what countries were in the british empire in 1800

What happened to the British Empire by 1800?

By 1800, the British had yet to achieve an empire on which ‘the sun never sets’, but British possessions were scattered across the globe. During the Napoleonic Wars, British naval supremacy enabled it to annex overseas territories from France, and by extension, its confederate, the Dutch.

What countries did the British colonize in the 1600s?

By 1670 there were British American colonies in New England, Virginia, and Maryland and settlements in the Bermudas, Honduras, Antigua, Barbados, and Nova Scotia. Jamaica was obtained by conquest in 1655, and the Hudson’s Bay Company established itself in what became northwestern Canada from the 1670s on.

How much territory did the British Empire have?

The British Empire reached the height of its territorial expansion in 1920, when the realm controlled 35.5 million sq. km of territory, and ruled over between 470 and 570 million people. Fifty years earlier, however, the empire began to face competition from other emerging industrial powers like Germany and the United States.

What were the former colonies of the UK?

Former British Colonies. The modern-day Canadian province of Newfoundland was once a British colony. The British Empire was the largest of its kind in history, and once covered about one quarter of all the land on Earth. One of the last major colonies to be given up by Britain was Hong Kong which was given back to China on July 1st 1997.

What countries were in the British Empire?

When Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, Britain already governed Canada, large areas of India, Australia, and New Zealand, and small parts of South America and Africa. Together, these countries formed the British Empire.

What was the British Empire 1800s?

By 1800, the British had yet to achieve an empire on which 'the sun never sets', but British possessions were scattered across the globe. During the Napoleonic Wars, British naval supremacy enabled it to annex overseas territories from France, and by extension, its confederate, the Dutch.

How many countries did the British rule?

Fourteen overseas territories remain under British sovereignty. After independence, many former British colonies joined the Commonwealth of Nations, a free association of independent states. Fifteen of these, including the United Kingdom, retain a common monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II.

Which countries were the first British colonies?

The first colonies of the British Empire were founded in North America (Virginia, 1607) and the West Indies (Barbados, 1625). In 1655 Jamaica was secured. British slave traders started supplying enslaved African people to the British colonies to work on plantations.

Does the British Empire still exist?

The British Empire does not exist today. However, the Commonwealth is a free association of sovereign states comprising the United Kingdom and many of its former dependencies that acknowledge the British monarch as the association's symbolic head.

When did the British Empire end?

1997The two events that are usually used by historians to signify the end of the British Empire are the Independence of India in 1947 or the end of British rule in Hong Kong in 1997.

Was Japan ruled by British?

Japan was not formally colonized by Western powers, but was a colonizer itself. It has, however, experienced formal semicolonial situations, and modern Japan was profoundly influenced by Western colonialism in wide-ranging ways.

Which country was not ruled by British?

The full list of countries that have not been invaded is as follows: Andorra, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Paraguay, Sao Tome and Principe, Sweden, Tajikistan, ...

What country has never been invaded?

One of the world's oldest civilizations, Japan was able to keep its culture and history relatively intact over the centuries because mainland Japan has never been invaded by an outside force.

How long did Britain rule America?

British America comprised the colonial territories of the English Empire, which after the 1707 union of the Kingdom of England with the Kingdom of Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain became the British Empire, in the Americas from 1607 to 1783.

Was South Africa a British colony?

The two European countries who occupied the land were the Netherlands (1652-1795 and 1803-1806) and Great Britain (1795-1803 and 1806-1961). Although South Africa became a Union with its own white people government in 1910, the country was still regarded as a colony of Britain till 1961.

What was the purpose of the British Empire?

In the 16th Century, Britain began to build its empire – spreading the country's rule and power beyond its borders through a process called 'imperialism'. This brought huge changes to societies, industries, cultures and the lives of people all around the world.

When was the British Empire?

FactsAlso Known AsBritish Empire and CommonwealthDate1601 - 1997

When did British Empire start and end?

The British Empire began in its formative years in the sixteenth century and flourished and grew dramatically, lasting until the twentieth century. Key Events: 1497 – John Cabot is sent by King Henry VII on an expedition to discover a route to Asia via the Atlantic.

What made the British Empire successful?

They Saw Economic Opportunities Without question, economic opportunity paved the way for the growth of the British Empire. Trade, land and the exportation of resources were critical for increased profit, but secondary industries and careers were also booming.

What was the British Empire?

British Empire was a worldwide system of dependencies that was brought under the sovereignty of the crown of Great Britain and the administration o...

When did the British Empire begin?

The first tentative steps toward the establishment of the British Empire began with overseas settlements in the 16th century. Great Britain's marit...

Which sub-Saharan African country was the first to gain independence from the British Empire?

In 1957 the Gold Coast became the first sub-Saharan African colony of the British Empire to reach independence (as Ghana).

