Portal:British Empire

The British Empire Portal TheBritish Empirecomprised thedominions,colonies,protectorates,mandates,and otherterritoriesruled or administered by theUnited Kingdomand its predecessor states. It began with theoverseas possessionsandtrading postsestablished byEnglandin the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was thelargest empire in historyand, 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,andculturallegacy 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 theAge of Discoveryin the 15th and 16th centuries,PortugalandSpainpioneered European exploration of the globe, and in the process established large overseas empires. Envious of the great wealth these empires generated, England,France,and theNetherlandsbegan to establish colonies and trade networks of their own in theAmericasandAsia.A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Netherlands and France left England (Britain,following the1707 Act of Unionwith Scotland) the dominantcolonial powerinNorth America.Britain became a major power in theIndian subcontinentafter theEast India Company'sconquestofMughal Bengalat theBattle of Plasseyin 1757. TheAmerican War of Independenceresulted in Britain losing some of its oldest and most populous colonies in North America by 1783. While retaining control ofBritish North America(nowCanada) and territories in and near theCaribbeanin theBritish West Indies,British colonial expansion turned towards Asia,Africa,and thePacific.After the defeat of France in theNapoleonic Wars(1803–1815), Britain emerged as the principalnavaland imperial power of the 19th century and expanded its imperial holdings. It pursued trade concessions in China and Japan, and territory inSoutheast Asia.The "Great Game"and"Scramble for Africa"also ensued. The period of relative peace (1815–1914) during which the British Empire became the globalhegemonwas later described asPax 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 effectivelycontrolled the economies of, and readily enforced its interests in, many regions,such as Asia andLatin America.It also came to dominate theMiddle East.Increasing degrees of autonomy were granted to its whitesettler colonies,some of which were formally reclassified asDominionsby the 1920s. By the start of the 20th century,Germanyand theUnited Stateshad begun to challenge Britain's economic lead. Military, economic and colonial tensions between Britain and Germany were major causes of theFirst 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 theSecond World War,Britain's colonies inEast AsiaandSoutheast Asiawere occupied by theEmpire of Japan.Despite the final victory of Britain andits 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, achievedindependencein 1947 as part of a largerdecolonisationmovement, in which Britain granted independence to most territories of the empire. TheSuez Crisisof 1956 confirmed Britain's decline as a global power, and thehandover of Hong Kong to Chinaon 1 July 1997 symbolised for many the end of the British Empire, though fourteenoverseas territoriesthat are remnants of the empire remain underBritish sovereignty.After independence, many former British colonies, along with most of the dominions, joined theCommonwealth of Nations,a free association of independent states. Fifteen of these, including the United Kingdom,retain the same person as monarch,currently KingCharles III.(Full article...) Selected article- Coat of arms of KingJames I.In 1624, the Crown revoked the royal charter earlier granted to the Virginia Company, and assumed direct government of the colony ACrown colonyorroyal colonywas acolonygoverned byEngland,and thenGreat Britainor theUnited Kingdomwithin the English and laterBritish Empire.There was usually agovernorto represent the Crown, appointed by theBritish monarchon the advice of theUK Government,with or without the assistance of a local council. In some cases, this council was split into two: an executive council and alegislative council,and the executive council was similar to thePrivy Councilthat 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 