Britain's Empire at the end of the 'long eighteenth century'
I can describe how Britain and its empire had changed by 1815.
Britain's Empire at the end of the 'long eighteenth century'
I can describe how Britain and its empire had changed by 1815.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Britain's population, now incorporating Scotland and Ireland, had risen to 12 million, many of whom worked in industry.
- Britain had gone through a consumer revolution and had become the world’s first mass consumer society.
- Britain had gained additional territories in America, the Caribbean, Africa and India, and trade had flourished.
- Before abolition in 1807, Britain had been the largest carrier of enslaved people to the Americas.
- Britain had developed the Royal Navy which played a key role in establishing Britain as the dominant world power
Common misconception
Empire was always about conquest.
In fact, empire was often an ad-hoc private affair. For example, the East India Company had taken control over large parts of India - an expansion driven by opportunistic officials largely acting independently of the British government.
Keywords
Private - controlled or paid for by a person or company and not by the government
Consumer society - a society in which people can afford to buy non-essential goods
Imports - goods brought in from another country
Exports - goods sold to another country
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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