British colonies and protectorates

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The United Kingdom was the greatest colonial power in history, with colonies and protectorates on each of the inhabited continents. British colonies and protectorates covered almost a quarter of the earth's land area by the end of the 19th century; the development of English for world language number one was triggered by that colonial language was the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Overseas Territories,
1900 and Present Compared
The British possessions and dominions in 1921
British possessions in 1938 before World War II (Dominions in bold)

Overview of former and existing areas by continent

It should be noted that it is often not possible to give an exact date of independence , especially for the settlement colonies , which had an autonomous status as Dominions in the British Empire. These different partial autonomies initially only related to administrative areas, such as B. the administration of internal affairs. Economically and financially, the essential ties to the colonial power remained, in some cases to this day.

In the first third of the 20th century, the British colonies gained very extensive rights of self-government, which were enshrined or expanded in the 1931 Statute of Westminster . The parliament in London only retained reservation rights in constitutional matters. In several constitutional reforms that were gradually implemented in the Dominions and Commonwealth Realms from the late 1940s to the 1980s, these last legislative ties were finally broken. In this context, reference should also be made to the development from the British Subject in the Empire to the British and other national citizenships of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Great Britain has good political and economic relations with most of its former colonies and remains closely linked to them in the Commonwealth of Nations . In addition, the English royal house centrally provides the head of state of all Commonwealth Realms. Those areas whose international relations are still maintained by Great Britain today are known as overseas territories .

Africa

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's form of government
Egypt Occupied in 1882, protectorate since 1914 protectorate 1922 Presidential Republic
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 1899 Condominium with Egypt, de facto British colony until 1953 1956 includes the present-day states of Sudan and South Sudan
Bechuanaland (now Botswana ) September 30, 1885 protectorate September 30, 1966 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
British East Africa until 1920, then Kenya July 1, 1895 Protectorate from 1895 to 1920, then British crown colony December 12, 1963 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
British Somaliland 1884 colony 1960 Part of Somalia
British Togoland 1918 Mandate of the League of Nations until 1946, UN trust territory from 1946 1957 Part of Ghana
British West Africa
  • Gambia: first bases since 1664, separated from Senegal since 1783
  • Gold Coast: bases on the coast since 1621, crown colony since July 1874
  • Nigeria: Southern Nigeria since 1849, Northern Nigeria since 1885
  • Sierra Leone: Western Area 1791, Hinterland 1895

Joint administration of the Gambia, Gold Coast, Nigeria and Sierra Leone from 1821 to 1850 and from 1866 to 1888.

