What do you think the greatest moment was for the British Empire?

Question

1485 - Present Day (The Commonwealth of Nations)

The British Empire was the most extensive empire in world history and for a substantial time was the foremost global power. By 1921, the British Empire held sway over a population of about 458 million people, approximately one-quarter of the world's population. It covered about 36.6 million km² (14.2 million square miles), about a quarter of Earth's total land area. Because of its size at the peak of its power, it was often said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire" because the empire's span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous colonies.

But what was its finest and greatest moment?

To: ncfan51

The extended part of my question did not say the largest, but the most extensive. Also I think you meant "non-contiguous".

To: Crash Jones

The Magna Carta was in the 13th century. A long time before the empire began.

To: Lyndsay P

Lets not for get that the empire is no more, but the commonwealth has taken its place.

To: tankbuff

The English were not kicked out of Dunkirk. The Germans stopped their advance out side of Dunkirk on May 24th, this gave the British time to assess the situation and it was prudent to remove our forces in order to better protect England. If we had not left, Britain would have been vulnerable to invasion and morale in Britain could have possibly sunk so low as to have toppled the government and replaced it with one more disposed to making an accommodation with Nazi Germany, similar to the Vichy regime in France.

To: ethereal

Remember that in 1583 Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed the island of Newfoundland as England's for Elizabeth I, reinforcing John Cabot's prior claim to the island in 1497, for Henry VII, as England's first overseas colony. Henry VII began his rule in 1485, so this is the date we use for the beginning of the empire.

Answer 1

It's a good question, not because (perhaps) it has any single correct answer, but because it makes you think about the nature of Empire. I liked rdenig's answer (because it's what came to my mind straight away) about how the British encouraged the development of independent states within their empire, but I also have to acknowldege that Rachel is correct, that this was a 'privelige' granted to some and not others.

Put it this way.. if Britain did not have the 'sense' to let the US colonies 'go' without a fight, or Ireland - they were in this 'no worse' than any other empire in history that has fought tooth and nail to retain it's territory. But in the sense that they let Australia, and Canada, the African colonies, the Pacific Island colonies and India, Burma and Malaya 'go' (having done at least some work in assisting setting up local governments in those countries) they were a 'lot better' than most Empires in history.

But the 'finest' single moment? I'd have to say it'd have to be a 'deed' rather than just 'words' in order to 'really count', so I'd probably pick the Empire's 'darkest hour', the (largely forgotten) battle for Greece (April 1941) when Britain abandoned a chance for early victory in North Africa to come to the aid of the Greeks who were being threatened by Germany. The US was not in the war at that stage, and every other power in Europe was either defeated, neutral, or in alliance with Hitler.

It wasn't a particularly 'tactical' decision - military commanders predicted disaster, but a political one - Britain hoped to influence other countries in the region to stay neutral or come over to the British side. But it was also as some put it, a case of the British 'standing up for' the last free country in Europe, and the oldest civilized nation in Europe in it's time of need. This wasn't the most 'desperate' moment - like Dunkirk or the Battle of Britain, but it differs from them in that those were 'forced on Britain'. In this case Britain had a choice, and chose, despite the certainty of failure, to do the honourable thing.

And, oddly enough, the futile effort (which I might say was a true British Empire effort including as it did British, Australian and New Zealand troops) did pay off. As well as the resistance they were able to put up, the additional troops bolstered the incredible resistance the Greeks themselves put up. In the end the Germans won, but in doing so delayed their invasion of Russia by six weeks. Although there is some argument about this, the six week delay almost certainly meant that the initial German thrust in Russia failed to reach Moscow and Leningrad before winter set in, which then sealed the fate of Germany.

So in the sense of 'doing the right thing' in the face of overwhelming odds with no hope of success', I'd pick that as the 'finest moment'. And in the way the Gods sometimes have of rewarding such efforts, it was - as much as Pearl Harbour - the turning point of the war.

