Great Britain
Great Britain was a powerful nation, ruled from the island of Britain and containing colonies all over the world.
History
Britain has been an influential power on the European stage for centuries. Having been victorious in the Seven Years War, but in significant financial debt, Britain looked to tax their American colonies. In 1776, thirteen of these colonies rebelled, gaining their independence in 1783. In 1790, these colonies became the Kingdom of America.
Britain became a significant opponent to the rise of revolutionary France and Napoleon. British finances supported much of the coalition states, and invaded Portugal and Spain to liberate them from France. In 1809, Britain was placed in command of the invasion of Holland during the War of the Fifth Coalition. During the ensuing Battle of Antwerp, the combined British, Dutch, and American forces defeated the French and pushed them out of Holland. Though the war ended in a stalemate with Napoleon's victory in Wagram, Britain managed to maintain a military presence in Holland, opening another front in their campaign.
Relations with the Americans began to sour as the British Colonial Forces in Canada became weary of American encroachment on the frontier. From 1815 to 1817, Britain found itself at war with America, though did not send significant forces to the Americas as they focused on France in Europe. Towards the end of the war, the British government in London sent a delegation to Columbia to demand an end to the war, and King Augustus II of America negotiated terms. In the end, America, victorious, annexed no territory, and only demanded the withdrawal of British troops from American territory and a hard border with Canada. This border extended along the 38th parallel to the Rocky Mountains, with the remainder being claimed by Oregon.
With the election of Louis-Eugene Cavaignac in 1848 and the subsequent French Civil War, Britain elected to remain neutral, though did opt to send resources to the republican government. The region of Brittany had requested British aid, and Britain refused, wishing to not destabilize the region. the French Republic fell, and the successive smaller nations sought their own intentions.
In 1867, the question of the remaining American colonies came to a head following several revolts against the colonial governments. The British in London had been growing tired of the region, believing it was too much trouble for the worth. Canada was granted the status of an independent kingdom, with Alfred, son of Queen Victoria, as monarch.
Tensions rose between Britain and Holland through the opening of the Suez Canal. Holland had argued that With the opening of the Canal, many of the reason's Britain had from withholding Cape Colony from the greater Dutch African Colonial Empire had been ceased. Britain disagreed, but also funded expeditions into Dutch Transvaal in order to secure mining rights for diamonds from the locals. Skirmishes broke out between colonists, and Holland declared war in 1880. The war ended in a surprising Dutch victory, though Britain retained possession of Cape Colony.
Following the war, Britain agreed to meet with the other European Great Powers at the Berlin Conference in 1884. While they did protest the declaration of the German Empire while at the conference, they were outvoted. However, the conference did agree to Britain retaining the Cape Colony, as well as protectorates over Egypt, though did not grant Britain's Cape to Cairo ambitions.
With the onset of the Great War, Britain found itself in a naval arms race against Germany, causing significant financial constraint. When the war began, Britain attempted to use it's superior navy to blockade Germany and Holland, while also maintaining significant presence in the Middle East against Russia and the Ottomans and in the Meditteranean against Italy. During the war, in order to draw the Ottomans out of the conflict, Britain supported the Arab Revolt.
Britain was also petitioned by Egyptian delegates for independence in 1919, citing significant efforts made for the war. Britain refused, and exiled the leaders to Malta. This caused riots and protests in Egypt, and Britain formally recognized Egyptian independence.
Britain formally accepted defeat in the Great War in 1920, having been militarily spread thin and brought to the brink of financial ruin. Britain was forced to pay concessions to Germany, Holland, and Russia, though they suspended these payments to Holland following the rise of Lenin. In India, Britain lost much of its Pashtun regions to the Russian allied Afghanistan. National Socialists began to gain in popularity as they argued for greater cooperation with Germany over the rise of vanguard communism in Western Europe.
Disbandment
Before the start of the Great War, the Irish citizens of the United Kingdom had been stirred by the idea of nationalism. Many Irish government leaders sargued for home rule, with the most extreme calling for independence from Britain. Following the war and Britain's defeat, the Irish citizens demanded this autonomy. In order to placate the Irish nationalists and keep the union intact, King George V reluctantly agreed to the declaration of the Anglo-Irish Empire.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
Alternative Names
British Empire, United Kingdom
Successor Organizations
Demonym
British
Controlled Territories
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