  • Gambia: Crown Colony
  • Gold Coast: Crown Colony
  • Nigeria: Lagos Colony, otherwise protectorates, joint administration since 1914 ( Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria )
  • Sierra Leone: Freetown Crown Colony (originally slave repatriation colony), Hinterland Protectorate
  • Gambia: February 18, 1965
  • Gold Coast: July 1, 1960, together with British Togoland as Ghana
  • Nigeria: October 1, 1960
  • Sierra Leone: April 27, 1961
  • Gambia: Presidential Republic
  • Gold Coast: now part of Ghana
  • Nigeria: Presidential Federal Republic
  • Sierra Leone: Presidential Republic
British Cameroon 1919 (split between the United Kingdom and France ) Mandate of the League of Nations until 1946, UN trust territory from 1946 October 1, 1961 (referendum day) The predominantly Muslim north of the British mandate area voted in a previous referendum in favor of annexation to Nigeria , while the predominantly Christian, southern part opted for annexation to the state of Cameroon .
Mauritius Occupied on December 3, 1810, from 1814 crown colony Crown Colony March 12, 1968 Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Nyassaland (now Malawi ) 1891 protectorate July 6, 1964 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia ) 1911 from 1911 under the British South Africa Company, since 1924 protectorate October 24, 1964 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Zanzibar 1890 protectorate December 10, 1963 Part of Tanzania
Senegambia May 25, 1765 With the Peace of Paris on September 3, 1783, which ended the American War of Independence , power over the area was redistributed. The French got most of Senegambia and the British got the Gambia Valley.
  • Senegal: June 20, 1960 (from France)
  • Gambia: February 18, 1965
 included the present-day states of Gambia and Senegal
Seychelles Occupied since 1811, separated from Mauritius on August 31, 1903 Crown Colony June 29, 1976 Republic (in the Commonwealth)
South Africa
  • Cape Colony: January 8, 1806
  • Natal: 1843/1856
  • Orange River Colony: 1900/1902
  • Transvaal: 1902
 Crown colonies, May 31, 1910 The four colonies are merged as a Dominion 1931 Statute of Westminster, 1961 establishment of the Republic and withdrawal from the Commonwealth Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe ) 1891 Protectorate from 1891 to 1923, then semi-autonomous crown colony until 1965, from 1953 to 1963 in a federation with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland November 11, 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence
1970 Republic
1979/80 Crown Colony
April 18, 1980 Independence 		Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
South West Africa (now Namibia ) 1919 League of Nations mandate under the administration of the South African Union End of mandate in 1946, occupied by South Africa until 1988, independence March 21, 1990 Republic (in the Commonwealth)
St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha from 1659 the British East India Company took possession of the island of St. Helena , from 1833 in British possession Crown Colony British overseas territory
Tanganyika (merged with Zanzibar to form Tanzania in 1964 ) 1922 Mandate of the League of Nations until 1946, UN trust territory from 1946 December 9, 1961 Part of Tanzania
Tangier 1661 as a dowry from Catherine of Braganza into her marriage to Charles II. Surrendered to Morocco under the Alawids in 1684 Part of Morocco
Uganda 1896 protectorate October 9, 1962 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)

America

North America

country British possession from managed as independent of Great Britain since Today's status
Bermuda 1620 colony British overseas territory
British Columbia 1848, 1871 annexed to Canada Crown Colony see Canada Canadian Province
Thirteen colonies consisting of: 1609 - Crown Colonies (New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)

- Charter colonies (Rhode Island, Connecticut)

- Owner colonies (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware)

1783 Presidential Federal Republic ( United States of America )
Florida , divided into West and East Florida 1763 Colonies Returned to Spain in 1783 State of the USA
Canada , 1867 amalgamation of the colonies 1763 Colonies until July 1, 1867, then Dominion 1931 Statute of Westminster
1982 Canada Act / Constitution Act 		Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Newfoundland 1583 Crown Colony 1818–1907, 1934–1948, Dominion 1907–1934, annexed to Canada in 1948 Canadian Province
Vancouver Island 1848, 1866 annexed to British Columbia Crown Colony Part of the Canadian province of British Columbia

Central America

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's status
British Honduras (now Belize ) de facto 1798, from 1862 crown colony Crown Colony September 21, 1981 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Miskito Coast 1655 protectorate Handed over to Nicaragua and Costa Rica in 1850 Part of Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Caribbean

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's status
Anguilla Colonized from 1650 Crown Colony British overseas territory
Antigua and Barbuda Colonized from 1632 Crown Colony November 1, 1981 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Bahamas 1717 Crown Colony July 10, 1973 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Barbados 1625 Crown Colony November 30, 1966 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
British Virgin Islands 1672 Crown Colony British overseas territory
Dominica from 1763 in possession of the United Kingdom, from 1805 finally a colony Crown Colony 3rd November 1978 Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Grenada from 1763 in possession of the United Kingdom, from 1877 finally crown colony Crown Colony 7th February 1974 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Jamaica 1655 Crown Colony 1962 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Cayman Islands Settled from Jamaica from the 17th century The Cayman Islands have had the status of a British crown colony with internal self-government since 1962. British overseas territory
Leeward Islands 1671-1816, later from 1833 joint administration of the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla, united in 1958 with Jamaica and the Windward Islands to form the Federation of the West Indies Crown Colony see sub-areas see sub-areas
Montserrat Settled from 1632 Crown Colony British overseas territory
St. Kitts and Nevis settled in the early 17th century colony September 19, 1983 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
St. Lucia 1814 colony February 22, 1979 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1783 Crown Colony October 27, 1979 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Trinidad and Tobago 1797 Crown Colony August 31, 1962 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Turks and Caicos Islands From 1776 to 1848 the islands were part of the colony in the Bahamas, from 1848 to 1962 they belonged to Jamaica until its independence, since about 1976 there have been repeated efforts to become independent, since about 1982 these independence efforts have been suspended. Crown Colony British overseas territory
Windward Islands Founded in 1833, joint administration of the islands of Barbados, Grenada, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia and Dominica, merged in 1958 with Jamaica and the Leeward Islands to form the Federation of the West Indies , which was dissolved again in 1962 Crown Colony see sub-areas see sub-areas

