British Empire
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| - | The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates | + | The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, and other territories ruled or administered by the [[United_Kingdom_(British_Empire)|United Kingdom]], that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It is the largest empire in history and, for over a century, is still the foremost global power. |
The British Empire includes over 2.229 billion people, which is almost a third of the world's population. | The British Empire includes over 2.229 billion people, which is almost a third of the world's population. | ||
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=Government= | =Government= | ||
| - | The British Empire is composed of the [[United_Kingdom_(British_Empire)|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]], the Dominions, the Indian Empire (British Raj), Crown Colonies, and Protectorates. All have different governing arrangements and different relationships with the United Kingdom. They are all however under the soverignty of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Empress of India. | + | The British Empire is composed of the [[United_Kingdom_(British_Empire)|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]], the Dominions, the Indian Empire (British Raj), Crown Colonies, and Protectorates. All have different governing arrangements and different relationships with the United Kingdom. They are all however under the soverignty of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Empress of India. The British Cabinet has four posts directly related to the day-to-day administration of the Empire: |
| + | |||
| + | *Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (certain protectorates) | ||
| + | *Secretary of State for India | ||
| + | *Secretary of State for the Colonies | ||
| + | *Secretary of State for the Dominions | ||
==United Kingdom== | ==United Kingdom== | ||
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==Indian Empire== | ==Indian Empire== | ||
| - | The Indian Empire, consisting of 8 provinces, and 5 minor provinces. Within those provinces, there are approximately 565 Princly States. | + | The Indian Empire, consisting of 8 provinces, and 5 minor provinces is the largest and most prosperous part of the British Empire. Within those provinces, there are approximately 565 Princly States. The Indian Empire is under the control of the Secretary of State for India, and the India Council (which advises the India Secretary). Ordinarily the Secretary must consult the Council, but in emergencies, he can rule unilaterally. The Council is composed of twenty people, five British and fifteen Indians (currently). The Viceroy and Governor-General of India is both the Queen's representative to the princly states and the head of the administration in India. He governs through the Executive Council of India, and the Imperial Legislative Assembly. These bodies advise the Viceroy in executive and legislative matters respectively. |
==Crown Colonies== | ==Crown Colonies== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Crown colonies are ruled by a governor appointed by the Queen. They have varying degrees of autonomy | ||
==Protectorates== | ==Protectorates== | ||
| - | Protectorates have indigenous governments, and wide | + | Protectorates have indigenous governments, and wide autonomy in internal affairs. All protectorates differ in the treaties that establish them. In all cases, foreign affairs are under British control, and defence forces, while often locally raised, are under British command. |
=Demographics= | =Demographics= | ||
Revision as of 11:57, 11 October 2009
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom, that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It is the largest empire in history and, for over a century, is still the foremost global power.
The British Empire includes over 2.229 billion people, which is almost a third of the world's population.
Here is a map of the British Empire as it stands in 2009: Map of the British Empire
Contents |
Government
The British Empire is composed of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Dominions, the Indian Empire (British Raj), Crown Colonies, and Protectorates. All have different governing arrangements and different relationships with the United Kingdom. They are all however under the soverignty of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Empress of India. The British Cabinet has four posts directly related to the day-to-day administration of the Empire:
- Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (certain protectorates)
- Secretary of State for India
- Secretary of State for the Colonies
- Secretary of State for the Dominions
United Kingdom
see main article Government of the UK
The UK is governed by its Parliament (consisting of the Queen, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons). Its laws are carried out by the civil service.
Dominions
The Dominions are "autonomous Communities within the British Empire," and essentially equal to the United Kingdom in most matters. The Dominions have a separate crown with the same Queen (i.e. Elizabeth II is separately the Queen of the United Kingdom, and the Queen of Australia). A colony (or federation of colonies) can become a dominion if it achieves 'responsible government'. They must be peaceful, have a parliamentary government (of their own creation), financially independent of the UK, capable of defending themselves. For this reason, only Eire and the former-settler colonies of Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand have achieved dominion status.
Indian Empire
The Indian Empire, consisting of 8 provinces, and 5 minor provinces is the largest and most prosperous part of the British Empire. Within those provinces, there are approximately 565 Princly States. The Indian Empire is under the control of the Secretary of State for India, and the India Council (which advises the India Secretary). Ordinarily the Secretary must consult the Council, but in emergencies, he can rule unilaterally. The Council is composed of twenty people, five British and fifteen Indians (currently). The Viceroy and Governor-General of India is both the Queen's representative to the princly states and the head of the administration in India. He governs through the Executive Council of India, and the Imperial Legislative Assembly. These bodies advise the Viceroy in executive and legislative matters respectively.
Crown Colonies
Crown colonies are ruled by a governor appointed by the Queen. They have varying degrees of autonomy
Protectorates
Protectorates have indigenous governments, and wide autonomy in internal affairs. All protectorates differ in the treaties that establish them. In all cases, foreign affairs are under British control, and defence forces, while often locally raised, are under British command.
Demographics
The most common ethnicity in the British Empire is Indian.
Flags
Union Flag
The Union Flag is not only the flag of the United Kingdom, it is the flag of the Empire. As such, it has precedence over all Colonial and Protectorate flags, but is equal to Dominion flags (but together the Union Flag has precedence). It is incorporated into most British Empire flag designs. It is normally in the canton, however South Africa has a Union Flag in the middle of its flag. Eire and Gibraltar do not use the Union Jack.
Union Flag
British Flags
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Dominion Flags
Commonwealth of Australia
Irish Free State
Dominion of New Zealand
Union of South Africa
Indian Empire Flag
Flag of the Indian Empire
Crown Colony Flags
Colony of Aden
British Antarctic Territory
Bahamas
Colony of Barbados
Basutoland
Bermuda
Burma
British Cameroons
Ceylon
Falkland Islands
Fiji
British Gambia
Gibraltar
Gillbert and Ellice Islands
Colony of Gold Coast
British Guiana
British Honduras
Hong Kong
British Indian Ocean Territory
Jamaica
Colony of Kenya
British Leeward Islands
New Hebrides
Colony of Nigeria
North Borneo
Northern Rhodesia
Pitcairn Island
Saint Helena
Samoa
Sierra Leone
Crown Colony of Singapore
Colony of the Solomon Islands
British Somaliland
Southern Rhodesia
Suez Canal Zone
Tanganyika
Turks and Caicos Islands
Colony of Tuvalu
British Windward Islands
Protectorate Flags
Bechuanaland Protectorate
Protectorate of Brunei Darussalam
Egypt
Federated Malay States
Maldives
Muscat and Oman
Nyasaland
Swaziland Protectorate
Tonga
Trucial States
Uganda Protectorate
Zanzibar Protectorate