Answer 2

Oh dear, of dear. Some people do have an odd view of history. Magna Carta was absolutely nothing to do with the British Empire which didn't come into existence for another 500 odd years, nor did it have anything to do with the defeat of the Spanish Armada, which was a triumph for England alone. The greatest moment for the Empire was over a number of years when colonisation ended. Although there were some battles for independence - India is the prime example - there had been no previous Empire in the history of the world which had given up its colonies voluntarily as the British Empire did.

Answer 3

In his speech to the House of Commons on June 18, 1940, following the fall of Paris, Winston Churchill said,

[begin quote]

What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.

Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'

[end quote]

Britain's lonely stand against the onslaught of Nazi Germany was heroic, righteous, and decisive in the course of history. This is the British Empire's greatest moment.

p.s. I agree with rdenig that many are confused regarding the meaning of "empire". The British empire started with the planting of colonies outside the British Isles. It therefore began with the settlement of Newfoundland in 1497 (Thanks, PaulB). The first successful, enduring English colony is Jamestown, Virginia, settied in 1607.

Answer 4

The British Empire didn't really come into effect until Victorian times. Its then greatest achievement was the colonisation of Africa, which brought enormous wealth and also civilised and educated African people (okay, okay I hear everyone say) and. of course, the years of the British Raj in India. Whatever we may think nowadays about all this, it was in fact the foundation of the British Empire.

Answer 5

Ironically, the greatest moment for the Empire was the 1919 Armitsar Massacre in India by the British troops, which in effect brought its downfall.
The then PM David George authorised Her Majesty's troops to fire on a crowd of UNARMED Indian protesters (379 civilians were killed, and over a thousand wounded). The incident left a permanent scar on Indo-British relations and was the prelude to Mahatma Gandhi's declaration of India's independence from the Empire.
At that time people started seeing the Empire as an EVIL empire. "Down with the Imperialism" slogan originated in India and people decided that they had had enough.

Answer 6

I suppose the crowning glory was India as I believe it was classed as the Jewel in the Crown so to speak and so Britain became the true dominant world power.
I believe your knowledge is probably greater than mine, but I still think you can take the empire further back before the date you mentioned.
I consider the start from 1066 after Willie invaded and then the main seat of his power became England, this led in turn to a complete roll reversal as England had possessions in France for the next several Hundred years. Then you had Edward 1 gradually taking over Wales etc etc.
The Empire as you know has changed constantly, but I believe the beginnings were with Willie the Conqueror.
One more thing there is no doubt that the costs of two world wars absolutely crippled Britain.

Answer 7

There are so many finest and greatest moments its hard to choose.but one of the most significant is; "The Industrial Revolution" it changed the world. It bought in the design, development and manufacture of virtually anything you could imagine.
In 1712 Thomas Newcomen invented the atmospheric steam engine .
In 1733 Flying shuttle was invented by John Kay.
In 1764 The Spinning jenny was invented by James Hargreaves.
In 1764 Richard Arkwright invented the Water frame.
In 1769 James Watt improved the steam engine.
These are but a few of the inventions of the time.
It was also the birth of the Bank of England.
Absolute capitalism has reigned ever since.

Answer 8

We really are devious in Britain aren't we, more's the pity its not true. The best advice I can give to you my little friend, is descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible where there's far more Oxygen, because you appear to be suffering from some form altitude sickness, or either that you are some kind of crack-pot that has stopped taking your medication.

Answer 9

It must be when they stood against the Nazis.
Certainly not, as rdenig_ma suggests, when they gave up their colonies voluntarily. What a load of tripe! Ask any Irish person what had to be done to get the British Empire to leave The Republic. As for the stand against the Germans, Ireland is often accused of doing nothing. Thousands of Irish men fought in that World War. Also, they did it willingly as they were not conscripted.

Answer 10

The Police are back on tour together.

That's definite #1 of British history.