2. To what extent did the reasons for the growth of the British Empire
change in the period 1857-1965?
When looking at the period 1857 – 1965 as a whole, it is evident that the reasons for
growth of the British Empire did change significantly with strategic reasons playing
a greater role in the late 19th and 20th century but with economic reasons for growth
playing a greater role in the liberal era of free trade after the repeal of the corn laws
in 1846 to the growth of greater government intervention in the late 19 th and 20th
centuries, exemplified by Britain’s occupation of Egypt in 1882. However, on the
other hand, the ‘civilising mission’ reason for growth remained relatively consistent
throughout the period with the Indian Education Act in 1858, The Ilbert Bill 1883,
The Child Marriage Act 1929 and the Native Lands Act 1913 all demonstrating this
consistency. However, when looking at the period as a whole, the changing strategic
and economic motivations for growth of the British Empire suggest that the reasons
for growth did, indeed, change during the period 1857-1965.
The economic reasons for the growth of empire evolved throughout the period. After
the repeal of the corn laws in 1846, a period of liberal free trade dominated British
policy. In the period from 1957 until 1882, Britain generally followed the principle of
extending control informally if possible and formally if necessary – this informal
extension of the empire was to facilitate free trade in the mid-19 th century. This is
well demonstrated by the Treaty of Tientsin in 1858 and the Treaty of Peking in 1860
both as part of the second opium war. These treaties allowed for the expansion of
treaty ports where Britain could trade freely. These treaties also allowed for the
legal importation of opium, reflecting Britain’s pursuit of free trade. The continuity
of this free trade expansion of empire is well demonstrated by Britain’s purchase of
shares in the Suez Canal company in 1875 to control a vital artery of maritime
trade, ensuring it remained open and accessible for British ships and commerce.
This era of empire expansion to ensure the continuity of free trade continued until a
more hostile international climate towards the end of the 19 th century meant Britain
was often unable to achieve paramountcy through informal means. In the late 19 th
century and early 20th century, Britain expanded its empire through greater
government intervention economically, marking a departure from laissez-faire
economic policies of the free trade era. This change of policy became known as neo-
mercantilism. It is best demonstrated by the granting of royal charters in Africa such
as the British South Africa Company in 1889 and the Royal Niger Company in 1886
which gave corporations such as Cecil Rhodes BSAC the role of administrating
territories and establishing law and order – reflecting a form of state backed
corporate control different from the era of free trade decades earlier. Similarly, in
the early 20th century, government intervention in India’s Tea and Opium trade
further demonstrates greater government intervention in the economy of empire –
leading to its expansion – with the British government, in this case, directly
regulating and promoting the opium trade between India and China and developing
the tea industry in Assam with government incentives and with large tracts of land
change in the period 1857-1965?
When looking at the period 1857 – 1965 as a whole, it is evident that the reasons for
growth of the British Empire did change significantly with strategic reasons playing
a greater role in the late 19th and 20th century but with economic reasons for growth
playing a greater role in the liberal era of free trade after the repeal of the corn laws
in 1846 to the growth of greater government intervention in the late 19 th and 20th
centuries, exemplified by Britain’s occupation of Egypt in 1882. However, on the
other hand, the ‘civilising mission’ reason for growth remained relatively consistent
throughout the period with the Indian Education Act in 1858, The Ilbert Bill 1883,
The Child Marriage Act 1929 and the Native Lands Act 1913 all demonstrating this
consistency. However, when looking at the period as a whole, the changing strategic
and economic motivations for growth of the British Empire suggest that the reasons
for growth did, indeed, change during the period 1857-1965.
The economic reasons for the growth of empire evolved throughout the period. After
the repeal of the corn laws in 1846, a period of liberal free trade dominated British
policy. In the period from 1957 until 1882, Britain generally followed the principle of
extending control informally if possible and formally if necessary – this informal
extension of the empire was to facilitate free trade in the mid-19 th century. This is
well demonstrated by the Treaty of Tientsin in 1858 and the Treaty of Peking in 1860
both as part of the second opium war. These treaties allowed for the expansion of
treaty ports where Britain could trade freely. These treaties also allowed for the
legal importation of opium, reflecting Britain’s pursuit of free trade. The continuity
of this free trade expansion of empire is well demonstrated by Britain’s purchase of
shares in the Suez Canal company in 1875 to control a vital artery of maritime
trade, ensuring it remained open and accessible for British ships and commerce.
This era of empire expansion to ensure the continuity of free trade continued until a
more hostile international climate towards the end of the 19 th century meant Britain
was often unable to achieve paramountcy through informal means. In the late 19 th
century and early 20th century, Britain expanded its empire through greater
government intervention economically, marking a departure from laissez-faire
economic policies of the free trade era. This change of policy became known as neo-
mercantilism. It is best demonstrated by the granting of royal charters in Africa such
as the British South Africa Company in 1889 and the Royal Niger Company in 1886
which gave corporations such as Cecil Rhodes BSAC the role of administrating
territories and establishing law and order – reflecting a form of state backed
corporate control different from the era of free trade decades earlier. Similarly, in
the early 20th century, government intervention in India’s Tea and Opium trade
further demonstrates greater government intervention in the economy of empire –
leading to its expansion – with the British government, in this case, directly
regulating and promoting the opium trade between India and China and developing
the tea industry in Assam with government incentives and with large tracts of land
