The Commonwealth's History
The ancient British Empire's colonies (before 1783):
| settlement colonies | trading colonies | strategic locations |
|---|
| Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Cape Colony | India (spices,cotton,tea) | Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Suez Canal |
Timeline:
| 1783 | Britain lost its American colonies -> expanded aroung the whole globe |
| 1867 | Canada became a Dominion with its own government and was from then on equal to the UK. |
| 1884 | The Commonwealth of Nations was first described by Lord Rosebery. |
| 1900-1921 | Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Irish Free State became Dominions. |
| 1926 | Imperial Conference; "British Commonwealth of Nations" was founded, Dominions were defined as "autonomous, [...] equal in status, in no way subordinate [...] though united by common allegiance to the Crown" |
| 1930 | First Empire Games in order to intensify the Commonwealth's unity |
| After WWII | Commonwealth developed into a rather "multiracial association of sovereign and equal states" |
| 1947 | Independence of India and Pakistan; India became a Republic. |
| 1949 | Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers: title changed into "Commonwealth of Nations", India: first republican member of the Commonwealth, King George VI: "symbol of the free association and thus Head of the Commonwealth." |
| 1950s&60s | many nations were decolonized and joined the Commonwealth (e.g. Ghana 1957) |
| 1961 | South Africa resigned from the Commonwealth due to its opposition to apartheid, but rejoined in 1994 |
| 1965 | the Commonwealth Secretariat was established |
| 1991 | Harare Commonwealth Declaration: new course for 21st century was firmly agreed on |
| 1997 | conference in Edinburgh; economic principles and practical activities were agreed on, Hongkong, the last British colony, was given back to China |
| Today | 1.7 billion people, 54 countries (forms of government: 33 republics, 5 national monarchies, 16 constitutional monarchies) |
The Commonwealth's Principles
- acceptance of the Queen as Head of the State
- democracy
- human rights, racial equality, equality of women
- economic and social development
- working language
- similar systems of law, administration and education
- national sovereignity
by Rebekka, Lisa F
How the Empire became the Commonwealth
Background information:
- 1783: loss of the American colonies
- British colonialism expanded around the whole globe
- India: most cherished colony
Settlement colonies: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Cape Colony
- most of the other ones- used for trading (India: spices, cotton, tea) or important strategic locations
- under direct rule of Britain
Empire and Commonwealth:
- reasons for Commonwealth: imperial past, decolonisation, the effects of the 2 world wars, changing patterns of international relations, trading partners
- Modern Commonwealth: has its roots in the 19th century, first colony transformed into a self-governing Domino: Canada (1867)
- Dominos: Canada (1867), Australia (1900), New Zealand (1907), South Africa (1910), Irish Free State (1912)
Changes of the nature of the British Commonwealth:
- reason: Second World War
- 1947: India’s and Pakistan’s independence (beginning)
- from 1960 onwards: the Commonwealth expanded rapidly with new members
Milestones:
- 1961: South Africa no longer took part in the Common wealth anymore (apartheid)
- 1994: South Africa rejoined the association (end of the apartheid)
- 1965: the Commonwealth Secretariat in London became the association’s own independent civil service, headed by the Commonwealth Secretary General
The Common wealth –today:
- Head of the Commonwealth: Queen Elisabeth II
- 33 members are republics
- 5 members have national monarchies of their own (Tonga, Brunei Darussalam, Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland)
- 16 constitutional monarchies
- Queen Elisabeth II as Head of state
Britain’s changing role
The rise and fall of the British empire
British empire:
- colonies, protectorates and other territories are under sovereignty of British crown and government
- largest empire ever
19th century : worlds major industrial power: raw materials like cotton, tea and rubber
1607: First overseas settlement in Jamestown on the east cost of America
Colonies were established in the Carribbean, India, Australia, Oceania and Africa.
1876: Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India
- British tried to evangelize indigenous people which led to mistreatment of many original inhabitants
End of 19th century/20th century: decolonisation ->first countries gain independence
After World War II, Britain granted independence to some colonies
- transition wasn't always painful
- the partition of India into Pakistan and India ,after becoming independent, led to destructive massacrers
1960's: Due to international pressure many of Britains remaining colonies gained indepedence
1977: Britain hands over Hong Kong to the Chinese
- but still has 14 overseas territories
The Commonwealth - a family of nations
The Commonwealth is a loose federation of 54 sovereign states, consisting of GB and several former
dependencies. It was founded in 1931.
- Over 1.7 billion people belong to the Commenwealth
- Having several different cultures, nationalities and faiths
The Commonwealth does not have a charter, but is committed to democracy, human rights, the rule of law
and good government
- Heads of Governement meet regularly to discuss current issues and needs.
It organizes different events like the Commonwealth games to strenghen the Commonwealth and to
support international understanding.
Immigration to Britain
Labour shortage at the end of WWII
- British governement started to encourage immigration
- In the 1950's and 1960's people from the former colonies, ( mainly from the Carribean and India) immigrated to the UK
- Until 1962 citizens from the former colonies could enter the UK freely
- this mass immigration resulted in prejudice and violence in forms of riots and discrimination
In the 1970 goverment passed legislations to:
- limit immigration
- lower racial tensions
- it also created he "commission for Racial Equality" to defeat racial discrimination
Still today ethnic minority Britons have to fave many problems:
- higher rate of unemployment
- racial discrimination, etc.
But the conditions of the British Indians and Afro-Caribbeans are becoming more equal:
- highest level of interracial marriages
- women earn good money
Lisa Casey, Svenja Kaufeld, Jennifer Schäfer, Konstantin Mansfeld, Anika Lehn & Jan Möller
Britain's changing role
| The rise and fall of the British Empire | The Commonwealth - a family of nations | Immigration to Britain |
|---|
| At the end of the 19th century Britain was the largest empire of the world and its major industrial power. The reasons for this were Britain’s colonies with all their raw materials. One of them was India which was called "the jewel in the crown". British missionaries travelled the colonies to convert the inhabitants to Christianity and the "British way of life". At the beginning of the 20th century decolonization began to limit Britain’s power. Although the countries gained their independence back the transition to self-government was not always peaceful. Britain still has 14 overseas territories. | The Commonwealth consists of 54 independent states that once were Britain’s colonies. Officially it was founded in 1931. Its members are spread all over the world. The Heads of Government meet every 2 years to discuss particular needs or agree on declarations although the Commonwealth does not have a charter like the United Nations. Since 1930 the Commonwealth Games were held every 4 years. The Competitors are seen as individuals and not as countries. The aim is to "develop sport for the benefit of the people". | At the end of World War II people immigrated to Britain from former colonies. Labour shortages made the government encourage mass immigration. This led to racial prejudice and violence, especially in large cities where people were afraid of the growing black community. Since 1962 the number of immigrations to Britain is limited by law. To improve the situation in Britain acts were passed and the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) was founded. Ethnic minorities still have problems in social life and they are still discriminated against. Racial tension and unemployment are still problems although the community becomes more integrated. |
by Christian and Nadine