What was the last significant colony of the British Empire?

The last significant colony of the British Empire was Hong Kong. It was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Does the British Empire still exist today?

The British Empire does not exist today. However, the Commonwealth is a free association of sovereign states comprising the United Kingdom and many...

What did Great Britain do to Africa?

With the occupation of Egypt in 1882, Great Britain aimed to annex more territory in East Africa until British territory connected the Cape of Good Hope to Cairo. European countries with interest in Africa met in Berlin in 1884 to divide the continent among themselves.

Which country claimed Western Australia?

3 The Land Down Under. During Queen Victoria's reign, Great Britain continued to expand its claim to territories in Australia and the Pacific. The country already had officially laid claim to Western Australia in 1829 as one of the British colonies.

What European countries were interested in Africa?

In the mid- to late-1800s, European powers became obsessed with obtaining territory and British colonies on the African continent. Great Britain annexed Aden in 1839 and established colonies in South Africa in 1843. With the occupation of Egypt in 1882, Great Britain aimed to annex more territory in East Africa until British territory connected the Cape of Good Hope to Cairo. European countries with interest in Africa met in Berlin in 1884 to divide the continent among themselves. The Berlin Conference awarded large portions of East Africa to Great Britain. By 1894 the list of colonies included Rhodesia, Nyasaland, British East Africa, Somaliland and the Sudan under British control. The few colonies Britain maintained in West Africa primarily provided support for the British navy.

What was the focus of the Victorian era?

During the Victorian era, Asia and India were the primary focus for expanding the British empire. India was under the private control of the British East India Company until 1857. After protracted conflict, governance of India was officially transferred to the British crown in 1877 with Queen Victoria acquiring the title of Empress of India.

How much of the world did the United Kingdom control?

By the end of her 64-year reign, the United Kingdom (U.K.) controlled more than 14 million square miles of territory and produced around 30 percent of the world's total industrial output.

What was the effect of Queen Victoria's reign on the British Empire?

By the end of her 64-year reign, the United Kingdom (U.K.) controlled more than 14 million square miles of territory and produced around 30 percent of the world's total industrial output.

When did New Zealand become a British colony?

The colonies originally were administered by New South Wales, but in 1841 New Zealand became a British colony in its own right. British rule extended into the Pacific with the acquisition of the Fiji Islands in 1874 and British New Guinea in 1884. Between 1840 and 1868, the British began phasing out their original practice ...

What is the British Empire?

History of Britain. Timeline of the British Empire. by Jessica Brain. The British Empire is remembered for its extensive, long-lasting and far-reaching imperial activities that ushered in an era of globalisation and connectivity. The British Empire began in its formative years in the sixteenth century ...

How did the British Empire impact the world?

The British Empire was a crucial component in shaping lives, peoples, travel, economy, technology, politics and culture for hundreds of years. For better or worse, the impact of the British Empire has earned its place in the history books.

What was the name of the British raid on the Transvaal Republic?

1895 – The Jameson Raid, an unsuccessful raid by the British against the Transvaal Republic. Boer War re-enactment. 1899 – Outbreak of the Second Boer War, fought between the British Empire and the two Boer States known as the Republic of Transvaal and the Orange Free State.

What was the role of the British Empire in the Falklands War?

Present Day – Britain and the Commonwealth Nations. The British Empire was a crucial component in shaping lives, peoples, travel, economy, technology, politics and culture for hundreds of years.

Which country gained independence in 1956?

1956 – Sudan gained independence, closely followed the next year by Ghana. One by one British colonies throughout the African mainland declared independence in the next decade, concluding in 1966. The one exception was Namibia which was late to achieve independence in 1990. In the following decades numerous other countries across the globe proceeded to gain their independence from Britain, with some leaving colonial rule on specific dates whilst others achieved independence through a longer process initiated by dominion status. The breaking up of the British Empire dominated the twentieth century landscape and ushered in a new era of global relations.

Who is Queen Victoria?

Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India

Who was the Queen of India in 1876?

Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India. 1876 – Queen Victoria took the title Empress of India. 1878 – Occupation of Cyprus. 1800 – The First Boer War between the British and the South African Republic.

What is the British Empire?

The British Empire refers to the possessions, dominions and dependencies under the control of the Crown. In addition to the areas formally under the sovereignty of the British monarch, various "foreign" territories were controlled as protectorates; territories transferred to British administration under the authority of the League of Nations or the United Nations; and miscellaneous other territories, such as the condominium of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The natures of the administration of the Empire changed both by time and place, and there was no uniform system of government in the Empire.

When did the British Empire evolve?

The territorial evolution of the British Empire is considered to have begun with the foundation of the English colonial empire in the late 16th century. Since then, many territories around the world have been under the control of the United Kingdom or its predecessor states.

