#english_history 

## Empire
Britain's empire had first been built on trade and the need to defend this against rival European countries. After the [[Radicalism in Great Britain and the loss of American colonies|loss of American colonies]] the idea of creating new colonies remained unpopular until the 1830s, so in lieu of that Britain watched the oceans carefully to make sure its trade routes were safe and fought wars to protects its areas of interest. In **1839** it attacked China and forced it to allow the lucrative British trade in opium from India to China.

After 1850 Britain was driven more by **fear** of growing European competition than by commercial need. This led to the taking of land, the creating of colonies, and to expensive colonial wars. 
Fear that Russia would advance southwards towards India resulted in a disastrous war in Afghanistan (1839-1842). The Russian danger also affected south Europe and the Middle East. Britain feared that Russia would destroy the weak Ottoman Empire, which would change the balance of power in Europe. So, in 1854 Britain joined the Turks against Russia in Crimea.

It was the first and last time newspapers were able to report freely on a British war without censorship, showing the miserable conditions in which soldiers had to fight.

In India, the unwise treatment of Indian soldiers in British pay resulted in revolt in 1857 - **"Indian Mutiny"**. Both sides behaved with violence, and the British cruelly punished the defeated rebels. The friendship between the British and the Indians never fully recovered.

### Africa
In Africa, Britain's first interest had been the slave trade on the west coast. It then took over the Cape of Good Hope at the southern point, because it needed a port there to service the sea route to India.

Britain's interest in Africa was increased by reports sent back by European travellers and explores, such as the ones sent by **David Livingstone**, a Scottish doctor and a Christian missionary. His journeys excited the British.

Christianity too easily became a tool for building a commercial and political empire in Africa - [[Scramble for Africa]]. The rush for land became so great that European countries agreed by treaty in **1890** to divide Africa into "areas of interest".
Britain succeded in taking the most land.

In South Africa Britain dealt with other European settlers, the Boers, and fought [[Boer Wars|two wars against them]].

The real problems of British imperial ambition were most obvious in Egypt, where Britain wanted to secure the safety of the route to India through the Suez Canal.
When Egyptian nationalists brought down the ruler in **1882**, Britain invaded to "protect international shipping", and did not leave Egypt until **1956**. Then in **1884** Britain invaded Sudan.

## Imperial Ambition
In all of its colonies, Britain found itself involved in a contradiction between its imperial ambition and the liberal ideas it wished to advance. This was the very reason why the British Empire collapsed.

The other reason for the interest in creating colonies was Britain's overpopulation. White settlers rushed to Canada, Australia and New Zealand to appropriate the land. These "white" colonies were soon allowed to govern themselves, though still accepted the British monarch as their head of state.
The move towards self-government was the result of trouble in Canada in **1837**, when the local governor understood the danger that Canada might follow the other American colonies into independence. His report prepared the way from empire to a British "[[Commonwealth of Nations]]".

By the end of the 19th century Britain controlled the oceans and much of the land areas of the world. Most British strongly believed in their right to an empire, and were willing to defend it against the least threat. This state of mind became known as **Jingoism**.

But even at this moment of greatest power, Britain had begun to spend more on its empire than it took from it. The empire had started to be a heavy load.