The British Empire
From the 16th century to the 20th century
The development of the British Empire is often divided into two parts: the First Empire and the Second Empire. The First empire started in the 16th century when Great Britain started to build territories on other continents like North America and the West Indies. The first British settlement in Africa was on James Island in the Gambia River. The First Empire ended when the British lost control of the American colonies in 1783.
In the second part of the 19th century. the British Empire grew larger. The British got more land in different parts of the world, and by the end, the British Empire included almost a quarter of the world. In Africa, the British had claimed over 30 percent of the African population.
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Kart over Det britiske imperiets
The end of the British Empire
From 1945 until today
After the two World Wars, the British Empire was ending. The economy suffered from the wars. India set the tone for change when it became independent in 1947.
In the 1950s, the British government gave freedom to Sudan, the Gold Coast and Malaysia. Many British colonies could now rule their own country.
Canada was the first British state to control themselves in 1867. After that came Australia in 1901 and New Zealand in 1907. They were still connected to the British Crown, but were given freedom. The Caribbean also gained independence over the next 20 years, first Barbados and then the rest of the Eastern Caribbean islands.
The Union Jack is still a part of the Australian flag today.
The end of the Empire was in 1997, when Hong Kong became an administrative region under China.
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Det australske flaget heist opp i en flaggstang
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