Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The British empire and the colonial crisis
Overview of British imperialism
Overview of British imperialism
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: The British empire and the colonial crisis
For almost two hundred years, the dominion of the British Empire stretched across the globe. With colonies in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Southern Pacific, author George McCartney was entirely correct to espouse of “this vast empire on which the sun never sets”. The complete dominance of the British in many of their colonies lasted through until World War II, when the country began releasing, or “decolonizing” its possessions in favor of new, small independent nations to make their own destinies. Whether success or failure, many of these colonies are still independent nations, actively involved in world affairs. However, to this day, the great authority of Parliament still extends past the shores of fair Britannia, specifically in the cases of Gibraltar and the Falklands Islands. Both hold overs from medieval treaties and holdings, both regions are claimed by Spain and Argentina respectively. Clear from both colonies is their importance before as naval installations, but in the days of lightning warfare, doubt is cast on their continued value to England. For Gibraltar, at stake is Spanish sovereignty and pride in territorial integrity; for Argentina, honor and a right to new, valuable natural resources. Through both times of war and peace, the United Kingdom has held steadfast to these two last colonies, even in the face of threats, blockades and warfare. In many respects, each of the colonies have some precedent to be a part of their home country; however, the reality to this day is that the shadow territories of the British Empire are complex subjects that even years of negotiations have yet to unravel.
In order to understand the British holding of the Rock of Gibraltar today, it is necessary to look at the pen...
... middle of paper ...
...ain, Whitehall has put up a firm stance on the Falklands, mirroring the intensity with which the Thatcher government opposed the Argentine incursion of 1982. Only time will tell if the current confrontation will escalate again.
For both territories, the resurgent discussions on both of the United Kingdom’s disputed territories has spurred Parliament to allow both Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to form new constitutions, in the form of the Gibraltar Constitution Order of 2006 and the Falkland Islands Constitution of 2009.Both devolutions of self-government represent an important step in British Foreign Policy: each island is without any uncertainty intended to remain territories of the United Kingdom for some time. And though dialogue continues in both cases, the British government is in no quarrel over the retention of some of its last colonies in the world.
Throughout the 1700s, the relationship between Britain and their colonies became more tension filled. The new generations of colonists felt more entitled to certain rights and liberties that had been considered privileges to their ancestors. Over the years Britain had been becoming progressively worse at keeping their colonies happy. Eventually, colonists did not even feel incorporated in their mother country, Britain. The deterioration of British colonial relations in the late 1700s was caused by a lack of representation and care from Britain.
The British Empire has had a long lasting and strong influence on the American colonies for over three centuries. From the 16th century all the way to the 18th century, the British empire has held power within the colonies in terms of legislature, economy, and social stature. The British’s rule has been both a positive and negative driving force
Hitchens, Christopher. The Elgin Marbles: Should They be Returned to Greece? London; New York: Verso, 1998.
In Hasting’s article she explores the ways in which Canada sought to annex Britain’s West Indies colonies in the early twentieth century. One of the major benefits of expanding into the West Indies was to increase trading and goods that were being traded, this was made possible with the expanding steamship technology that increased its commercial and passenger routes south. The second factor of Canada’s campaign to annex the West Indies was to prove itself as a new territory that was expanding it’s borders, which suggested Canada as a contender among other countries such as Britain and France who had a long history of colonization. Hasting’s explores the factors contributing to Canada’s anticipated success in annexing the West Indies. The article discusses Canada’s potential in trying to create harmonious political relationship with the Bahamas in 1911, and how the issue
In the world’s lens during the 1760s, the British empire had a clear and prominent control over the colonies. However, by the mid-1770s the Americans became enraged enough to declare war against the British for independence. Due to Britain’s massive imperial presence around the globe, the British civilians had a strong inclination for a successful outcome. Instead, the colonists pulled a surprising victory from what should have been a swift defeat. While the British had an abundance of advantages, they lost the Revolutionary War because the British army underestimated the colonists’ perseverance for freedom.