alower house.In several Crown colonies, this limited representation grew over time. As theHouse of Commonsof theBritish Parliamenthas 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 thesovereign state(the UK Government) delegated legislation for most local internal matters of governance to elected assemblies, with consent of the governor. Elected lower houses had their beginnings in theHouse of Burgessesof theColony of Virginiain 1619 and theHouse of Assemblyof theParliament of Bermudain 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 Atopographic mapof theFalkland Islands,anarchipelagoin the SouthAtlantic Ocean,whichErnesto Sabatocalled: "the last trace of colonialism." Read more... Did you know ...that the first shot fired byBritish Empireforces inWorld War Iwas targeted at theGermanshipPfalzwhich was departingMelbourne,Australiaas Britain declared war on Germany? ... that the British Empire's firstparachute training towerwas built by the Polish military? Related portals Commonwealth Realm Other former British territories Selected biography- Portrait byAlexander Bassano,1882 Victoria(Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) wasQueen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Irelandfrom 20 June 1837 untilher deathin 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days—which waslonger than those of any of her predecessors—constituted theVictorian era.It was a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within theUnited Kingdom,and was marked by a great expansion of theBritish Empire.In 1876, theBritish Parliamentvoted to grant her the additional title ofEmpress of India. Victoria was the daughter ofPrince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn(the fourth son ofKing George III), andPrincess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.After the deaths of her father and grandfather in 1820, she wasraised under close supervisionby her mother and hercomptroller,John Conroy.She inherited the throne aged 18 after her father's three elder brothers died without surviving legitimate issue. Victoria, aconstitutional monarch,attempted privately to influence government policy and ministerial appointments; publicly, she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards ofpersonal 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 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 aCommonwealth realm·now a member of theCommonwealth of Nations Europe 18th century 1708–1757Menorca since 1713Gibraltar 1782–1802Menorca 19th century 1800–1964Malta 1807–1890Heligoland 1809–1864Ionian Islands 1878–1960Cyprus 20th century since 1960Akrotiri and Dhekelia North America 16th century 1583–1907Newfoundland 17th century 1607–1776Thirteen Colonies since 1619Bermuda 1670–1870Rupert's Land 18th century Canada(British Imperial) 1763–1791Quebec 1791–1841Lower Canada 1791–1841Upper Canada 19th century Canada(British Imperial) 1841–1867Province of Canada 1849–1866Vancouver Island 1858–1866Colony of British Columbia (1858–1866) 1866–1871Colony of British Columbia (1866–1871) 1859–1870North-Western Territory 1862–1863Stickeen Territories *Canada(post-Confederation) 1867–1931Dominion of Canada1 20th century *Canada(post-Confederation) 1907–1934Dominion of Newfoundland2 1In 1931, Canada and other Britishdominionsobtained self-government through theStatute of Westminster."Dominion" remains Canada's legal title; seeCanada's name. 2Remained ade juredominion until 1949 (when it became aCanadian province); from 1934 to 1949, Newfoundland was governed by theCommission of Government. Latin Americaand theCaribbean 17th century 1605–1979 *Saint Lucia 1623–1883Saint Kitts(*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 1624–1966 *Barbados 1625–1650Saint Croix 1627–1979 *St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1628–1883Nevis(*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 1629–1641St. Andrew and Providence Islands3 since 1632Montserrat 1632–1860Antigua(*Antigua & Barbuda) 1643–1860Bay Islands since 1650Anguilla 1651–1667Willoughbyland(Suriname) 1655–1850Mosquito