Now England controlled all of Canada. In the years that followed, Canadian colonies—now under British rule—expanded their trade networks and built an economy largely supported by agriculture and the export of natural resources like fur and timber.
Why did the British Empire expand to North America?
The expansion from just a few colonies in the West Indies and the eastern seaboard of North America was not directed or planned by government ministers but reflected the willingness of many sections of British society to seek opportunities for trade, plunder and land.
What were the effects of the British Empire on Canada?
The Lasting Effects of the British Empire. The British Empire was of the opinion that Canada would need to defend itself, but still took an interest in Canadian national defense because of fear of American expansion after the American Civil War. In spite of the formation of the Dominion of Canada through the British North America Act of 1867,...
What was the most important factor in the expansion of Britain?
The motive of spreading British commerce around the world was still the most important factor in the expansion of the British Empire. Empire wasnever as important as in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Why did the British Empire take an interest in Canada's national defense?
The British Empire was of the opinion that Canada would need to defend itself, but still took an interest in Canadian national defense because of fear of American expansion after the American Civil War.
What impact did Canada have on the British Empire?
Now England controlled all of Canada. In the years that followed, Canadian colonies—now under British rule—expanded their trade networks and built an economy largely supported by agriculture and the export of natural resources like fur and timber.
What did Britain gain from Canada in the British Empire?
With the addition of Canada to the British Empire, Britain gained control of a strip of territory along the St. Lawrence River with a population of at least 70,000 francophone Roman Catholics, which was expanded and renamed as the Province of Quebec under the Quebec Act.
How did the British Empire expand?
Great Britain made its first tentative efforts to establish overseas settlements in the 16th century. Maritime expansion, driven by commercial ambitions and by competition with France, accelerated in the 17th century and resulted in the establishment of settlements in North America and the West Indies.
What role did Canada play in the British Empire?
What Was Canada's Role in the British Empire? Canada, being part of the British Empire, had the responsibility of fullfilling the follwing demands: Maintain naval vessels for their own defence, but place them under British command in times of war.
What is Canada's relationship with England?
The UK and Canada are close allies with strong historical ties. We work together on many bilateral and international initiatives, including the G7, G20, NATO, and the Commonwealth. The UK is also one of Canada's largest trading partners.
When did England take over Canada?
Great Britain began acquiring territory in what is now Canada in the 1600s. In 1867, four British colonies (Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, & New Brunswick) joined together as the "Dominion of Canada" and became a self-governing state within the British Empire.
What are the three major reasons for British expansion?
The British had three motives for imperialism in the 19th century:1) Economic reasons.2) Political reasons.3) Cultural reasons.
When did the British Empire grow the most?
In terms of size, the British Empire was at its largest in the years following World War One, when it gained some of Germany's former colonies. This was because Germany had lost World War One, and its former colonies were given to other European countries through the Treaty of Versailles.
What caused the British Empire to fall?
The Empire was overstretched and - combined with growing unrest in various colonies - this led to the swift and decisive fall of many of Britain's key assets, some diplomatically, some violently. In 1947 India became independent following a nonviolent civil-disobedience campaign spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi.
Is Canada still part of the British Empire?
Canada has been a monarchy for centuries - first under the kings of France in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, then under the British Crown in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and now as a kingdom in her own right.
Does Canada still belong to England?
Though Canada is an independent country, Britain's Queen Elizabeth remains the nation's head of state. The Queen does not play an active role in Canadian politics, and her powers are mostly symbolic. In recent years, Canadians have become more critical of the monarchy and often debate its future.
What did the French and British do to their colonies?
As the French and the British expanded their colonies, each European power made alliances with different First Nations groups. The French, who were nervous about the lower population of their colonial settlements, were especially eager to make native allies.
Why did Europeans come to Canada?
Many of the first Europeans to come to Canada wanted to set up trading networks. In particular, they were after commodities like beaver pelts. The Hudson's Bay Company was one of the largest trading companies in Canada. Companies like the Hudson's Bay Company brought European goods to the First Nations in exchange for furs.