South America

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's status
British Guiana (now Guyana ) 1831 Crown Colony May 26, 1966 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) 1833 Crown Colony British overseas territory. Argentina lays claim to the islands. (see Falklands War )

Asia

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's status
Aden Colony 1839 ruled by British India as Aden branch until 1937 , then directly subordinated to the United Kingdom and annexed to the South Arabian Federation as the state of Aden on January 18, 1963 Dissolution of the Federation:
November 30, 1967 		Part of the Republic of Yemen
Protectorate of Aden 1869 to 1917 British India assumed then immediately the United Kingdom and on 4 April 1962 the Protectorate of South Arabia and the Federation of South Arabia divided November 30, 1967 Part of the Republic of Yemen
Bahrain de facto 1820, protectorate since 1861 protectorate August 14, 1971 Monarchy (emirate)
Bengcoolen (Bengkulu) 1685 Trade base of the East India Company Swapped for Malacca (part of Malaysia) in 1825 , since then part of the Dutch East Indies and Indonesia Indonesian Province on Sumatra ( Bengkulu )
Bhutan 1772 1910 Constitutional monarchy
British India (until 1948) 1858 Crown Colony (Empire) India: August 15, 1947

Pakistan: August 14, 1947 Bangladesh: December 17, 1971

includes the territories of today's states India , Pakistan and Bangladesh , until 1937 also Burma (today Myanmar)
British Malaya from the 18th century different status of individual parts 1957 (as successor state to the Malaya Federation ) see Malaysia , Singapore
Indian princely states different, mostly at the end of the 18th century Protectorates 1947 Joins either India or Pakistan Parts of India or Pakistan
British Indian Ocean Territory 1814 territory British territory
Brunei 1888 protectorate Independence from the United Kingdom took place on January 1, 1984, and the British protectorate ended on February 23, 1984. Islamic Monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Burma (now Myanmar ) 1885 Part of British India until 1937, then crown colony January 4, 1948 republic
Ceylon (now Sri Lanka ) in possession of the United Kingdom from 1796, crown colony from 1803 Crown Colony February 4, 1948 Presidential Socialist Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Hong Kong Occupied by the British from January 20, 1841, a year later the area was officially ceded by China to the occupiers with the Treaty of Nanking, making Hong Kong a crown colony. Crown Colony July 1, 1997 (returned to the People's Republic of China ) As a special administrative region part of China
Iraq 1920 League of Nations mandate 1932 republic
Qatar 1868 protectorate 1st September 1971 Monarchy (emirate)
Kuwait January 1899 protectorate June 19, 1961 Monarchy (emirate)
Federated Malay States , Unfederated Malay States
from 1946 united to form: Malaya 		1795 protectorate February 1, 1948 to Malaysia Elective Monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Maldives 1796 protectorate July 26, 1965 Presidential Republic
North Borneo May 1882 (under the administration of the British North Borneo Company ) 1882–1946 Protectorate, 1946–1963 Crown Colony August 31, 1963, part of Malaysia from September 16, 1963 Sabah (part of Malaysia)
Oman 1891 1958 monarchy
Palestine 1920 League of Nations mandate 1948 today Israel , Jordan and Palestinian Autonomous Areas also as a League of Nations mandate
Sarawak Under the reign of the White Rajas ( James Brooke and his descendants) 1888–1946 protectorate (formally a vassal state of Brunei), then crown colony Part of Malaysia from 1963 Part of Malaysia
Singapore Spun off from the Straits Settlements in 1946 Crown Colony September 1, 1963 Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Straits Settlements April 1, 1867
(Singapore: 1824) 		Crown Colony see under Malaysia and Singapore Penang , Dinding and Malacca to Malaysia and Singapore became independent.
Transjordan (now Jordan ) April 24, 1922 League of Nations mandate May 22, 1946 Parliamentary monarchy
Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates ) 1835 or 1853 protectorate 2nd December 1971 Federation of Seven Autonomous Emirates
Weihai 1898 Lease area 1930 Part of China
British Concession in Shanghai 1842 protectorate 1945 Part of China
British concession in Tientsin 1860 protectorate 1940 Japanese colony
British Concession in Hankou 1861 protectorate 1927 Captured by the Kuomintang in 1927
British Concession in Jiujiang 1861 protectorate 1927 Captured by the Kuomintang in 1927
British Concession in Zhenjiang 1861 protectorate 1929 1929 to the Kuomintang
British Concession in Amoy 1852 protectorate 1930 1930 to the Kuomintang
British Concession in Shamian 1859 protectorate 1930 1946 back to China