How did the colonists rule?

By the middle of the 19th century, the sovereign appointed royal governors on the advice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This became the main method of creating and governing colonies. Most Crown colonies, especially the white settler colonies had a bicameral legislature, consisting of an upper house usually called the Legislative council, which members were appointed and served a similar purpose as the British House of Lords. There also existed lower houses which were usually named the Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly. The lower house was usually elected, but suffrage was restricted to free white men only, usually with property ownership restrictions. Since land ownership was widespread, most white men could vote. The governor also often had an Executive Council which had a similar function to the Cabinet in England but was not responsible to the colonial lower house. They held a consultative position, however, and did not serve in administrative offices as cabinet ministers do. Members of the Executive Council were not necessarily members of the lower house but were usually members of the upper house. Later as the white colonies gained more internal responsible government, the lower house began to supersede the (usually unelected) upper house as the colonial legislature, and the position of Premier emerged.

What is the protectorate of the Ashanti Kingdom?

A protectorate is a territory which is not formally annexed but in which, by treaty, grant or other lawful means, the Crown has power and jurisdiction. A protectorate differs from a "protected state".

When did India gain independence?

Within twenty years of the partition and independence in 1947 of British India (considered to be the most important colonial possession), most of the Empire's territories had achieved full independence.

When did Ireland become a free state?

Upon much of Ireland gaining independence in 1922 as the Irish Free State, the other territories of the Empire remained under the control of the United Kingdom. From 1714 to 1837 the British throne was held by a series of kings who were also the rulers of the German state of Hanover.

When did Great Britain become the United Kingdom?

Similarly, when Great Britain was united with the Kingdom of Ireland in 1801 to form the United Kingdom, control over its colonial possessions passed to the latter state. Collectively, these territories are referred to as the British Empire. Upon much of Ireland gaining independence in 1922 as the Irish Free State, ...

What was the British Empire?

The British empire ruled over British North America in what is now Canada, beginning in about 1860. At this time, these included New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and “Canada” which was comprised of Upper and Lower Canada, today the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. ...

Where are the British overseas territories?

As far as current British overseas territories go, these include land in the Antarctic as well as Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean territory, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, the Pitcairn Islands, St Helena and its Dependencies, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and the Turks & Caicos Islands.

What was the last colony to be given back to China?

One of the last major colonies to be given up by Britain was Hong Kong which was given back to China on July 1st 1997. Britain began colonizing the world back in the 16th century and spread its power through a strong army ...

What did the British want to dominate?

These were all places Britain wanted to dominate for access to goods such as rubber, salt, gold, ivory, and other natural products. As in the Indian Subcontinent, the British used local African tribal leaders to work for them from afar. One of the last British colonies to gain its independence was Zimbabwe in 1980.

How was the British Empire made?

Many say the British Empire was made possible by conquering the world by sea, investing in a formidable army, and partnering with local people to further its spread . At its height in 1921, this empire had become a refined worldwide network, ruling approximately one quarter of all the land on Earth. The nations conquered were linked in trade as well ...

What countries did the British rule in Africa?

These included what are now Kenya, Sudan, Lesotho, Botswana, Northern Somalia, Egypt, Eastern Ghana, Gambia, Niger, and Benin. These were all places Britain wanted to dominate for access to goods such as rubber, salt, gold, ivory, ...

How did the British colonize the world?

Britain began colonizing the world back in the 16th century and spread its power through a strong army and by partnering with local authorities to conduct business. The British Empire is famous for spreading itself to almost every corner of the globe.

How many wars has Britain fought?

History of Britain. Historic Allies and Enemies of Great Britain. by Ben Johnson. Since the Act of Union in 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain has fought in over 120 wars across a total of 170 countries.

When did the Great Northern War start?

There are a few things to note before we get into the figures. First of all, our data starts from The Great Northern War which although started in 1700 still reflects the first war fought by a united Great Britain.

Which countries had begun to confront Britain’s economic leadership?

By the beginning of the 20th century, the U.S. and Germany had begun to confront Britain’s economic leadership.

How much land did the British Empire cover in 1913?

By 1913 the British Empire covered 35.5 million sq km or 13.7 million sq mi (24 percent of the planets’ total land area). In 1920, the Empire’s population was over 413 million people (23% of the world population).

What was the largest empire in the world?

Alex British Empire, UK. The British Empire began with England’s overseas settlements and trading posts between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. At its height, it was the largest Empire in history. By 1913 the British Empire covered 35.5 million sq km or 13.7 million sq mi (24 percent of the planets’ total land area).

What countries are in East Africa?

In East Africa – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zanzibar (Tanzania).

Why was Sudan ruled by Britain?

Moreover, Sudan, previously known as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, was jointly ruled by Britain’s Empire and Egypt because they had colonized it.