The British Empire

and
The Commonwealth of Nations

The Sun Never Sets on

the British Empire
The building of the
Empire began with a
sea voyage to North
America in 1497.
The arms of the Empire
stretched far and wide.
Because it was so
widespread, it would
always be daylight in
some part.

The sun never sets on the British Empire.

The British Empire: North America

Lands claimed by
Britain in North
America were
amongst the
earliest to become
British colonies.

The British Empire: The

Caribbean
Risking life for glory and riches
Sugar peaked economic interest
Slave trade between Britain, Africa, and the
Americas

The British Empire: South America

American dominance
prevented British
influence
Powerful British
economy allowed for
the informal Empire

The British Empire: Africa

First and final British

colonies
Transatlantic slave
trade
Gold and ivory as
attractive trade goods

The British Empire: Middle East

Gulf, East Africa, and

West India trade
Indian dominance
regional control and
access to
communication and
supplies

The British Empire: Asia

Fortunes made in spices
from the Orient
European state rivalry
strengthened Britain
Markets in tea, textiles,
and opium
Economically successful

The British Empire: Oceania

Supported the Royal

Navy
Land for undesirables
Immigrants to New
Zealand

The British Empire:

Rise of Commonwealth
Succeeded the British Empire
Preserved economic and political links
Formalized in 1931
Association of free and equal states

The British Empire:

The Commonwealth Today
Voluntary association
54 member states
1.8 billion people
Promotes democracy
and good governance
Sport, education, and
cultural ties

The British Empire:

The Commonwealth Today
Citizens have some rights in each others
countries

Citizens can register to vote in other

Commonwealth countries

Share imperial traditions

Love of cricket and rugby

Driving on the left
Boxing Day
Wigged court judges
British English
Jubilee

Notable Commonwealth
Nations
Australia
Canada
Brunei
New Zealand
Malaysia
Singapore

The British Empire

was the largest empire in history.
was for a substantial time the foremost global power.
was a product of the European age of discovery,
which began with the maritime explorations of the
15th century, that started the era of the European
colonial empires.
During the five decades following World War II, most
of the territories of the Empire became independent.
Many went on to join the Commonwealth of Nations,
a free association of independent states.

Flag of the Commonwealth of

Nations

World map: The Commonwealth of

Nations 2006
Current member states are coloured blue

The Commonwealth of Nations engages in work to promote

international understanding and world peace.
The citizens of the Commonwealth are drawn from the broadest
range of faiths, races, cultures and traditions.

The Commonwealth
is a group of 54 countries.
countries used to be part of the British Empire.
has a combined population of 1.9 billion people.
has about a quarter of the worlds total
population.
has over twice as many people as the whole of
the Americas (North and South) put together.
Of the 1.9 billion people, 1.4 billion live in the
Indian Subcontinent.
93% live in Asia or Africa.

Declarations and Statements

The Commonwealth does not have a
written constitution.
It does have a series of agreements.
Declarations or Statements have been
issued at various Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meetings.
The first, fundamental statement was
issued at the 1971 summit in
Singapore.
The Declaration of Commonwealth
Principles stresses the need to foster:

international peace and security

democracy
liberty of the individual and equal rights for all
the importance of eradicating poverty, ignorance
and disease
it opposes all forms of racial discrimination.

Foreign Office Grand Staircase

Queen Elizabeth is Head of

the Commonwealth
The British monarch, Queen Elizabeth,
is a symbol of the free association of
independent states.
Republics could be members - they
could accept the monarch as Head of
the Commonwealth without her being
their own Head of State.
When Elizabeth II came to the throne in
1952 she became Head of the
Commonwealth.
Today the Queen is Head of State in
16 of the 54 Commonwealth member
countries
When the Queen dies or if she
abdicates, her heir will not
automatically become Head of the
Commonwealth.
The Queen has laid considerable
stress on her role as Head of the
Commonwealth, and made a great
contribution to the association.

The Foreign and

Commonwealth
Office

Her Majestys Principal

Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs,
is a member of the British
Government.
He/she is responsible for
relations with foreign
countries.
He/she heads the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office.
Current Foreign Secretary:
David Miliband