THE BRITISH EMPIRE 16^th-17^th century

1. One quarter of the world's population by 1922

2. approximately a quarter of the Earth's total land area

3. territories and trading posts

4. “The Sun never sets on the British Empire”

COLONIES

1. Copper (miedź), tea, tin (cyna), cotton, rubber (guma)

2. Cheap labour

3. Revenue for British Treasure

4. Export markets for Britain (limited competition)

5. Dumping grounds for surplus population (miejsce zsyłki dla nadwyżki populacji)

ORIGINS - 15^th century - the Age of Discovery (Tudors):

1. Henry VII

• Shipbuilding expanded

• Modern merchant marine system

• John Cabot (no colony founded, but land called Newfoundland) - he wanted to discover route to Asia via the North Atlantic

2. Henry VIII

• Navy - warships

• Docks and lighthouses (latarnie morskie)

3. Elisabeth I

• Sir Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh - lack of food, severe weather conditions, conflicts with Indians

4. James I - British Empire really took shape under his reign in 17^th century

• 1607 - Jamestown

• 1620 - Plymouth - by puritans

• Maryland - Catolics heaven 1634

• Rhode Island - all religions 1636

• Connecticut - Congregationalists 1639

• 1664 - capture of New Amsterdam (Dutch) -> New York

• Pennsylvania - William Penn

• Materials: tabacoo, cotton, rice - from South; naval materials, fur - from North

• What attracted English? Agricultural land

CANADA

English Hudson's Bay Company established forts and trading posts - quite often attacked by the French (fur trade - competition).

Smaller islands of the

Carribean (= The West Indies) were colonised: St. Kitts, Barbados, Nevis, Jamaica, Bahamas. Important sugar plantations -> slavery and slave trade (from West coast of Africa to the Caribbean).

Abolitionist movement, The Slave Trade Act 1807 - abolished slave trade, still slavery was OK.

1 August 1837 - Emancipation Day, it is still celebrated in many countries as national day.

18^th century - England rose to be most dominant country (their main rival was France)

WARS

1. THE WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION 1702-14

Queen Anne - king of Spain left Spain to a grandson of the King of France. By this agreement France and Spain would be united and more powerful, which was dangerous. Britain, Portugal and The Netherlands opposed (fights took place also in USA - called “Queen Anne's War”).

Treaty of Utrecht (1714) - British Empire larger. They gained territories around Hudson's Bay, Gibraltar, Minorca (till 1802), monopoly of the South America slave track.

The Peace of Utrecht made sure that France would not become number 1 power - so it restored the balance of power.

2. THE 7 YEARS WAR

Europe, India, North America, Caribbean, coastal Africa competed over sea control and supremacy in India (general Robert Clive).

British victory, they gained:

1. Quebec, Montreal and New France

2. Florida (from Spain)

3. India (they defeated France there also)

In India English East India Company became major political power. They extended territories not always in fair way - they threatened local kings and princes).

1857 - conquest complete and Indian Rebellion. End of Company, British government took over administration.

1877 - Queen Victoria got tittle Empress of India (given her by Prime Minister - Disraeli).

India gained independence only after World War II.

3. THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

1776 - colonists declared independence. They didn't want to pay taxes, they were also constrained (zmuszeni) to buy tea.

They won in 1783 with the help of Spain, France and the Netherlands. 13 colonies were lost for British, but still they had lands in Canada. Time before war are called “I British Empire”.

II BRITISH EMPIRE - after loss in America, British attention were driven do other parts of the world. James Cook in The Pacific discovered eastern coast of Australia and named it “New South Wales”. They made penal colonies there. In 18^th century Australia & New Zealand were centrum of British migration. They had self-governing dominions (why? Because Britain didn't have to pay for defence and administration, but trade still could be developed).

4. THE NAPOLEONIC WARS 1792-1815

Britain got: Ionian Islands, Mauritius, New South Wales, Malta, Gold Coast, Trinidad, Tobago and in 1842 - Hong Kong Island (till 1997).

AFRICA: end of 18^th century - begin of exploration of Africa. Why did they come there? To preach gospel, to heal the sick fight, slave trade.

David Livingston - he drew a map of South and Central Africa. It occurred that this is scramble for Africa (bogactwa) - it attracted France, Britain, Germany.

Egypt owned by British - 1882-1956.

South Africa - it was only way to have secure communication to India, British had Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda.

Cecil Rhodes - privately owned British South Africa Company. They established Rhodesia.

Britain won the race with other countries to have more lands in Africa. They controlled nearly 30% of land. After them were Germany, Belgium and Italy.

Mohandas Gandhi - he was first who got independence. His movement was caused by nationalism and anger of racial discrimination. He was supported by United States and Soviet Union.

Commonwealth of Nations - former colonies decided to join organisation to save ties with Britin, tey meet from time to time.

HISTORIA - WYKŁAD - 19.01.2012

---