What were the first things that changed the life of the First Nations?
Early on, organizations and companies like the Hudson's Bay Company were established, mostly acting as fur trading posts. Scuffles between the French and the British, the arrival of traders and missionaries, and the spread of European diseases like small pox and measles all changed life for First Nations communities.
What were the two major imports that European settlers brought to the Americas?
Two major imports that European settlers brought to the Americas were weapons and diseases . European settlers brought weapons that the indigenous people living in Canada had never seen, especially guns. These new weapons allowed Europeans to win almost all of their conflicts with First Nations groups.
What were the effects of European explorers on the First Nations?
When European explorers founded colonies in Canada, their arrival had a dramatic effect on the First Nations, which were and are independent groups with a huge variety of different languages, traditions, and ways of life. Early on, organizations and companies like the Hudson's Bay Company were established, mostly acting as fur trading posts.
What was Canada like before Europeans?
Before the first Europeans set foot on the continent, Canada was home to the First Nations, which were independent groups with a huge variety of different languages, traditions, and ways of life. But, that started to change when European explorers started making their way across the Atlantic. After a few earlier temporary settlements, permanent ...
What changed the way First Nations communities came into contact with European colonists?
By the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the British Empire was in charge across Canada. This changed the way First Nations communities came into contact with European colonists - for one thing, the French and the British weren't fighting wars on Canadian soil any longer. But before getting into the history of Canada as a purely British colony, ...
Why did the British want to defend Canada?
The British Empire was of the opinion that Canada would need to defend itself, but still took an interest in Canadian national defense because of fear of American expansion after the American Civil War. In spite of the formation of the Dominion of Canada through the British North America Act of 1867, it would take almost 120 years ...
What was Canada's situation after the fall of the Empire?
Canada’s situation after the fall of the Empire was somewhat unique in that it was still an integral part of the Commonwealth, but was geographically next to the United States, which had revolted against England and therefore would exert unavoidable influence over Canada.
How long did it take Canada to become independent?
In spite of the formation of the Dominion of Canada through the British North America Act of 1867, it would take almost 120 years before complete legal independance would be achieved.
Is Canada a constitutional monarchy?
There is still a policy of Constitutional Monarchy in Canada which requires both a national representative of the Queen, called the Governor General, and a respresentative for every province, called the Lieutenant Governor. The governmental system of Parliament in Ottawa is modelled after Britain’s own Parliamentary system.
What was the British expansion in the South Pacific?
British expansion in the South Pacific was in large part ‘sub-imperialism’. By the 1870s the Australian colonies and New Zealand were keen for Britain to acquire these distant dependencies, which were relatively close to Australia and New Zealand, and in an ocean they wanted kept free of foreigners. Crown colonies were established in Fiji and the ...
What was New Zealand's role in the British Empire?
It took its place as an independent actor in world affairs as a dominion in the British Commonwealth of Nations.
How many colonies did the British lose?
In wars between 1740 and 1815, the British lost 13 of their North American colonies, but gained French Quebec (later part of Canada) and held on to 15 Caribbean colonies and four West African settlements. Through the same period de facto control was established in India.
What did imperialism mean?
This movement gave birth to the new label ‘imperialism’, which later changed in meaning to cover expansion of territory, power and influence. After a major rebellion in India (the ‘Indian mutiny’) in 1858 the British government took direct control of all British possessions in India. Over time, the empire expanded beyond India’s frontiers – to ...
Where were the Crown colonies located?
Crown colonies were established in Fiji and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (later Kiribati and Tuvalu), as was a protectorate in the Solomon Islands, a protected state in Tonga, and a condominium shared with France in the New Hebrides (later Vanuatu).
Which colony did Britain occupy along the sea route to India?
Along the sea route to India, Britain occupied various Dutch and French colonies , of which the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius and Ceylon were retained. A ‘swing to the east’, including the great voyages of Captain James Cook in the Pacific, drew Australia and New Zealand into the system.
