Imperial decline
I can describe the trend of British imperial decline that took place towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.
Imperial decline
I can describe the trend of British imperial decline that took place towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- By the early 20th century, Germany and the USA had overtaken Britain as dominant global powers.
- The British government created the 'two-power standard' in 1889 to maintain British naval supremacy.
- Anxiety around the decline of Britain's empire led to a movement called 'national efficiency'.
- By the end of the First World War Britain's power was severely weakened.
Common misconception
The trend of British imperial decline was caused by foreign policy and external threats.
There is a link between foreign and domestic policy, both of which contributed to imperial decline.
Keywords
Two-power standard - the 'two-power standard' was the British policy of maintaining a navy which was larger than the next two largest navies combined
National efficiency - 'national efficiency' was the argument that British society needed to become more productive to maintain imperial dominance
Decline - decline is a gradual and continuous loss of strength
Content guidance
- 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
Loading...