The English victory over the Spanish Armada marked the beginning of the British naval dominance in the Atlantic. England and Spain had been enjoying a peaceful relationship throughout the early 15th century. However, the relations turned sour after the Spanish backstabbed an English fleet, led by a British sailor named Francis Drake at the Spanish port of San Juan de Ulua in 1568. Drake, privately encouraged by Queen Elizabeth of England, began pirating the Spanish riches for England from the Caribbean and all along the Spanish held coasts of Latin America. King Philip of Spain, already disgusted by the religious practices of England’s royalty, began scheming for a plan to invade Britain. He sent 130 large vessels, meant to carry soldiers, to the English Channel. The once thought “Invincible Armada” was annihilated by England’s smaller, more maneuverable and better armed crafts. While the surviving Spanish ships were retreating back home, a rare September storm devastated the already diminished fleet. With a large chunk of their navy destroyed, Spain did not have enough ships or manpower to control their vast empire. Slowly, their once might...
According to the movie, “The iron lady” a lot of the people did not agree with her sending many soldiers to the Falkland Islands to fight against the Argentines soldiers because it was not necessary. However, they thought that Thatcher could negotiate with them. Thatcher never listened to them and just sent the soldiers to fight. Several people died, but at the end of it, Britain won the war. Therefore, many people respected her choice and thought that it was a very good idea to send soldiers, because if not, they would have never gotten the Islands back.
As time passed, however, Britain’s standing a Great Power quickly diminished. Despite this, British possession of nuclear weapons, United Nations Security Council membership, access to political an...
When examining the bloody and often tumultuous history of Great Britain prior to their ascent to power, one would not have predicted that they would become the global leader of the 18th century. Prior to the Treaty of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years War, the Spanish and the Holy Roman Empire held much of the power in Europe. Only with the suppression of Catholicism and the development of national sovereignty did Great Britain have the opportunity to rise through the ranks. While much of continental Europe was seeking to strengthen their absolute monarchies and centralized style of governing, in the 17th and 18th centuries Great Britain was making significant political changes that reflected the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment. The first of the political philosophers was Thomas Hobbes who first introduced the idea that the monarch ruled not by “divine right” but through the consent of the people. This was a radical idea with ramifications that are reflected in the great changed Great Britain made to to their government in the 17th century. Through a series of two violent civil wars between the monarchy and Parliament and the bloodless civil war known as the Glorious Revolution, Parliament was granted the authority to, in essence, “check” the power of the monarchy. The internal shifts of power in Great Britain and the savvy foreign policy skills demonstrated by the British in much of the conflict happening in continental Europe can be credited with England’s rise to power.
As almost anyone with the slightest knowledge of European history can tell you, the French and the British do not like each other. Some French and British people still hate each other today for issues that occurred 100 of years ago. So on top of the conflict that is already present between France and Great Britain there is a new one in the pursuit of gaining more land and power for one’s cou...
Cook, Don. The Long Fuse; How England Lost The American Colonies, 1760-1785. New York: The Atlantic Monthly Press, 1995 .
Motives for British Imperialism in Africa Before the Europeans began the New Imperialism in Africa, very little was known about the inner parts of the continent. However, after some explorers delved deeper into the heart of Africa, the Europeans soon realized how economically important this area was, and how much they could profit from it. At the time, Britain had only small occupations of land in Africa, but after they realized that they could make money from the rich resources from the inner regions of Africa, they wanted to invade the African countries and take over. This led to the scramble and ultimately, the partition of Africa. During the Age of Imperialism, from 1870-1914, Britain was a major country, which proved to be true in the “carving up” and division of Africa.
Laver, R. C. (2001). The Falklands/Malvinas Case: Breaking the Deadlock in the Anglo-Argentine Sovereignty Dispute. Developments in International Law , 40, 66-71.
"Should Britain Return the Elgin Marbles?" The Week UK. N.p., 14 Feb. 2009. Web. 13 Feb.
In the years following World War II, many scholars argue the United States and Britain have been bonded by a ‘special relationship.’ Since 1945, this relationship has resulted in several policies, both domestic and foreign. The ‘special relationship’ includes aspects in finances, allied forces during the Cold War, similar cultures and even personal relationships between leaders.