Portal:British Empire

The British Empire Portal The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the largest empire in history and, for a century, was the foremost global power. By 1913, the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23 percent of the world population at the time, and by 1920, it covered 35.5 million km2 (13.7 million sq mi), 24 per cent of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets", as the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories. During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration of the globe, and in the process established large overseas empires. Envious of the great wealth these empires generated, England, France, and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks of their own in the Americas and Asia. A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Netherlands and France left Britain the dominant colonial power in North America. Britain became a major power in the Indian subcontinent after the East India Company's conquest of Mughal Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The American War of Independence resulted in Britain losing some of its oldest and most populous colonies in North America by 1783. While retaining control of British North America (now Canada) and territories in and near the Caribbean in the British West Indies, British colonial expansion turned towards Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. After the defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), Britain emerged as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century and expanded its imperial holdings. It pursued trade concessions in China and Japan, and territory in Southeast Asia. The "Great Game" and "Scramble for Africa" also ensued. The period of relative peace (1815–1914) during which the British Empire became the global hegemon was later described as Pax Britannica (Latin for "British Peace"). Alongside the formal control that Britain exerted over its colonies, its dominance of much of world trade, and of its oceans, meant that it effectively controlled the economies of, and readily enforced its interests in, many regions, such as Asia and Latin America. It also came to dominate the Middle East. Increasing degrees of autonomy were granted to its white settler colonies, some of which were formally reclassified as Dominions by the 1920s. By the start of the 20th century, Germany and the United States had begun to challenge Britain's economic lead. Military, economic and colonial tensions between Britain and Germany were major causes of the First World War, during which Britain relied heavily on its empire. The conflict placed enormous strain on its military, financial, and manpower resources. Although the empire achieved its largest territorial extent immediately after the First World War, Britain was no longer the world's preeminent industrial or military power. In the Second World War, Britain's colonies in East Asia and Southeast Asia were occupied by the Empire of Japan. Despite the final victory of Britain and its allies, the damage to British prestige and the British economy helped accelerate the decline of the empire. India, Britain's most valuable and populous possession, achieved independence in 1947 as part of a larger decolonisation movement, in which Britain granted independence to most territories of the empire. The Suez Crisis of 1956 confirmed Britain's decline as a global power, and the handover of Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997 symbolised for many the end of the British Empire, though fourteen overseas territories that are remnants of the empire remain under British sovereignty. After independence, many former British colonies, along with most of the dominions, joined the Commonwealth of Nations, a free association of independent states. Fifteen of these, including the United Kingdom, retain the same person as monarch, currently King Charles III. (Full article...) Selected article - Coat of arms of King James I. In 1624, the Crown revoked the royal charter earlier granted to the Virginia Company, and assumed direct government of the colony. A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony governed by England, and then Great Britain or the United Kingdom within the English and later British Empire. There was usually a governor to represent the Crown, appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the UK Government, with or without the assistance of a local council. In some cases, this council was split into two: an executive council and a legislative council, and the executive council was similar to the Privy Council that advises the monarch. Members of executive councils were appointed by the governors, and British citizens resident in Crown colonies either had no representation in local government, or limited representation in a lower house. In several Crown colonies, this limited representation grew over time. As the House of Commons of the British Parliament has never included seats for any of the colonies, there was no direct representation in the sovereign government for British subjects or citizens residing in Crown colonies. The administration of Crown colonies changed over time and in the 1800s some became, with a loosening of the power of royal governors, self-governing colonies, within which the sovereign state (the UK Government) delegated legislation for most local internal matters of governance to elected assemblies, with consent of the governor, overseen by the Colonial Office and the Board of Trade and Plantations. The Colonial Office gave way to the Dominion Office for some of these