The History of the British Empire Essay

The British Empire was the largest the universe had known. It was said “the Sun ne’er sets on the British Empire. ” as it was so big it covered all clip zones. Britain had a little population and ground forces so regulating was done by bring downing a annihilating military licking on the conquered state. The licking was so great that would be no future opposition. It had the coveted consequence of frightening the locals into making anything they could to keep Britain’s favour. This kept the peace. Part of this would be choosing cardinal locals to assist the British regulation. The British seemed to hold a bent for choosing governors and magistrates that everyone hated.

Merely when piques reached boiling point. the British would sail in to “save the twenty-four hours. ” maintaining everyone happy and believing they were their friend. The country known as British Palestine was a premier illustration with the local governor traveling out of his manner to stir up hatred among the peoples. Africa’s tribal in-fighting was stirred up at that place every bit good. India’s huge racism between folks and faiths ( Hindu vs Islam ) ensured that the public ( totaling in the 1000000s ) would ne’er present a menace to British regulation. The few Indian rebellions were viciously stopped with much loss of life. A batch of non-Christian faiths do non prophesy kindness.

So it was easy for Christian-raised functionaries to establish something every bit simple as clinics. soup kitchens and orphanhoods which made the people happy to be “British topics. ” National individuality was boosted by the creative activity of regional regiments comprised of “locals. ” For illustration. the “Khyber Rifles” were some of Afghanistan’s bravest and most fit combatants. Their uniforms were British but with colourful spots denoting their particular position. To most Afghanis. the work forces were “their soldiers. ” It helped people forget they were conquered. A closer expression revealed the truth. The unit’s officers were all English.

And the unit fought outside their country. This manner. Afghani soldiers would ne’er contend neighbouring states that might one twenty-four hours assist them chuck out their British swayers. The British used the foreign units as front line military personnels in their conflicts elsewhere. This lessoned the load on the place state when it came to governing the faraway lands. As a consequence. tribal and spiritual combat and racism left the locals dependent on Britain non merely for safety but every facet of twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours life. When bankruptcy out of the blue hit the British. Dutch and Gallic Empires. the locals were unprepared for the daze of being all of a sudden entirely.

The 2nd universe war left France and Holland in ruins and Britain broke. Neither state had the fundss to return to peace. every bit good as governing states far off. Britain in secret made programs to “grant independence” to their conquerings. This complex procedure was condensed into a few yearss of gaudery and ceremonial and so overnight. the British were gone. Corrupt functionaries who had ruled cruelly to pacify their colonial Masterss. now had to derive trust and regard from the really people they had been aching. France took the pattern excessively far and their backdown from Morocco. Algeria and Indo China was marked by bloody retaliation.

India particularly would be left fractured and hapless. India was known as the “Jewel In The Crown” of the British Empire for good ground. Most of the Royal Family’s Crown Jewels came from India. As you can conceive of. that wealth disappeared when the British pulled out. along with valuables from Egypt. etc. The Gallic and Dutch hit their African settlements every bit difficult and states that could hardly do bash before. were now in poorness. Amidst all this pandemonium. the freshly freed states had to come up with a opinion category. a on the job category and a whole manner of life and governing themselves. This procedure took many old ages.

The American promise of a new universe ( via the UN ) and fiscal assistance ( Marshall Plan ) ensured that most of the new states did their best to suit in. The African tribal societies pulled together somewhat but the Middle East retained a batch of the racism and hatred that allowed them to lose focal point in the first topographic point. They were so busy detesting each other that the British ( with many times. smaller forces ) were able to suppress them easy. Out of all of this. freedom had to turn. A batch of the states had ne’er worked with another state and in some instances. some had ne’er experienced peace.

Several leaders emerged that would convey order. like India’s Nehru. Egypt’s Nasser and Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta to call a few. They realized their states and neighbours would hold to lift supra tribal/religious combat and acquire up to day of the month educationally. lest they slip back in clip or worse. conquered once more. They besides taught pride for being who they were. planing beautiful flags. new money. constructing clean capital metropoliss and giving people pride that they were portion of the state. Sometimes this patriotism caused boundary line struggles but for the most portion. maintaining the people focused on their new state and individuality caused much alteration.

Most non-Christian faiths don’t Teach kindness so caring for citizens in illness and wellness. was new for many. Wayss were found to fall in spiritual ways and modern ways. This caused growing for the state every bit good as retaining a national individuality and maintaining spiritual heritage. Many Middle Eastern and Asiatic states besides introduced strong armed forcess. By 1956. Egypt and Syria had larger ground forcess than their former British Masterss. This came at a cost. “Westernization” brought back the white work forces. but this clip with arms and preparation.

To entice Western investing ( and arms ) in. other goods were purchased like autos. mill equipment and schools to develop the local workers. Jordan and Turkey would capitalise on this in a expansive manner. doing them Islamic states with a big sum of Western life. Africa for the most portion. remained stuck in tribal combat and the part has periods of peace and violent civil wars. They are today. much as in the yesteryear. a failed effort at colonisation. Asia for the most portion. particularly the Arab states. China and India. have surpassed their colonial Masterss at being rich.