Coast (protectorate) 1655–1962 *Jamaica since 1666British Virgin Islands since 1670Cayman Islands 1670–1973 *Bahamas 1670–1688St. Andrew and Providence Islands3 1671–1816Leeward Islands 18th century 1762–1974 *Grenada 1763–1978Dominica since 1799Turks and Caicos Islands 19th century 1831–1966British Guiana(Guyana) 1833–1960Windward Islands 1833–1960Leeward Islands 1860–1981 *Antigua and Barbuda 1871–1964British Honduras(*Belize) 1882–1983 *St. Kitts and Nevis 1889–1962Trinidad and Tobago 20th century 1958–1962West Indies Federation 3Now theSan Andrés y Providencia DepartmentofColombia Africa 18th century 1792–1961Sierra Leone 1795–1803Cape Colony 19th century 1806–1910Cape Colony 1816–1965Gambia 1856–1910Natal 1868–1966Basutoland(Lesotho) 1874–1957Gold Coast(Ghana) 1882–1922Egypt 1884–1966Bechuanaland(Botswana) 1884–1960British Somaliland 1887–1897Zululand 1888–1894Matabeleland 1890–1980Southern Rhodesia(Zimbabwe) 1890–1962Uganda 1890–1963Zanzibar(Tanzania) 1891–1964Nyasaland(Malawi) 1891–1907British Central Africa 1893–1968Swaziland 1895–1920British East Africa 1899–1956Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 20th century 1900–1914Northern Nigeria 1900–1914Southern Nigeria 1900–1910Orange River Colony 1906–1954Nigeria Colony 1910–1931South Africa 1911–1964Northern Rhodesia(Zambia) 1914–1954Nigeria Protectorate 1915–1931South West Africa(Namibia) 1919–1960Cameroons(Cameroon)4 1920–1963Kenya 1922–1961Tanganyika(Tanzania)4 1954–1960Nigeria since 1965British Indian Ocean Territory 4League of Nations mandate Asia 18th century 1757–1947Bengal(West Bengal (India)andBangladesh) 1762–1764Philippines 1786-1826Penang 1795–1948Ceylon(Sri Lanka) 1796–1965Maldives 19th century 1819–1826Singapore 1826–1946Straits Settlements 1839–1967Aden Colony 1841–1997Hong Kong 1841–1941Kingdom of Sarawak 1848–1946Labuan 1858–1947British India(India,PakistanandBangladesh,Burma) 1882–1946British North Borneo 1885–1946Unfederated Malay States 1891–1971Muscat and Oman protectorate 1892–1971Trucial States protectorate 1895–1946Federated Malay States 1898–1930Weihai Garrison 20th century 1918–1961Kuwait protectorate 1920–1932Iraq4 1921–1946Transjordan4 1923–1948Palestine4 1946–1948Malayan Union 1946–1963Sarawak(Malaysia) 1946–1963North Borneo(Malaysia) 1948–1957Federation of Malaya(Malaysia) 4League of Nations mandate Oceania 18th century 1788–1901New South Wales 1794–1843Sandwich Islands(Hawaii) 19th century 1803–1901Van Diemen's Land / Tasmania 1807–1863Auckland Islands6 1824–1980New Hebrides(Vanuatu) 1824–1901Queensland 1829–1901Swan River Colony/Western Australia 1836–1901South Australia since 1838Pitcairn Islands 1840–1907 *Colony of New Zealand 1850–1901Victoria (Australia) 1874–1970Fiji5 1877–1976British Western Pacific Territories 1884–1949Territory of Papua 1888–1965Cook Islands6 1888–1984Sultanate of Brunei 1889–1948Union Islands(Tokelau)6 1892–1979Gilbert and Ellice Islands7 1893–1978British Solomon Islands8 20th century 1900–1970Tonga(protected state) 1900–1974Niue6 1901–1942 *Commonwealth of Australia 1907–1953 *Dominion of New Zealand 1919–1949Territory of New Guinea 1949–1975Territory of Papua and New Guinea9 5Suspended member 6Now part of the *Realm of New Zealand 7NowKiribatiand *Tuvalu 8Now the *Solomon Islands 9Now *Papua New Guinea AntarcticaandSouth Atlantic 17th century since 1659St. Helena 19th century since 1815Ascension Island9 since 1816Tristan da Cunha9 since 1833Falkland Islands11 20th century since 1908British Antarctic Territory10 since 1908South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands10, 11 9Dependencies of St. Helena since 1922 (Ascension Island) and 1938 (Tristan da Cunha) 10Both claimed in 1908; territories formed in 1962 (British Antarctic Territory) and 1985 (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) 11Occupied by Argentina during theFalklands Warof 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 Georgiaand the South Sandwich Islands Akrotiri and Dhekelia Turks and Caicos Islands Associated Wikimedia The followingWikimedia Foundationsister 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