The Lion’s share: The

British Empire in

1918

The picture below is the cover of an annual from 1913, showing Britain as a roaring lion. In 1918 Britain had the world’s largest empire, covering a quarter of the world’s surface. It also contained a third of the entire world’s population, How did a small country off the coast of Europe come to posses the world’s greatest empire?

Britain acquired a large empire for a variety of reasons

Trade

Britain wanted raw materials for its manufacturers and new markets for British goods:

• India from 1612 until the end of the 19th century provided goods such as cotton and a place to sell British goods.

• The islands of the West Indies produced sugar after the 1600s.

• Hong Kong, a British colony, began to trade with China in 1842.

• South Africa provided gold from the 1880s.

• Canada produced wheat.

Protection of trade routes

Britain occupied other places to protect its sea routes, to ensure trade could continue safely. The British established colonies in:

• Singapore (1815)

• Cape of Good Hope (1806)

• Falkland Islands (1833)

Naval bases

Britain had the world’s greatest navy after the 18th century. It required naval bases around the world. When coal became the major fuel for naval vessels, these bases also acted as coaling stations.

• Gibraltar (1713)

• Malta (1815)

• Singapore (1815)

• Labuan Island off Borneo (1842)

Victory in war

Britain won many wars from the 18th century to 1918. As the victor, Britain was able to acquire territory from the defeated countries.

• Quebec in Canada from France (1763)

• Tanganyika in East Africa from Germany (1918)

Land for settlement

Many British people wanted to start new lives overseas. Parts of the British Empire provided new lands for these settlers:

• Australia from 1788

• Canada in the 19th century

• New Zealand in the 1840s

Protecting British lands in India

India was regarded as the most important part of the British Empire. It was called ‘the jewel in the crown of the Empire’. To protect India from the attack, Britain acquired the following territories.

• The region of present-day Pakistan in the 1840s

• Myanmar (Burma) in the 1880s

Spreading the Christian religion

British missionaries went overseas to spread the Christian religion to non-Christian people.

• Uganda in the 1890s