The Origins and History of the Commonwealth
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The British developed a system of trade within the Empire which was vastly profitable to the factory owners of Britain, but which was of little benefit to the people of the colonies. Raw cotton was shipped from India to England where it was processed in the cotton mills of Lancashire; the cotton cloth was then taken back to India to be sold. Wool from Australia was made into blankets in the mills of Yorkshire, and taken back to Australia to be sold.
Emigration and settlement
The century saw a rapid rise in emigration, as British people (and Irish) sailed to the new territories to make a new life. There was a flood of emigrants after 1815 when unemployment in Britain was high. About 6 million British people emigrated to Canada, Australia and New Zealand between 1815 and 1914. They were encouraged to do so by offers of free passages. Smaller number of British settlers sailed to South Africa.
The scramble for Africa
Until the end of the 19th century British possessions in Sub-Saharan Africa were limited to South Africa and two settlements for freed slaves at Bathurst (now Banjul) and Freetown on the coast of West Africa. The British government did not want more colonies in Africa - colonies were expensive to run. They were happy to let explorers, traders and missionaries open up new parts of the continent. Yet by 1900 virtually the whole of Africa south of the Sahara had been carved up into colonies, many of them ruled by the British. What caused this dramatic change in thinking?
At the end of the 19th century British industrial dominance was being challenged, especially by Germany and the United States of America. This meant that Britain faced more competition in the search for new markets for its manufactured goods. More important than economic factors however were those of politics. Other European countries - Germany, France, Portugal and Belgium - began looking at Africa both as a possible source of raw materials and to increase prestige.
There were strategic considerations too - one motive for taking over territories in East Africa was to protect the route to India.
At the same time, there were individuals working in Africa who were dedicated to the spread of empire - inspired by the wish to spread 'civilisation' which typified the Victorian age. Cecil Rhodes dreamed of the British ruling Africa 'from the Cape to Cairo'. To further this aim he led a group of settlers into Central Africa, fought against the Africans there and began the colony of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
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