Did the British Empire?

Question

Did the British Empire have a Positive or Negative effect on the World

Answer 1

Broadly positive - you have to think in terms of bringing the Rule of Law to all parts of the globe and also in terms of Unification - India was united by the British involvement ... it would be a series of princely states if they had not been there ...

Other factors include the British notion of free trade, the abolition of slavery and other economic benefits beside the 'Pax Britannica' that British administration brought.

Answer 2

Positive and negative.

The British are responsible for the industrial revolution which vastly improved the standard of living of western peoples. Aslo, the lands that Britian colonized, and their indigenous peoples, have generally done better than the lands colonized by other western countries, such as France, Portugal, Spain. The British Empire was also the first western country to abolish slavery, and enforce it. The East India company set up massive industries and railway systems in India, and today India is a very industrious nation.

However they have had a negative effect on the places they colonized just like other western nations. With western colonization came disease, and guns. The Australian and American native people have suffered immensely from British Colonization, and the Maoris of New Zealand were cheated of their land. Also I think the British were responsible for a huge amount of conflict in China and the golden triangle, due to their involvement in opium trade.

There are always two sides to a story, so its hard to say overall whether the British empire has had a positive or negative effect.

Answer 3

This is one of those questions that does not have a straight answer. It is easy to look at the bad things that the empire started and prolonged. However it did bring about modern economics and the industrial revolution which in turn allowed science to flourish alongside them.

The main function of the British empire was trade. Trade in goods and trade in technologies. It has always been the same with any large "empire" going back to Egypt, Rome and China right through to the United States today.

For some strange reason the British Empire is a taboo subject in schools right now. I cannot think why as without it we would still be using oil to burn in lamps and philosphers, teachers and artists would still be being tried as witches.

Answer 4

Positive

Answer 5

Yes. The British achieved a huge amount with a limited population and a small country to operate from. Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada, South Africa, USA - all democratic countries that are relatively peaceful, with respected legal systems. Compare that with other countries of the world and the Empire comes out looking quite favourable.

Answer 6

There is no definitive answer because opinions become involved and who decides which opinion is right.

I guess it was mainly a force for good. Unlike the Romans, Ottomans, Germans and Japanese the British did not embark on military campaigns to acquire its territories.

It was mainly acquired by acts of exploration to lands where there was no organised government forces to resist their landings and was done mainly by single or a small quantity of ships though conflict did come eventually when other European nations started to come into conflict with the trading monopoly that Britain had established with its colonies.

If it had been a power for bad I guess the world would have rejected the English language, the religious teachings and the government and legal systems which were established throughout the world.

Answer 7

the British as well as the Americans have brought a lot of good things to people world wide, and of course in the process some things either didn't work out or maybe some greed was involved, but all in all contrary to our liberal professors who if they had any sense would realize the good out weight the bad, it is strange how you can send a jackass to college, but even when he finishes he is still a jackass,
there are otter country's who have made many useful contributions to the world, and most are seldom recognized nor appreciated, what a damned shame. as if some one hits a stupid ball the farthest or can make a goal etc, he or she is always recognized as being so great,

Answer 8

i would say very negative. it might be dressed up now to be 'not so bad' but in reality it was imperialistic and expansionist. it might have brought decent 'British' values to people but i think whatever or not that is a good thing is highly questionable. Ive seen plenty of times the British empire being portrayed as a on the whole fairly noble intentions but misguided sort of idea. but i cant really see, from what we know about human beings, this can be true. to me it stinks of British people being unable to cope with a negative heritage.

but then again i don't know too much about it. but in centuries to come will the people of Iraq be thanking the westerners for installing their 'virtues' upon them?

Answer 9

Generally good. All places we went.. we didn't barracade ourselves in from the local populace, and just rape their countries..... we acutally helped set up institutions and more often than not worked with the local people. Also we built infrastructure. However I'm not denying it was sometimes harsh rule... although it was harsh for all, even common normal British people in Britain at the time.

Answer 10

The British wouldn't let the Jews come into Israel during the holocaust. I would consider that negative.