Where did the empire expand?
Over time, the empire expanded beyond India’s frontiers – to the west, into the Arabian/Persian Gulf and a swathe of territories across East Africa; to the east, into Burma, Malaya, North Borneo, the Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, treaty ports in China – notably Shanghai – and, eventually, a naval base at Wei-hei-Wei in the north.
How did the British block French troops from advancing further along the Levant Route into Asia through the Middle East?
To further secure Britain’s aim of acquiring India, the British attempted to block French troops from advancing further along the Levant Route into Asia through the Middle East, by pressurising Turkey. A British naval squadron threatened Constantinople, whilst 6,000 troops were sent to defeat the French occupation of Egypt.
What were the consequences of the Napoleonic Wars?
The Napoleonic Wars presented both opportunities and distractions for the expansion of the British Empire. The wars against the French strained their military resources, resulting in Britain’s failed attempts at claiming Saint Dominque, Buenos Aires and New Orleans from the Spanish and Portuguese empires. This precipitated a greater urgency ...
What was Henry Dundas' objective in acquiring India?
Henry Dundas’ objective in acquiring India involved economic gain through commercial exploitation – a strategy that became Britain’s preferred method of expansion. One powerful figure who worked alongside Dundas was Richard Wellesley; the Earl of Mornington, Governor-General and the Duke of Wellington’s older brother.
What was occupied in 1800?
Malta was occupied in 1800, Minorca followed in 1802, and Corfu was seized in response to French expansion into the Balkans. Ultimately, Britain claimed a series of bases across the Mediterranean, that was pushed by Napoleon’s increasing seizure of lands that were en-route to India.
Why did Britain take control of foreign territories?
Britain's trade with other countries often led to it taking control of foreign territories so that trade and economic activity could prosper. Part of. History. Britain: migration, empires and the people c790 to the present day.
What was England's role in the 16th and 17th centuries?
In the 16th and 17th centuries, England was a minor player in comparison to Spain and Portugal. The Spanish made vast profits from gold and silver mines in South America while the Portuguese focused on cultivating sugar in Brazil and the Caribbean. To do this, they needed cheap labour (that they would sometimes work to death) to get valuable sugar to Europe to be sold at a huge profit.
What were the economic opportunities for the colonies in the 1500s?
North America and The Virginia Company. In Britain in the 1500s, unemployment was rising and wages were low. American colonies offered economic opportunities for settlers from Europe. Many British people emigrated and made money by growing crops such as sugar and tobacco.
What was the effect of the rise of King Henry VII?
The rise to power of King Henry VII and the success of his son, King Henry VIII, and granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth I, in establishing England as a fully independent kingdom had a significant effect on the expansion of global English commercial activity.
Why was the East Indies so competitive?
There were a number of reasons for this: There were already three major empires in East Asia that had some control over the trade of cloths and spices; the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire and the Chinese Empire.
Why did the British claim that their empire was different?
This was to be a theme running through the history of the British Empire. The British claimed that their empire was different because it had a moral dimension but when it came to conflict with natives over land, the colonists always found a way of justifying their actions.
Why was the pursuit of profit important to the establishment of the British Empire?
The pursuit of profit was the driving force behind the establishment of the British Empire, but from the establishment of Virginia in 1607 there existed a moral dimension to the empire, and as the empire got bigger and bigger in the c19th that moral dimension became an important factor in justifying the existence of the Empire. Much was made in Virginia of plans for the conversion and education of native Indians but as the colony grew the need for land produced conflict between natives and colonists which led to war. This was to be a theme running through the history of the British Empire. The British claimed that their empire was different because it had a moral dimension but when it came to conflict with natives over land, the colonists always found a way of justifying their actions.
How many people were in the New England colonies in 1660?
