The British Empire
1. What do we mean by the “Irish question”?!
2. What was British policy in Europe and who shaped it?!
3. What factors contributed to the expansion of the British Empire during
Victoria’s reign?!
4. Consider colonial policy in relation to: Australia, New Zeland and Canada;
India; Africa.!
5. What did Queen Victoria’s Jubilees mean for Britain? !
——————————————————————————————————!
1. Relations with Ireland had always been difficult, but they worsened during
Victoria’s reign due to recurrent famines, like that of the potato blight. Since
the Irish economy and people’s diet were based on potatoes, when the
crops failed, emigration to the United States or to England was the only
alternative to salvation. Later on, a movement for Irish indipendence began.!
2. Britain’s European policy from 1830 to 1851 was shaped by the Liberal
Lord Palmerston, then Britain’s foreign minister. He was convinced that
British interests, identified with political liberalism and free trade, were
opposed to those of European monarchies such as Austria and Russia,
which were absolutist and protectionist. Britain therefore set herself at the
head of the liberal forces in Europe. !
3. During the reign of Queen Victoria the British Empire greatly expanded. It
grew out of two complementary processes: the impulse to consolidate
overseas markets and the surplus of population at home. !
4. Australia was used as a penal colony, New Zeland became flourishing
centres for cattle and sheep raising and Canada got occupied by many
people. India, for the first time in history, was united under one single power:
the territories controlled included today’s India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In
Africa the British occupied Uganda, Kenya, Rhodesia and the Niger
territories, and they also obtained the majority of the shares of the Suez
Canal. !
5. The last part of the Victorian Age seems one of prosperity and splendour.
Victoria’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees, celebrating the 50th and 60th
anniversaries of the queen’s accession, were occasions for the display of
Britain’s commercial and financial greatness.
