8.3 How did the British Empire develop?

This lesson looks at the British Empire’s development in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

The 19th century saw the british Empire become a global power, with lands from the Americas to Africa, Asia, and the newly mapped continent of Australia. However, this was not a smooth expansion. Alongside some important victories, the empires was also defeated in a number of international conflicts.

Lesson highlights:

• The chronology of key events in the British Empire’s development in the 18th century, from the Battle of Plassey to the founding of colonies in Australia
• The vocabulary and terminology necessary to study the British Empire’s development with confidence
• An analysis of which causes were most influential in the development of the British Empire