英语国家概况-课件(五)Chapter-2-History-4.docx

The Formation of the Empire
§ 1) The British Empire began with the colonization of Newfoundland (纽芬兰) in 1583, the first British colony overseas.
§ 2) First British Empire (1583-1837)
§ Included the colonies in Canada, Australia,New Zealand, India and many small states in West Indies.

3) Second British Empire(1837-1901):
The Victorian Age witnessed the establishment of the Second British Empire.
4) Victoria’s reign---tremendous achievements and made Britain the largest colonial empire in the world by 20th c.
3. Results
On the Eve of World War I, Britain was the largest colonial empire the world had ever seen. It controlled a territory of 33.5 million square kilometers, about 1/4 of the world’s landmass, about 137 times as large as Britain. It ruled over a population of 393.5 million, about eight times that of Britain itself. The British boasted that they were “the Sun Never Set Empire”, consisted of a vast number of protectorates (保护国), Crown colonies (英国殖民地), spheres of influences (势力范围), and self-governing domains (自治领).
2.3.2. Britain in the World Wars
1. Britain in the First World War

2. Britain between the Two Wars

3. Britain in the Second World War
2.3.2.1. Britain in the First World War
1914-1918
Imperialism.（20th.C）
The power balance in Europe had undergone changes.
3. A conflict of interests and colonial rivalry divided Europe into two camps:
the Central Powers:
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

The Allied Powers (协约国) --- France, the Russian Empire, Italy, the United States
2. Immediate cause for WWI:
On June 28, 1914, the Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a young Yugoslav in Sarajevo for the conflict on the Balkan Peninsula.

3. During the war:
The British navy played a very important role in the ultimate triumph.
4. Results:
The war ended with the victory for the Allies.
Britain was drained of its manpower. Britain lost the sea supremacy. Business was slack in Britain.

2.3.2.2 Britain between the Two Wars
George V → Edward VIII → George VI
The most important maritime and industrial power in Europe
The largest navy and air force in the world
The third largest army
The industry was aging under the Depression, strikes and labor unrest, colonial ties became weakened.
In 1920, the British Communist Party founded.

2.3.2.3. Britain in the Second World War
1. Reason:
⑴ the Great Depression：the severe economic problems that followed the Wall Street Crash of 1929. In the early 1930s, many banks and businesses failed, and millions of people lost their jobs in the US and in the UK and the rest of Europe.
⑵ According to the Treaty of Versailles (凡尔赛条约), Germany was required to relinquish all its colonies and permanently disarm. In addition, Germany was blamed for starting the war and was compelled to pay a vast sum in reparations (战败国赔款).

⑶ The Great Depression made things worse and led to the rise of Fascism (法西斯主义). Adolph Hitler aroused strong nationalism and racism in Germany, embarking on an ambitious plan to conquer Europe.
⑷ Neville Chamberlain (张伯伦) followed a policy of Appeasement (绥靖政策).

2. Process
On September 1, 1939, Hitler who led German army invaded Poland.
Britain and France were forced to declare war on Sept. 3, 1939.
Germany invaded France and forced it to surrender in June 1940. Italy also entered the war on the side of Germany. Britain was in a very dangerous position.

4. In 1941 the pressure was alleviated for England when Germany attacked the Soviet Union, and Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor. These acts of aggression propelled the latter two countries into an alliance with Britain.

5. With the unified efforts of Anti-Nazi forces, Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945, one week after Hitler committed suicide.

3.Results
Britain won the war, but at great costs.
Around 357,000 people were killed and 500, 000 were wounded or missing.
The navy was 30% smaller than before the war and Britain lost its naval supremacy forever to the United States.
The country had exhausted its reserves of gold, dollars and overseas investments, and was deeply in debt to the United States.
2.3.3. The Fall of the Empire
As a result of WWII, most of Britain’s colonies demanded and fought for independence.
India and Pakistan became independent in 1947, followed by Burma and Malaya in 1948. Egypt drove the British army out of the country and the Suez Canal Zone in 1956.

In the 1960s, an independence movement swept the entire British Empire. More than 20 countries won their independence. The Empire had been replaced by the British Commonwealth of Nations, a loosely organized community of former British colonies.

2.4 Britain Since World War II
(After WWII, Britain became the third wealthiest power after the United States and the former Soviet Union.)
1. “Three Majestic Circles” (三环外交)

2. Thatcher

3. Blair

2. Thatcher
British Prime Minister Mrs. Margaret Thatcher reestablished the “special relationship” with the United States.
In 1983, the United States invaded the Caribbean island of Grenada, ignoring the fact that it was a member of the British Commonwealth.
In 1986, Britain allowed the U.S. to use its airbase to launch attacks on Libya (利比亚).
In 1991, Britain contributed 35,000 troops to a U.S. in “Operation Desert Storm” (沙漠风暴行动).
3. Blair
Tony Blair, pursued a more positive policy toward Europe and participated actively in European affairs.
In 1998, Britain and the U.S. launched a joint air strike “Operation Desert Fox” (沙漠之狐行动) against Iraq.
Conclusion
In today’s course, the British Empire came into our views. The rise and fall of Empire was introduced detailed. The two World Wars brought Britain the decline of economy and workforces. And the British Empire After the World War II, the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States is delicate, sometimes the two nations joined together while other time the two disagreed with each other. The modern prime minister Thatcher and Blair made their efforts to the development of Britain.