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[[File:The British Empire 5.png|thumb|Areas of the world that were part of the British Empire]] | [[File:The British Empire 5.png|thumb|Areas of the world that were part of the British Empire]] | ||
The [[British Empire]] colonized parts of [[North America]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]], and [[Oceania]] and controlled nearly 25% of the world's land area at its peak. <ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Larry Holzwarth|newspaper=History Collection|title=10 Atrocities Committed by the British Empire that They Would Like to Erase from History Books|date=2018-03-17|url=https://historycollection.com/10-atrocities-committed-by-the-british-empire-that-they-would-like-to-erase-from-history-books/}}</ref> In the 21st Century the UK still maintains holds on many of its former colonies, imposing the British Monarch as the head of state on several of them. The UK is also a key contributor to [[United States imperialism|US imperialism]] | The [[British Empire]] colonized parts of [[North America]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]], and [[Oceania]] and controlled nearly 25% of the world's land area at its peak. <ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Larry Holzwarth|newspaper=History Collection|title=10 Atrocities Committed by the British Empire that They Would Like to Erase from History Books|date=2018-03-17|url=https://historycollection.com/10-atrocities-committed-by-the-british-empire-that-they-would-like-to-erase-from-history-books/}}</ref> In the 21st Century the UK still maintains holds on many of its former colonies, imposing the British Monarch as the head of state on several of them. The UK is also a key contributor to [[United States imperialism|US imperialism]] having colonialised the [[United States of America|US]] in the 17th Century. | ||
== By continent == | == By continent == | ||
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=== Africa === | === Africa === | ||
Britain took part in the [[Scramble for Africa]] a land grab carving the continent into colonies occurring between 1876 and 1914 resulting in the percentage of Africa under European occupation growing from 10% in 1876 to more than 90% in 1900. The British goal was to carve an empire from north to south also known as 'from Cairo to the cape' which would link existing colonies in [[Arab Republic of Egypt|Egypt]], East Africa and [[Republic of South Africa|South Africa]]. This plan was prevented by the [[German Empire (1871–1918)|German Empire]] who occupied [[United Republic of Tanzania|Tanzania]].<ref>{{Citation|author=Neil Faulkner|year=2013|title=Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals|chapter=Imperialism and War|page=170-171|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzacedljwr5izotdclz23o3c5p4di4t3ero3ncbfytip55slhiz4otuls?filename=Neil%20Faulkner%20-%20A%20Marxist%20History%20of%20the%20World_%20From%20Neanderthals%20to%20Neoliberals-Pluto%20Press%20%282013%29.pdf|publisher=Pluto Press|isbn=9781849648639|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=91CA6C708BFE15444FE27899217FBA8E}}</ref> | Britain took part in the [[Scramble for Africa]] a land grab carving the continent into colonies occurring between 1876 and 1914 resulting in the percentage of Africa under European occupation growing from 10% in 1876 to more than 90% in 1900. The British goal was to carve an empire from north to south also known as 'from Cairo to the cape' which would link existing colonies in [[Arab Republic of Egypt|Egypt]], East Africa and [[Republic of South Africa|South Africa]]. This plan was prevented by the [[German Empire (1871–1918)|German Empire]] who occupied [[United Republic of Tanzania|Tanzania]].<ref>{{Citation|author=Neil Faulkner|year=2013|title=Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals|chapter=Imperialism and War|page=170-171|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzacedljwr5izotdclz23o3c5p4di4t3ero3ncbfytip55slhiz4otuls?filename=Neil%20Faulkner%20-%20A%20Marxist%20History%20of%20the%20World_%20From%20Neanderthals%20to%20Neoliberals-Pluto%20Press%20%282013%29.pdf|publisher=Pluto Press|isbn=9781849648639|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=91CA6C708BFE15444FE27899217FBA8E}}</ref> | ||
==== Kenya ==== | ==== Kenya ==== | ||
During the [[Mau Mau Uprising]] of 1952 in [[Kenya]], nearly the entire civilian population of the Kikuyu was placed in work camps by the British. Some were dragged across the ground by military vehicles or mauled by guard dogs.<ref name=":0" /> | During the [[Mau Mau Uprising]] of 1952 in [[Kenya]], nearly the entire civilian population of the Kikuyu was placed in work camps by the British. Some were dragged across the ground by military vehicles or mauled by guard dogs.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==== South Africa ==== | ==== South Africa ==== | ||
