Although Britain had many competitors such as Spain, France, and Holland, the country managed to imperialise numerous amounts of colonies located in Africa, India, and many more. Colonizing these areas had affected them economically, politically, culturally, and religiously. The British expanded their empire due to power, wealth, and expansion of trading. The British gained economic benefits from these colonies such as new markets, to sell their goods, and most importantly, resources. India was colonized for trading purposes. Some resources that were being traded were foods such as corn, meat, fish, and dairy products. Along with raw materials such as gold, diamonds, copper, wood, and rubber. Adding to this, the British believed that Africa contained large deposits of gold, which led them to find diamonds and gold. Of course, the British benefited from Africa in many ways, but they resulted in exploiting Africa’s resources and destroying their economy, which had a negative impact on the colony such as, forcing the Africans to work for long hours with little or no pay. During 1807, the British outlawed the slave trade, which led to enforcing this principle on other nations. There were also effects on the colonies politically. The colonists’ sense of balance on laws, government, etc were lost. Africa and India’s old society was destroyed which drained their wealth. There was a trading group called The East India Company, that slowly ruled India during the 1700s and 1800s. The company would buy materials at a low price while selling processed goods at a steep price. It was led by British officers and staffed with sepoys, which were Indian soldiers. However, the British didn’t have the sufficient amount of people to control all of India’s colonies, so they had to rely on some local rulers to accept British rulers to take control. They didn't have direct control, which is a system of the government where the central government had to control the state or province, so instead, they used indirect control. It was a method that Britain often used to take control of a nation. National security was an important decision when they occupied Egypt in order to protect the Suez Canal. Military leaders believed that a strong navy was essential in order to have great power. Since Britain was in desperate need for money to pay for their war debts, The French and Indian War, they believed they had the right to tax the colonies. Since collecting taxes became a
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Although the British created schools to teach the English language and culture, and hospitals to care for the colonists, they destroyed the native culture and replaced it with theirs. While in India, they created jobs for the native people. Many railroads in both India and Africa were improved to help trading. There were also ocean pathways that lead them from one place to another. The British had interest in Egypt because of the Suez Canal. They gained control of the Canal in the 1800s by buying it from the French which gave the British the majority of the Canal's shares. The Suez Canal was a significant component because it was used to access India. The British also had an interest in Africa, since ships could go to and from India by passing through the African
Although the British created schools to teach the English language and culture, and hospitals to care for the colonists, they destroyed the native culture and replaced it with theirs. While in India, they created jobs for the native people. Many railroads in both India and Africa were improved to help trading. There were also ocean pathways that lead them from one place to another. The British had interest in Egypt because of the Suez Canal. They gained control of the Canal in the 1800s by buying it from the French which gave the British the majority of the Canal's shares. The Suez Canal was a significant component because it was used to access India. The British also had an interest in Africa, since ships could go to and from India by passing through the African