Vincent

Solomon Islands

Tuvalu
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Tuvalu.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-the-Solomon-Islands.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Saint-Lucia.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Papua-New-Guinea.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-New-Zealand.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Jamaica.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Grenada.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Canada.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Belize.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Barbados.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-the-Bahamas.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Australia.svghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-Antigua-and-Barbuda.svg


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United Kingdom

Commonwealth Realms Map
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Commonwealth_Realms_map.pnghttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Flag-of-the-United-Kingdom.svg

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British Empire Geographical History Clasa (1)