territories in 1925. Elected lower houses had their beginnings in the House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia in 1619 and the House of Assembly of the Parliament of Bermuda in 1620. While initially limited in government even with an elected lower house, over the centuries in some Crown colonies, more independent authority was given. (Full article...) List of selected articles Presidencies and provinces of British India Commonwealth of Nations Pitcairn Islands British Overseas Territories History of Hong Kong (1800s–1930s) Plymouth Colony Flag of Australia God Save the Queen Southern Rhodesia Cape Colony English overseas possessions Rhodesia British Raj British Empire in World War II Territorial evolution of the British Empire Kenya Colony Lagos Colony British Central Africa Protectorate Colonial Nigeria Nyasaland Dominion Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence The empire on which the sun never sets Memorial tablets to the British Empire dead of the First World War Martello tower Rudd Concession Emancipation of the British West Indies Bury the Chains Chilembwe uprising Slavery Abolition Act 1833 Presidencies and provinces of British India Bengal Presidency Selected image King Charles III is the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states. All but two of these countries were formerly part of the British Empire. Read more... Did you know ...that the Singapore Stone (fragment pictured), a sandstone slab bearing an undeciphered 13th century inscription, was blown up by the British in 1843 to make way for a fort? ...that Ethel Benjamin was the first woman in the British Empire to present a legal case in court? Related portals Commonwealth Realm Other former British territories Selected biography - Portrait by Alexander Bassano, 1882 Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days—which was longer than those of any of her predecessors—constituted the Victorian era. It was a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. In 1876, the British Parliament voted to grant her the additional title of Empress of India. Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (the fourth son of King George III), and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. After the deaths of her father and grandfather in 1820, she was raised under close supervision by her mother and her comptroller, John Conroy. She inherited the throne aged 18 after her father's three elder brothers died without surviving legitimate issue. Victoria, a constitutional monarch, attempted privately to influence government policy and ministerial appointments; publicly, she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards of personal morality. (Full article...) List of selected biographies Roger Elliott Richard Clement Moody James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie Alexander Ball Edward VIII Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma Cecil Rhodes Herbert Hope Risley Evolution of the British Empire This Map of the world animates the Empire's rise and fall. Subcategories Category puzzle Select [►] to view subcategories British Empire Scotland and the British Empire British colonisation in Africa British colonization of the Americas British colonial architecture British colonisation of Asia British diaspora Former British colonies United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth realms Currencies of the British Empire Events in the British Empire British Empire Exhibition Expatriates in the British Empire British Empire in fiction Flags of the British Empire Governance of the British Empire Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth History of the British Empire Independence acts in the Parliament of the United Kingdom Internment camps of the British Empire British Empire-related lists Medicine in the British Empire Military of the British Empire British colonisation of Oceania Opposition to the British Empire Orders, decorations, and medals of the British Empire British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies People from the British Empire Religion in the British Empire Settlement schemes in the British Empire Slavery in the British Empire British Empire stubs Works about the British Empire WikiProjects History Former countries Colonialism British Empire British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations Legend Current territory  ·   Former territory * now a Commonwealth realm  ·   now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations Europe 18th century 1708–1757  Menorca since 1713  Gibraltar 1782–1802  Menorca 19th century 1800–1964  Malta 1807–1890  Heligoland 1809–1864  Ionian Islands 1878–1960  Cyprus 20th century since 1960  Akrotiri and Dhekelia North America 16th century 1583–1907  Newfoundland 17th century 1607–1776  Thirteen Colonies since 1619  Bermuda 1670–1870  Rupert's Land 18th century Canada (British Imperial)    1763–1791  Quebec    1791–1841  Lower Canada    1791–1841  Upper Canada 19th century Canada (British Imperial)    1841–1867  Province of Canada    1849–1866  Vancouver Island    1858–1866  Colony of British Columbia (1858–1866)    1866–1871  Colony of British Columbia (1866–1871)    1859–1870  North-Western Territory    1862–1863  Stickeen Territories *Canada (post-Confederation)    1867–1931  Dominion of Canada1 20th century *Canada (post-Confederation)    1907–1934  Dominion of Newfoundland2 1 In 1931, Canada and other British dominions obtained self-government through the Statute of Westminster. "Dominion" remains Canada's legal title; see Canada's name. 2 Remained a de jure dominion until 1949 (when it became a Canadian