Why the british empire fall? Since when?

Answer 1

It didn't fall, it was dissolved voluntarily The older, white colonies (Canada, South Africa, new Zealand, Australia) had been granted dominion status as long ago as the 19th century and it was confirmed in the 1930s that they were not in any was answerable to the Westminster parliament. Then in 1947 India was granted independence, followed by all the other colonies in the 1950s and 1960s. In part, Great Britain was bankrupted by WW2 and couldn't afford to support a vast Empire. In part there was a realisation after the Suez debacle that empires had no part in the modern world. In part the USA told the UK to wind up its empire.

Answer 2

The Birtish Empire didn't fall quite so much as it evaporated.

On could argue that it was the British themselves that sowed the seeds of the destruction of their own empire. Following WWII, a number of independence movements sprang up in various colonies, India being the one that most people remember best. The ideals that underlay many of these movements had been brought to the colonial populations by the British themselves.

Following WWII, the British were war weary, and found themselves unable to enforce colonial rule in the face of multiple uprisings. In other words, WWII cost the British the military ability to hang on to her colonies. Given the changes in global conciousness that WWII brought about, as well as the fact that the war had been prosecuted in the name of freedom and the right of self determination, it was very hard after that for the British to successfully argue colonial policies.

One could argue that the disintegration of the British Empire began as far back as 1776, but I thin that it's more accurate to place the beginning of it at just after WWII.

Answer 3

The British Empire fell, or evaporated, through a combination of economic and political considerations.

While not disagreeing with Neoimperialism's reply, I'd place the beginning of the end a little earlier, with WW1.
Britain was badly in debt financially by the end of that war (We finished paying America for WW2 in Dec 2006, and debts to and from Britain for WW1 are still technically in existence!) and politically indebted for the aid rendered by the Canadian, Anzac and Indian forces.

The former colonies, latterly dominions, were also prompted to review their relationship with "The mother country".
The "British Commonwealth of nations", now "The Commonwealth of nations" was founded in 1926 as part of a definite and deliberate shift in relationship from Empire and ownership.

The distant empire plus a shortage to money led to a compromise that then led to a disaster in WW2. Britain could not afford a South Seas fleet to defend Australia and New Zealand. Not to provide one would smack of abandonment.
The solution? A major naval base at Singapore, a half way house. As it proved, it could not even defend itself.

Answer 4

Fall?

I still have a map with most of the world painted pink.

Long life Queen Victoria - empress of India etc.

Answer 5

1948

Answer 6

Everything that goes up has to come down.
God save the Queen.