The History Of The British Empire

WatchMojo.com

27 May 201003:09

Summary

TLDRThe British Empire, which peaked at the beginning of the 20th century, had its roots in the late 1400s. Starting with King Henry VII's voyages, it was under King James I that the empire truly expanded with the establishment of Jamestown in 1607. After wars with France and the Netherlands, Britain emerged as the dominant colonial power. Despite the loss of the American colonies post-American War of Independence, the empire grew in Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. By 1922, it ruled over a quarter of the world's population. However, the economic toll of World Wars led to its decline, with many colonies gaining independence. The British influence persists through its parliamentary system, popular sports, and the English language, spoken by 400 million worldwide.

Takeaways

🇬🇧 The British Empire's origins can be traced back to the late 1400s, following the lead of Portugal and Spain in overseas exploration.
🛳️ King Henry VII initiated voyages across the Atlantic, with several unsuccessful attempts to establish colonies along the North American coast.
🏰 Under Queen Elizabeth I, early efforts to colonize were made, but it was during King James I's reign that the British Empire began to significantly expand.
🏡 Jamestown, founded in 1607, marked the first permanent English settlement in the Americas, leading to more colonies in the following decades.
🌍 Britain emerged as the dominant colonial power after a series of wars with France and the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries.
🗽 The American War of Independence in the late 18th century resulted in the loss of thirteen colonies that formed the United States of America.
🔄 Despite the loss in America, the British Empire shifted focus towards Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, growing larger than ever before.
🏆 After defeating Napoleon's France in 1815, Britain experienced a period of unrivaled dominance until 1914, adding vast territories and populations to its empire.
🤝 The rise of Germany led to Britain forming alliances with former enemies like France and Russia before World War I.
🏛️ The Treaty of Versailles post-WWI granted Britain more territory, but the war's economic impact eventually weakened the empire.
📉 World War II left Britain virtually bankrupt, and the subsequent rise of anti-colonial sentiments marked the beginning of the empire's dismantling.
🏙️ The handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 is often considered the end of the British Empire, though its influence persists globally.
🌐 The British Empire's legacy includes the widespread use of the English language, the British parliamentary system in many former colonies, and the popularization of sports like soccer and golf.

Q & A

When did the British Empire reach its peak of influence?
-The British Empire reached its peak of influence at the beginning of the 20th century.
What was the first permanent settlement in the Americas under English rule?
-The first permanent settlement in the Americas under English rule was Jamestown, founded in 1607.
How did the British Empire expand after the American War of Independence?
-After the American War of Independence, the British Empire shifted its focus towards Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, growing larger than ever.
What event marked the height of the British Empire in terms of population control?
-In 1922, the British Empire marked its height when it held sway over one quarter of the world's population.
How did World War I impact the British Empire?
-While Britain benefited from receiving more territory through the Treaty of Versailles in the short term, the economic implications of World War I spelled trouble for the Empire in the long term.
What is considered by many as the end of the British Empire?
-Many consider the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 as the end of the British Empire.
What is one of the lasting impacts of the British Empire that is still prevalent today?
-One of the lasting impacts of the British Empire is the English language, which is the mother tongue of roughly 400 million people worldwide.
How did the British Empire contribute to the creation of popular sports?
-The British Empire was responsible for creating some of the world's most popular sports, including soccer and golf.
What was the role of King Henry the Seventh in the early stages of the British Empire's overseas exploration?
-King Henry the Seventh of England began to commission voyages across the Atlantic, marking the early stages of the British Empire's overseas exploration.
Which war led to the creation of the United States of America from the British Empire?
-The American War of Independence led to the creation of the United States of America from the British Empire when thirteen of its North American colonies broke free.
How did the British Empire's dominance change after the defeat of Napoleon's France in 1815?
-After being challenged by and eventually defeating Napoleon's France in 1815, Britain was left with no major rivals until 1914 and added 400 million people and 17% of the world's total land area to their empire.
What system of governance did many former British colonies adopt for their independent governments?
-Many former British colonies adopted the British parliamentary system as the basis for their now independent governments.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