During the Boer Wars in South Africa, the British destroyed farms and dumped salt in wells. In the Second Boer War, between 1899 and 1902, they built over 100 concentration camps for Boers and Africans. 30,000 Boers died in these camps, mostly children, as well as 20,000 Africans who were not largely involved in the war.<ref name=":0" /> | During the Boer Wars in South Africa, the British destroyed farms and dumped salt in wells. In the Second Boer War, between 1899 and 1902, they built over 100 concentration camps for Boers and Africans. 30,000 Boers died in these camps, mostly children, as well as 20,000 Africans who were not largely involved in the war.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== Asia === | === Asia === | ||
==== India ==== | |||
Over five million Indians died in famines during the 1870s under the [[British Raj (1858–1947)|British Raj]]. During another famine in 1943, Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] blamed the Indians for the famine, saying "Famine or no famine, Indians will breed like rabbits." | Over five million Indians died in famines during the 1870s under the [[British Raj (1858–1947)|British Raj]]. During another famine in 1943, Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] blamed the Indians for the famine, saying "Famine or no famine, Indians will breed like rabbits." | ||
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In Amritsar, [[Punjab]], in 1919, a large crowd gathered to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi. The British Indian Army blocked the exits and fired on the crowd, killing over a thousand and wounding 1,100 more.<ref name=":0" /> | In Amritsar, [[Punjab]], in 1919, a large crowd gathered to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi. The British Indian Army blocked the exits and fired on the crowd, killing over a thousand and wounding 1,100 more.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==== Malaysia ==== | |||
During the [[Malayan Emergency]] of the 1950s, the British forcibly relocated Chinese people in [[Malaysia|Malaya]] into 450 "New Villages." No one was allowed in or out without the permission of the guards.<ref name=":0" /> | During the [[Malayan Emergency]] of the 1950s, the British forcibly relocated Chinese people in [[Malaysia|Malaya]] into 450 "New Villages." No one was allowed in or out without the permission of the guards.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==== Hong Kong ==== | |||
The British took control of the [[Qing dynasty (1636–1912)|Chinese]] territory of [[Hong Kong]] in the 19th century following the [[Opium Wars]]. For 150 years, a British-appointed governor ruled the territory without being chosen by the people of Hong Kong. Hong Kong returned to [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] sovereignty on 1 July 1997 and is administered under [[One Country, Two Systems]].<ref>{{Web citation|author=Kenny Coyle|newspaper=[[Australian Marxist Review]]|title=British Imperialism – A Threat to World Peace|date=2022-09-28|url=https://cpa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AMR73_2022-09.pdf}}</ref> | The British took control of the [[Qing dynasty (1636–1912)|Chinese]] territory of [[Hong Kong]] in the 19th century following the [[Opium Wars]]. For 150 years, a British-appointed governor ruled the territory without being chosen by the people of Hong Kong. Hong Kong returned to [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] sovereignty on 1 July 1997 and is administered under [[One Country, Two Systems]].<ref>{{Web citation|author=Kenny Coyle|newspaper=[[Australian Marxist Review]]|title=British Imperialism – A Threat to World Peace|date=2022-09-28|url=https://cpa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AMR73_2022-09.pdf}}</ref> | ||
=== Europe === | === Europe === | ||
=== Ireland === | |||
In 1845, potato blight destroyed the potato harvest in Ireland, beginning a famine. The British appointed [[Charles Trevelyan]] to administer Ireland during the famine. Trevelyan adopted a [[Laissez-faire capitalism|laissez-faire]] attitude and wrote that the famine was an "effective mechanism for reducing surplus population" and "the judgement of God to teach the Irish a lesson." Exports of food from Ireland increased during the famine and over a million people starved to death.<ref name=":0" /> | In 1845, potato blight destroyed the potato harvest in Ireland, beginning a famine. The British appointed [[Charles Trevelyan]] to administer Ireland during the famine. Trevelyan adopted a [[Laissez-faire capitalism|laissez-faire]] attitude and wrote that the famine was an "effective mechanism for reducing surplus population" and "the judgement of God to teach the Irish a lesson." Exports of food from Ireland increased during the famine and over a million people starved to death.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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=== Oceania === | === Oceania === | ||
=== South America === | === South America === | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||