Q2.1 Great Britain – past and present: the character of a nation (Großbritannien – gestern
und heute: der Charakter einer Nation)
Great Britain – tradition and change (Großbritannien – Tradition und Wandel): [...] wesentliche
Veränderungen auf sozialer, kultureller, politischer oder wirtschaftlicher Ebene (British Empire –
insbesondere colonization, Industrialisierung, ...)
The British Empire Reasons for empire-building
Britain's colonial empire, which lasted from the late 16th • GB = island → seafaring nation exploration
to the mid 20th century, was the largest ever existed. • economic factors:
At its height (early 1900s), it comprised over 20% of the → foreign trade to bring wealth to the mother country
world's land area and a population of 500 million → source of raw material → provide a market for export
It was said that "the sun never sets on the British (silk, cotton, salt, opium, tea)
Empire". → empire was so extensive that there would
always be daylight in at least one of the colonies.
The first empire
the first British colonies were in:
• West Indian countries (Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda)
• Canada (Newfoundland, Hudson Bay)
• India (although it was not directly ruled by Britain until 1858)
• Gibraltar
• North America
→ did not want protection of the mother country
→ resisted to pay taxes (The Stamp Act of 1765), arguing they don't have any reputation in the British
Parliament
→ Boston Tea Party (1773) → Independence War (1783) → Founding of the United States
The Second British Empire (extending to the East)
• India + Far East: cotton, spice, tea, cloths → important for Britain
• Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Aden → sea way via Suez Canal was protected
• St. Helena, the Cape Colony, Mauritius → Cape of Good Hope was protected
• in 19th century mother country developed policy of imperialism → imperialism: "civilizing" the native
population → imposing Western values, beliefs and many aspects of white society on them
• Britain's main colonies: Canada, Australia, New Zealand settlers → mostly European settlers
civilization
• Africa and Asia: Western values were tried to impose on native population → bring "civilization" to natives
• concept of racial and moral superiority of the Whites
• Africa: 1/3 was controlled by Britain → "Cape to Cairo" railway → link colonies in the South with their rich
supply of minerals like gold etc
• with the north, where Britain controls the Suez Canal, which is extremely important for Britain → provides
a fast link to the east + better trade routes
• Australia → at the beginning: mainly used as a penal colony for British prisoners
→ after discovery of gold: became destination for people who wanted to seek their future
The break-up of the Empire
• Australia, New Zealand, Canada demanded the right to govern themselves
• rebellions in India
• growing nationalism and demand for independence in various states (eg Ireland, Kenya)
• conscription: citizens of British dependencies were expected to fight for Britain during the two World
The British Commonwealth
Foundation
Many of Britain's former colonies remain part of an
• 1931: The Commonwealth of Nations was established organization called the Commonwealth of Nations. Initially,
as an association of all dominions, which were
this was a way of maintaining economic ties with former
declared equal in all matters. These states had the
colonies that were now independent states; today it allows
member states to interact on a more informal level, states
that had certain things in common (language and culture)
due to their association with Britain.
, right to reject any laws passed by the British government and to pass legislation on domestic (domestic)
affairs.
• Former colonies that had become republics (e.g. India) therefore did not recognize the monarch as head
of state, joined the Commonwealth at a later stage. They saw the British monarch as the symbolic head
of the Commonwealth but not of their own country.
• Economic ties and trade between Commonwealth countries remained important
—> today the Commonwealth has 52 members including Britain
Great Britain today —> The role of monarchy
Britain is one of the few countries in Europe that is still a monarchy. While some people see the royal family
as an integral part of life in Britain, others believe it is time to put an end to what they see as an outdated
institution. Instead, in their opinion, Britain should become a republic, with an elected head of state.
Traditionally
- all-powerful
- political head of state
- able to imprison or execute anyone who disagreed with his decisions
- head of the Church —> additional power over the citizens
- over time, lost the right to control Parliament
- head of state and representative of country at home and abroad
- official head of the Church of England officially opens Parliament each year
- signing / refusing to sign a bill to either let it become a law or not
- appoints the Prime Minister after general election
Great Britain = Scotland, England Whales
UK = United Kingdom = Scotland, England, Whales, Northern Ireland
The Industrial revolution (1750- ca. 1900) —> Economic change
-Starting in 1750
-Production by machines
-Thousands of people brought to England to work with the machines
-Inventions like the Steam-Engine-Machine,
Tradition Change Actual Change Type of change
80% farmers 20% 1% farmers 90% Changing of jobs Social change
others (Agar culture) others (industrial
Self-sufficiency culture)
Impoverishment of Change of living Social/Cultural
(Selbstversorgung) the people (poor conditions change
(sufficient living conditions)
(ausreichende) living
conditions)
Humans work Machines work Huge economic profit Economic change
The colonialization (1750-ca. 1900) —> Politic (+Cultural) changing
-Beginning in 1700
-Puritans, than emigrants left GB went to the USA
-Reasons: oppression, idea of the American Dream, dream of better living conditions, better soil
and more…
-First active Colonial politic than fight for independence
-Founding of the Commonwealth of nation (voluntary union of independent states) to secure the
exist of the British Empire)
-Colonies become independent
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