By 1660 the New England colonies numbered around 30,000 of whom many were refugees who had challenged and then fled the orthodoxy of the earliest colonies. The intolerance of the Massachusetts Bay colonists led to the founding of a colony in Rhode Island by those who had been expelled from Massachusetts.
What were the effects of the mercantilist policy in the 1830s?
The mercantilist policy remained in place until after the Napoleonic wars which led to the demise of all of Britain's imperial rivals and Britain's naval and economic dominance. The rapid industrialisation of Britain and the adoption of the factory system in the 1830s led to a new culture of consumerism and economic forces which included cheap and longer term credit, cheap manufactures and a steady flow of migrants. With control of the seas, a monopoly in the production of manufacture goods and an increased presence in India, there grew a demand by the industrial classes for Free Trade to facilitate further commerce. This led to the repeal of the Navigation Acts and all other acts that restricted trade by 1850. From this time although commerce remained the dominant factor in maintaining and expanding the empire, other factors began to assume an importance. The gradual rise of European powers and the USA in the last quarter of the c19th led to geopolitics becoming an important factor in Britain's acquisition of land, particularly in Africa whilst the impoverishment of the British working class led to an increase in the numbers leaving the British Isles to seek a better life overseas.
What were the main reasons for the expansion of the Empire?
Trade and wealth may have been a constant motivation for empire but other reasons such as the moral dimension, migration, strategic interest and geopolitics all played a part in the expansion of the empire at different times.
What was the moral dimension of the British Empire?
The moral dimension, always a factor in the justification of empire began to assume a greater importance in the c19th. Britain's economic and military dominance of the world and the rise of evangelism in the early c19th led to a feeling of self-confidence and the idea that the British was a nation chosen by God and given ...
What is the theme of the British Empire?
A constant theme of the British Empire is that it was empire on the cheap. The government budget for the colonies was minimal until the c20th. There was not even a separate Colonial Office until 1854 and even then it saw its job as to act as the arbiter of the various interests in the colonies and ensure that the colonies were ruled with the minimum of cost and threat to Britain's position in the world. It was for this reason that the earliest colonies were run by Joint Stock Companies which were given charters by the government which outlined what the company could do and where its geographical boundaries were. This would ensure that all the risk and the cost would be borne by private individuals but the government would reap a financial benefit through the imposition of duties and various taxes, and that the colonies would be linked to the crown.
Which company had a monopoly on trading between England and Asia?
In 1600 the government issued a Royal Charter to the East India Company which granted it monopoly on trading between England and Asia. However, the government had no shares in that company. King James I issued a Royal Charter to the Virginia Company and the Plymouth Company in 1606.
Who was the landowner of the West Indies?
In 1627 King Charles I confirmed the Earl of Carlisle as the landowner of the West Indies which included the new colony of Barbados. In the 18th century, Britain had a well-established empire of colonies in the Americas. By 1740, the British government had allowed thirteeen colonies to develop in British America.
Who was the first colonist to establish a colony in the Americas?
Walter Raleigh. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the government of England became involved in the expansion of the Empire overseas: Queen Elizabeth I and her ministers encouraged Walter Raleigh to establish his colony in the Americas at Roanoke Island in the 1580s so it could be used as a base against the Spanish empire to the south.
What did the transfer of technology do to the British Empire?
Technologies empowered the metropole but also, to some degree, strengthened the periphery.
How did technological change affect imperialism?
They also affected the timing of the Imperial state's expansion, and featured significantly in the dynamics of commercial and industrial capitalism. In both the formal and informal British Empire, in temperate and tropical colonies, their transfer gave Imperial agents more scope for intervention. Technologies empowered the metropole but also, to some degree, strengthened the periphery. They also led diverse peoples to pursue the same material ends by employing similar techniques. Indigenous acquisition of expatriate tools might strengthen autonomy, but more often it paved the way for more pervasive alien influence. The intensified or ‘new’ imperialism has been seen as a product of a particular stage of finance capital, the rise of ethnic antagonisms fuelled by racist beliefs, and the geopolitical priorities of the ‘official mind’.