The British Empire, which reached its peak in the early 20th century, has its roots in the late 1400s. Rebecca Brayton introduces the topic on watchmojo.com, outlining the Empire's journey from its inception to its decline. The narrative begins with King Henry VII's voyages across the Atlantic, leading to several unsuccessful colonization attempts. The British Empire's significant expansion begins in the early 17th century under King James I, with the founding of Jamestown in 1607 and subsequent settlements along the North American coast and the Caribbean. After a series of wars, Britain emerged as the dominant colonial power. The loss of the American colonies through the American War of Independence was a significant setback, but the Empire shifted its focus to Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, growing larger than ever. The defeat of Napoleon's France in 1815 left Britain without major rivals until 1914, during which time the Empire expanded significantly. However, the economic toll of World War I and the rise of anti-colonial sentiments led to the gradual dismantling of the Empire. The handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 is often considered the end of the British Empire, but its influence endures through the territories still under UK sovereignty, the widespread use of the British parliamentary system, and the English language, which is now spoken by approximately 400 million people worldwide.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡British Empire

The British Empire refers to the collection of territories and regions under the control of the British Crown from the 17th century to the early 20th century. It was one of the largest empires in history, covering a significant portion of the world's land area. In the video, it is the central theme, detailing its rise, dominance, and eventual decline.

💡King Henry the Seventh

King Henry the Seventh was the first monarch to commission voyages across the Atlantic, marking the beginning of England's overseas exploration and the precursor to the British Empire. His actions set the stage for the empire's expansion, as mentioned in the script.

💡Jamestown

Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the first permanent settlement in the Americas under English rule. It represents a significant milestone in the establishment of the British Empire in the New World and is highlighted in the video as a key moment in the empire's history.

💡American War of Independence

The American War of Independence was a conflict that led to the birth of the United States of America, as thirteen of Britain's North American colonies broke free from British rule. Despite this significant loss, the video explains that the British Empire continued to grow and shift its focus elsewhere.

💡Napoleon's France

Napoleon's France was a major power that challenged the British Empire in the early 19th century. The defeat of Napoleon left Britain without a major rival until 1914, allowing the empire to expand further, as depicted in the video's narrative.

💡Imperial Century

The term 'Imperial Century' refers to the period during which the British Empire expanded significantly, adding 400 million people and 17% of the world's total land area to its control. This era is characterized by Britain's dominance and is a focal point in the video's discussion of the empire's growth.

💡Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty that ended World War I. While it brought Britain more territory in the short term, the economic implications of the war were detrimental to the empire in the long term, as discussed in the video.

💡World War II

World War II had a profound impact on the British Empire, leaving Britain virtually bankrupt and contributing to the rise of anti-colonial sentiments. The war is a pivotal event in the video's account of the empire's decline.

💡Decolonization

Decolonization refers to the process by which colonies gain independence from their colonial rulers. The video describes how many colonies declared their independence in the decades following World War II, leading to the dismantling of the British Empire.

💡Hong Kong Handover

The handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 is often considered the end of the British Empire. It symbolizes the transfer of the last major British colony and is a significant event in the video's timeline of the empire's decline.

💡English Language

The English language is highlighted as the British Empire's most lasting legacy, with its spread closely tied to the empire's expansion. Today, it is the mother tongue of approximately 400 million people worldwide, reflecting the empire's enduring global influence.

💡Parliamentary System

The British parliamentary system is a democratic model of government that has been adopted by many former colonies of the British Empire. The video notes that this system forms the basis for their now independent governments, indicating the empire's ongoing political influence.

Highlights

British Empire's origins date back to the end of the 1400s.

King Henry VII initiated voyages across the Atlantic following Portugal and Spain's lead.

Several unsuccessful attempts were made to establish colonies under Queen Elizabeth I.

King James I's rule marked a significant leap forward for the British Empire.

Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.

More colonies emerged along the North American coast and throughout the Caribbean in the 17th century.

Britain became the dominant colonial power after a series of wars with France and the Netherlands.

The American War of Independence led to the creation of the United States.

Despite losing the American colonies, the British Empire expanded towards Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Britain defeated Napoleon's France in 1815, leaving no major rivals until 1914.

During the 'Imperial century', Britain added 400 million people and 17% of the world's land area to its empire.

The rise of Germany forced Britain to form alliances with former enemies like France and Russia.

Britain gained more territory through the Treaty of Versailles post-World War I.

The economic implications of World War I began the decline of the British Empire.

1922 marked the peak of the British Empire, controlling a quarter of the world's population.

World War II left Britain bankrupt and led to the dismantling of the empire.

Many colonies gained independence, with the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 marking the end of the empire.

British influence persists through its territories, the parliamentary system, and popular sports.

The English language, spread by the empire, is now spoken by around 400 million people worldwide.