Concetti Chiave
- After the Congress of Vienna, Britain adopted a policy of isolationism, focusing on economic supremacy and expanding its colonial influence, becoming the greatest colonial power.
- Queen Victoria, ascending in 1837, initially involved herself in politics, symbolizing Britain's political and cultural life, but withdrew after Prince Albert's death in 1861, later re-engaging in imperial matters.
- The 19th century marked Britain's peak in economic and colonial power, with a stable government, although conflicts like the Boer War disrupted this era.
- The British Empire began in the 16th century, with the Industrial Revolution boosting trade, allowing Britain to transform and export goods from its colonies worldwide.
- In India, British control expanded significantly, culminating in Queen Victoria being named Empress in 1877, with India becoming a central part of the British Empire.
The 1800s: Historical Context
British policy after the congress of Vienna
After the congress of Vienna, Britain started a policy of ‘isolatism’ and concentrated on her economic supremacy at home and abroad and enlarging her colonial influence. The provisions of the congress helped Britain’s trade and commerce and became the greatest colonial power.
Victoria became queen in 1837. At the beginning her inexperience facilitated the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
At the death of Albert in 1861, Victoria withdrew from national affairs but then the Prime Minister understood the importance of the symbolic role of the Crown and encouraged her to resume her interesting imperial matters.
Factors of distruption
The 19th century was the age in which Britain reached the top of its economic and colonial power, with a stable government and a feeling of continual progress.
Conflicts
A lot of conflicts troubled Victoria’s reign, with the exception of the Crimean War in 1854. The peace was broken by the Boer War (1899-1902) that was fight in South Africa between British and Dutch farmers to secure rights for British in the Transvaal where gold had been found in 1886.
Victoria's death
In 1901 Victoria dead and was succeeded by Edward Prince of Wales.
The origins of British empire
The beginning of the British Empire is in the 16th century. The Industrial Revolution influenced the trade: Britain imported a lot of things from colonies to be transformed into finished products that was exported again.
When Victoria became queen, Great Britain had colonies in Canada, West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, India and Africa.
The 19th century: imperial myth
The English felt a chosen race with the mission to carry civilisation and Christian religion all over the world. This view is voice in Kipling’s poem The White Man’s Burden.
Ireland
In Ireland there was nation feelings against English dominance and the Irish Question dominated the parliamentary scene till the end of Victoria’s reign.
From the beginning of the 19th century Irish Roman Catholics didn’t have the same political and civil right as Irish Protestants required political reforms and equal civil rights.
In 1886 and 1893 Gladstone’s proposal for Irish Home Rule were rejected and rise a nationalistic movement that demanded an independent republic.
India
In the second half of 18th century the East India Company started to conquer territory. India exported tea, cotton, wood and pepper and imported British products.
The British Government replaced the East India Company’s authority when opposition to British rule by Hindu and Muslim soldiers was crushed by British solders. So, India was ruled by a Viceroy and in 1877 became “The Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire when Queen Victoria was named Empress.
Then the British extend their influence in Afghanistan, Burma, the Punjab and Baluchistan.
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Cuál fue la política británica después del Congreso de Viena?
- ¿Qué papel desempeñó la Reina Victoria en la política británica?
- ¿Qué conflictos ocurrieron durante el reinado de Victoria?
- ¿Cómo influyó la Revolución Industrial en el Imperio Británico?
Después del Congreso de Viena, Gran Bretaña adoptó una política de "aislacionismo" y se concentró en su supremacía económica y en ampliar su influencia colonial.
Al principio de su reinado, la Reina Victoria participó activamente en la vida política, pero tras la muerte de Albert en 1861, se retiró de los asuntos nacionales hasta que el Primer Ministro la animó a retomar su interés en asuntos imperiales.
Durante el reinado de Victoria, hubo varios conflictos, siendo la Guerra de Crimea en 1854 una excepción. La paz se rompió con la Guerra de los Bóers (1899-1902) en Sudáfrica.
La Revolución Industrial influyó en el comercio británico, ya que Gran Bretaña importaba materias primas de las colonias para transformarlas en productos terminados que luego exportaba nuevamente.
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