How long britain ruled the world

Start your trial subscription today ———————————————————————————————. In India became independent following a nonviolent civil-disobedience campaign spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi. Britain had lost the jewel in its crown, and this kickstarted a domino effect across the Empire.

Ghana became Britain's first African colony to reach independence in By more than 20 British territories were independent.

Little remains of British rule today across the globe, and it is mostly restricted to small island territories such as Bermuda and the Falkland Islands. However, a number of countries still have Queen Elizabeth as their head of state including New Zealand, Australia and Canada - a hangover of the Empire. Skip to header Skip to main content Skip to footer. Daily Briefing. The Print Collector. How did the empire come about? This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here.

More From Forbes. May 6, , am EDT. Feb 9, , am EST. Feb 4, , am EST. Jan 26, , am EST. Oct 29, , pm EDT. Oct 27, , pm EDT. Oct 13, , pm EDT. People considered them less important than white people, and used these beliefs to help them justify the former trading of enslaved people. No compensation was paid to the enslaved people themselves! The compensation sum was vast , and in fact, the loan taken out to pay for it was still being paid off by British tax payers as recently as !

Many former slave owners went on to invest their compensation money in businesses — some of which still exist today — or in development projects like the British railways.

Therefore, even though slavery had ended, its legacy continued to live on. In fact, you can still see evidence of the profits of slavery in Britain today. Just take a look at the impressive 18th and 19th Century buildings that line cities like London , Liverpool and Bristol and the grand, stately homes in the British countryside. So, why were these countries given independence first?

Well, by this time these countries had large white populations of European descent , living under the rule of formal governments. Over the next decades, however, the remaining colonies continued to push for independence. After the Second World War, Britain no longer had the wealth or strength to manage an empire overseas. Many colonies had fought for the British during the war although people of colour were mainly given low-rank positions , and were making their own plans for independence.

In , India won its independence , and from the s to s, African colonies also fought for and won their independence. The last significant British colony, Hong Kong, was returned to China in What had taken hundreds of years to build, was broken down far quicker!

These are mainly self-governing countries separate to the United Kingdom, that continue to share a bond with Britain. In their efforts to free themselves from British rule, many people were treated cruelly — and, in some cases, demands and protests were met with violence from British forces. In , for example, in an event known as the Amritsar Massacre , the British imprisoned and killed thousands of Indian people taking part in a peaceful independence protest.

In response to protests and violent riots, the British executed Kenyans and imprisoned many in camps , where they were forced to live in inhumane conditions — and even tortured.

Estimates on the number of Kenyans affected varies hugely, but many believe that thousands were executed, tens of thousands imprisoned and over a million were forced from their homes and made to live elsewhere.

The truth about what happened in Kenya was hidden for many years , and only truly came to light in , after a group of Kenyan victims won a court battle that forced the British government to apologise and pay them compensation for their sufferings.

As the British Empire began to fall, it was replaced by what is today called The Commonwealth or The Commonwealth of Nations — an organisation that countries can choose to join, or leave. Today, it is made up of over 50 countries who work and trade together.

They also share a common set of values, including fair political elections , the respect of human rights and working towards international peace. Did you know? The Queen is the head of the Commonwealth. By the time the British Empire came to an end, it had truly left its mark on the world. Countries had experienced huge social , economic and political changes under British rule.

But what the British Empire left behind is a complex topic that is questioned and discussed to this very day…. When the empire was being built, British people largely believed they were doing the right thing.

Today, those British attitudes are changing. People are learning more about the wrongs that the Empire forced on indigenous peoples and the long-lasting damage that it left on its overseas territories, long after the empire was over. While empire made Britain richer, its lands overseas became poorer , as much of the wealth was taken and sent back to Britain, or enjoyed by British landowners. This created vast differences in wealth — not only between countries, but between people of different races , too.

In fact, following European imperialism, people of colour have had to work incredibly hard for equal rights and opportunities. Sadly, this struggle is still ongoing in countries around the world, including the United Kingdom. Even though laws state everyone should be treated equally regardless of race , people continue to face hardships and disadvantages because of the colour of their skin. The good news is that more and more people are speaking out against racism and their voices are being heard.

And thankfully today, more than ever, organisations, charities, governments and individuals around the world are working together to create a future where everyone is treated fairly and equally. You can find lots of fab features on different countries and cultures, here.