Of the Colonial Empires that were formed in the Modern Age (19th century), it was precisely the British Empire which achieved a formidable expansion in Contemporary Times. England conquered, due to this, the category of prominent nation, the most powerful on the planet. At this same time, other colonial empires such as the Italian and German appeared. The British Empire was strengthened in the reign of Queen Victoria I.
The British Empire The Victorian Era (1837-1901)
The British Empire reached its greatest preponderance at the end of the 19th century, during the famous reign of the sovereign Victoria I , ruler who forged that era of splendor called the Victorian Era , which made England the first industrial, commercial, political, cultural and military power in the world, the Queen of the Seas , the first nation of the Orb.
This boom manifested itself:
– The establishment of a colossal Colonial Empire, with some 28 million square kilometers (more than a fifth of the total surface of the Globe) and a population of 300 million inhabitants.
– The flourishing of its industry, commerce and navigation.
– The carrying out of skilful political, social and economic reforms for the benefit of the English people.
Among the English politicians who governed the destinies of England, during the Victorian Era, the prime ministers have become famous:Gladstone and Disraeli, heads of the Liberal and Conservative parties, respectively.
The English Reforms
England since the end of the 17th century (Modern Age), had already taken a considerable step in its democratic evolution by implanting the constitutional monarchy, where the King reigns but does not govern and establish, likewise, the parliamentary system as a system of government; however, at the advent of Contemporary Times, acute problems of a political, social, economic and religious nature still remained to be resolved. These problems deeply affected the people, while restricting their freedoms and rights. It is that England did not properly have a democratic government, but rather an aristocratic one based on inequality and privileges, where power was in the hands of the large landowners, the nobility and the wealthy classes; therefore, the Parliament or House of Commons It was not exactly a genuine representation of the English people, but, mostly, of the wealthy classes, of the privileged groups, as well as of a feudal aristocracy and an industrial bourgeoisie, enemies of all social reform.
It is in the 19th and 20th centuries that England, through successive reforms and peacefully and without revolutions, progressively transforms into a true democratic state , in which the English would achieve the fullness of their freedoms and rights. These reforms, begun with George IV (1820-1830), continued under William IV (1830-1837) and developed splendidly during the famous reign of Victoria I (1837-1901), a sovereign who would forge, with the collaboration of her prime ministers :Gladstone and Disraeli, that time, known as the Victorian Era.
The notable politicians, Lord Grey, Roberto Peel and the Irishman, O'Connell, also played a preponderant role in these vindictive struggles.
Political Reforms
Politically, England did not enjoy universal suffrage, that is, not all citizens could vote or be elected deputies, since only a small number of voters did. On the other hand, the vote was not secret, and, likewise, in order to be elected it was necessary to be a homeowner or have a fixed income.
The Electoral Systems
The House of Commons represented but one part of the nation; county electors (rural constituencies), some 420,000, appointed 300 deputies; those of the burgos (cities), some 15,000 to 467. Each of the 37 burgos that had disappeared or were reduced to a house (the rotten burgos) still had two deputies; On the other hand, the great cities that emerged later did not have them. A triple reform was imposed; better distribute the representation of deputies, increase the number of voters and ensure the purity of the vote.
1832 reform
This reform abolished the parliamentary representation of 36 rotten boroughs whose population was less than 2,000 inhabitants, on the other hand, it reduced to a single deputy for each borough that exceeded 4,000 inhabitants. Instead, I give the right to elect representatives to Parliament to 47 large industrial cities that previously did not have it; With this measure, the middle class and the working class entered political life.
1872 reform
He established the secret ballot in England.
1818 reform
It granted the right to vote to all men over 21 years of age and, likewise, to women over 30 years of age.
1882 reform
Definitively sanctioned Universal Suffrage , that is, the right to vote granted to all English people over 21 years of age, without distinction. In this way, the British Parliament became the political body that genuinely represented the English nation.
Economic Reforms
1846 reform
This reform repealed the Law of the cereals, this law prohibited the entrance of foreign wheat in England, while the price of the national wheat did not exceed a limit considered high. This protectionist measure, which had considerably favored the large landowners, due to the monopoly that had been established on the sale of wheat, contributed, instead, to the rise in bread prices, due to the lack of free trade. They called that law:Hunger Law .
1849 reform
Who introduced Free Trade in England, that is, the freedom of trade, which allowed the free entry of foreign goods into the English market. On the other hand, the abolition of the Navigation Act He also opened the English ports to the ships of all the nations of the world. England had thus given a vigorous boost to its industrial and commercial activity.
TheIrishquestion
Ireland, which was subjugated by England in the twelfth century, had to suffer the consequences of that domination:its lands passed into the hands of the English invaders, while, being mostly Catholic, they were prohibited from Irish hold any public office, let alone elect their representatives to the English Parliament. Finally, they were required to pay a contribution to the Protestant Church. This Church is contrary to the Catholic religious creed. It was in this way that the three great problems that shook the life of Ireland in Contemporary Times arose, namely:The agrarian problem, the religious problem and the political problem .
AgrarianProblem
The agrarian problem was one of those that managed to be resolved with the greatest difficulty, since it gave rise to violent conflicts between landowners and settlers, until, finally, Parliament approved the triple petition presented by the Irish led by the politician, Pamell, that is, it sanctioned :
- The establishment of a fair and equitable tenancy on land rented to the Irish.
- The tenant's right not to be expelled as long as he complies with paying the agreed rent.
- The right of settlers to be compensated for improvements made to rented land. By other later laws, a special fund was created to buy Irish lands from their English owners. In this way the agrarian problem was solved.
Religious Problem
It was resolved through the following reforms:
– Equal rights between Catholics and Protestants, those could, from now on, be elected deputies as well as hold public office.
– Suppression of the official character of the Anglican Church in Ireland, that is, that Catholics were also recognized the right to freely practice their religious beliefs.
– Elimination of the payment of contributions to it. With such reforms, the emancipation of Catholics had been achieved.
Political Problem
In 1870 the Home Rule party was formed (Home Government), which claimed the right of Ireland to govern itself, that is, to achieve the full autonomy of the Irish state. This nationalist yearning found strong opposition among the English, since it was precisely because of this that its solution occurred with considerable delay.
It was in the last century that this problem was resolved when, after the First World War, the English Parliament granted the autonomy law to Ireland (1922), the country that was divided into two regions, each with its own government. . Thus came the Irish Free State and Little Ulster.
The Irish Free State remained a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations until 1937, the year in which it declared independence; while Ulster remained attached to Great Britain.
The British Colonial Empire
The British Colonial Empire managed to considerably expand its Empire; either through conquest and through peaceful expansion or through wars of annexation.
This Empire included:
– In Asia:India, Burma, the Malay States, Singapore, Ceylon, Balochistan; later, Hong-Kong, Shangay, etc.
– In Africa:Egypt, Sudan, Orange, Transvaal, Natal (South Africa), etc.
– In America:Canada, Newfoundland, Jamaica, British Guiana, British Honduras (Belize), Malvinas Islands (Falkland), etc.
– In Oceania:Australia, New Zealand and numerous Pacific islands.