The end of the first world war I have often heard was the beginning of the end for the British empire. The colonial populations felt used and ignored by the British. Like their men had been used as little more than cannon fodder for the German army. The nation had crushing debt, widespread civil unrest. Ireland in nearly open war. And the faith in the invincible Royal navy had been crushed. I have also heard that people simply gave up on the Empire, thinking that it was broken. All these reasons so I`m told began the fall of the British empire.
But is this the right view? I am not saying the empire was perfect or anything. But what I want to know is why it seemed like everybody just gave up on the empire and Britain could not wait to give its colonies home rule. Was the first worls war the death of the British empire? And if not how long could it have continued had there remained a strong will to hold it together?
But is this the right view? I am not saying the empire was perfect or anything. But what I want to know is why it seemed like everybody just gave up on the empire and Britain could not wait to give its colonies home rule. Was the first worls war the death of the British empire? And if not how long could it have continued had there remained a strong will to hold it together?