Why did the British Empire expand before 1850?

India
1. Trade
  1. India had valuable goods that could be sold
    1. E.g- Gold, Iron, Silverware, Textiles, Wine, Brandy
  2. Diego Garcia
    1. Good place for ships to stop and restock
  3. Competition with Dutch and French
    1. Pepper trade
2. Religion
  1. Spreading of Christianity
    1. James Skinner founded a church in Delhi
    2. Some respected culture but did not believe in religion
3. Adventure/ Exploration
  1. Anglo- Indians
    1. Mix of cultures
  2. Warren Hastings
    1. Studied culture and became respectful
4. Personal Ambition
  1. Nabobs
    1. Made fortune in India
      1. E.g.- Thomas Pitt
    2. Wanted to exploit to make money
  2. Pitt
    1. Part of EIC but went into business on his own
      1. Poverty to power
5. Politics
  1. Domestic
    1. Gaining right to tax Indians
      1. EIC could use money to pay army
  2. International
    1. Did not want India under French control
      1. 7 Years war
      2. Arch Rivals
    2. Competition with the Dutch
      1. Dutch EIC dominated early period
Australia
1. Trade
  1. Timber fit for naval purposes
  2. Flax Plant
2. Adventure/ Exploration
  1. Claiming land in the name of the King
  2. Captain Cook
    1. Wrote about plants, animals and geography
  3. Increase scientific knowledge
    1. Believed to be linked with wealth and power
      1. But take control of land that seems to be worthwhile
3. Personal Ambition
  1. Captain Cook
4. Politics
  1. Domestic
    1. Britain crowded
      1. Place to send felons
  2. International
    1. Gets rid of criminals from Britain
5. Religion
  1. Bring best British values to uncivilised part of the world
Africa
1. Trade
  1. Slave Trade
    1. Sent to plantations in west Indies
    2. Sent to Barbados
    3. Sent to America
      1. 1781-1800 1,561,000 slaves
  2. Gold and exotic foods
2. Religion
  1. Missionaries
    1. Make known the gospel by preaching, exhortation, conversion and instruction
    2. 1795- London Missionary Society
    3. 1799- Anglican Church Missionary Society
3. Adventure/ Exploration
  1. Livingstone
    1. Immense region before us
4. Personal Ambition
5. Politics
  1. Domestic
  2. International
America
1. Trade
  1. Raw Silk
  2. Sugar Plantations
  3. Furrs
  4. Coffee
  5. Cocoa nuts
2. Religion
  1. Puritan Pilgrims
    1. Could practise religion however they wanted
3. Personal Ambition
4. Adventure/ Exploration
5. Politics
  1. Domestic
  2. International
    1. Deprive French of one of the richer branches of their commerce; fur

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Why did the British Empire expand before 1850?

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	Created by DarthNikki almost 11 years ago