province); from 1934 to 1949, Newfoundland was governed by the Commission of Government. Latin America and the Caribbean 17th century 1605–1979  *Saint Lucia 1623–1883  Saint Kitts (*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 1624–1966  *Barbados 1625–1650  Saint Croix 1627–1979  *St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1628–1883  Nevis (*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 1629–1641  St. Andrew and Providence Islands3 since 1632  Montserrat 1632–1860  Antigua (*Antigua & Barbuda) 1643–1860  Bay Islands since 1650  Anguilla 1651–1667  Willoughbyland (Suriname) 1655–1850  Mosquito Coast (protectorate) 1655–1962  *Jamaica since 1666  British Virgin Islands since 1670  Cayman Islands 1670–1973  *Bahamas 1670–1688  St. Andrew and Providence Islands3 1671–1816  Leeward Islands 18th century 1762–1974  *Grenada 1763–1978  Dominica since 1799  Turks and Caicos Islands 19th century 1831–1966  British Guiana (Guyana) 1833–1960  Windward Islands 1833–1960  Leeward Islands 1860–1981  *Antigua and Barbuda 1871–1964  British Honduras (*Belize) 1882–1983  *St. Kitts and Nevis 1889–1962  Trinidad and Tobago 20th century 1958–1962  West Indies Federation 3 Now the San Andrés y Providencia Department of Colombia Africa 18th century 1792–1961  Sierra Leone 1795–1803  Cape Colony 19th century 1806–1910  Cape Colony 1816–1965  Gambia 1856–1910  Natal 1868–1966  Basutoland (Lesotho) 1874–1957  Gold Coast (Ghana) 1882–1922  Egypt 1884–1966  Bechuanaland (Botswana) 1884–1960  British Somaliland 1887–1897  Zululand 1888–1894  Matabeleland 1890–1980  Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) 1890–1962  Uganda 1890–1963  Zanzibar (Tanzania) 1891–1964  Nyasaland (Malawi) 1891–1907  British Central Africa 1893–1968  Swaziland 1895–1920  British East Africa 1899–1956  Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 20th century 1900–1914  Northern Nigeria 1900–1914  Southern Nigeria 1900–1910  Orange River Colony 1906–1954  Nigeria Colony 1910–1931  South Africa 1911–1964  Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) 1914–1954  Nigeria Protectorate 1915–1931  South West Africa (Namibia) 1919–1960  Cameroons (Cameroon) 4 1920–1963  Kenya 1922–1961  Tanganyika (Tanzania) 4 1954–1960  Nigeria since 1965  British Indian Ocean Territory 4 League of Nations mandate Asia 18th century 1757–1947  Bengal (West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh) 1762–1764  Philippines 1786-1826  Penang 1795–1948  Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1796–1965  Maldives 19th century 1819–1826  Singapore 1826–1946  Straits Settlements 1839–1967  Aden Colony 1841–1997  Hong Kong 1841–1941  Kingdom of Sarawak 1848–1946  Labuan 1858–1947  British India (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Burma) 1882–1946  British North Borneo 1885–1946  Unfederated Malay States 1891–1971  Muscat and Oman protectorate 1892–1971  Trucial States protectorate 1895–1946  Federated Malay States 1898–1930  Weihai Garrison 20th century 1918–1961  Kuwait protectorate 1920–1932  Iraq4 1921–1946  Transjordan4 1923–1948  Palestine4 1946–1948  Malayan Union 1946–1963  Sarawak (Malaysia) 1946–1963  North Borneo (Malaysia) 1948–1957  Federation of Malaya (Malaysia) 4 League of Nations mandate Oceania 18th century 1788–1901  New South Wales 1794–1843  Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) 19th century 1803–1901  Van Diemen's Land / Tasmania 1807–1863  Auckland Islands6 1824–1980  New Hebrides (Vanuatu) 1824–1901  Queensland 1829–1901  Swan River Colony / Western Australia 1836–1901  South Australia since 1838  Pitcairn Islands 1840–1907  *Colony of New Zealand 1850–1901  Victoria (Australia) 1874–1970  Fiji5 1877–1976  British Western Pacific Territories 1884–1949  Territory of Papua 1888–1965  Cook Islands6 1888–1984  Sultanate of Brunei 1889–1948  Union Islands (Tokelau)6 1892–1979  Gilbert and Ellice Islands7 1893–1978  British Solomon Islands8 20th century 1900–1970  Tonga (protected state) 1900–1974  Niue6 1901–1942  *Commonwealth of Australia 1907–1953  *Dominion of New Zealand 1919–1949  Territory of New Guinea 1949–1975  Territory of Papua and New Guinea9 5 Suspended member 6 Now part of the *Realm of New Zealand 7 Now Kiribati and *Tuvalu 8 Now the *Solomon Islands 9 Now *Papua New Guinea Antarctica and South Atlantic 17th century since 1659  St. Helena 19th century since 1815  Ascension Island9 since 1816  Tristan da Cunha9 since 1833  Falkland Islands11 20th century since 1908  British Antarctic Territory10 since 1908  South Georgia and                     the South Sandwich Islands10, 11 9 Dependencies of St. Helena since 1922 (Ascension Island) and 1938 (Tristan da Cunha) 10 Both claimed in 1908; territories formed in 1962 (British Antarctic Territory) and 1985 (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) 11 Occupied by Argentina during the Falklands War of April–June 1982 Things to do Here are some tasks awaiting attention: Cleanup : 1857 War of Independence in Murree Expand : No Independence Before Majority African Rule NPOV : The Two Babylons Stubs : Charles George Baker Verify : All Red Line Wikify : John Fendall, Jr. British overseas territories Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Akrotiri and Dhekelia Turks and Caicos Islands Associated Wikimedia The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject: Commons Free media repository Wikibooks Free textbooks and manuals Wikidata Free knowledge base Wikinews Free-content news Wikiquote Collection of quotations Wikisource Free-content library Wikiversity Free learning tools Wikivoyage Free travel guide Wiktionary Dictionary and thesaurus