Europe

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's status
Akrotiri and Dhekelia Since 1960 through the Zurich Agreement Military area British military bases
Gibraltar Conquered in 1704, formally assigned to the British in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 and crown colony since 1830 Crown Colony British overseas territory , but claimed by Spain
Heligoland 1807 colony August 1890 on the basis of the Heligoland-Sansibar Treaty to the German Empire Part of Germany
Ionian islands 1800 protectorate In 1864, after a vote in parliament, incorporated into the Greek state Part of Greece
Ireland Invasion by Anglo-Normans in 1169, from 1541 Ireland was directly subordinated to the English crown Ruled 1171–1541 as Lordship , 1541–1921 as Kingdom of Ireland , 1921–1949 as Dominion Dominion status from December 6, 1921, independent from April 18, 1949 after leaving the Commonwealth Most of the island is occupied by the Republic of Ireland , the rest of Northern Ireland , which is part of the United Kingdom.
Isle of Man 1765 Crown possession Crown possession
Channel Islands 1066 Crown possession Crown possession
Malta Occupied by the British from 1800 colony September 21, 1964 Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Cyprus Leased from the Ottoman Empire to the United Kingdom in 1878, annexed in 1914 from 1925 crown colony on August 16, 1960 independent of the Zurich Agreement Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)

Australia and Oceania

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's status
Australia

divided into

from 1770 until January 1, 1901 administered as colonies, then merged to form the Commonwealth of Australia December 11, 1931 (Westminster Statute)
March 3, 1986 (Australia Act 1986) 		Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
British New Guinea
(now Papua New Guinea ) 		The south was declared a protectorate of British New Guinea on November 6, 1884 and annexed on September 11, 1888. protectorate The property was transferred to Australia after independence in 1902. From 1905 the southern part was called the Territory of Papua and the de facto rule of the Australian administration began. Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
New Guinea Territory In 1919 taken over by the German Reich as a League of Nations mandate , jointly administered by Australia and Papua (Southeast New Guinea ) League of Nations mandate together with Papua New Guinea Part of Papua New Guinea
Cook Islands 1888 by the UK placed under protection and in 1901 annexed by New Zealand. British Protectorate from 1888 to 1901, then New Zealand Protectorate until 1965, now self-governing Since August 4, 1965 self-government in free association with New Zealand Parliamentary democracy, self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand
Ellice Islands
(now Tuvalu ) 		British administered from 1877 and became part of the British Protectorate Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1892 Protectorate until 1915, colony from 1915 October 1, 1978 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Fiji October 10, 1874 Crown Colony October 10, 1970 republic
Gilbert Islands
(now Kiribati ) 		from 1892 the Gilbert Islands were declared a British protectorate together with the nearby Ellice Islands Protectorate until 1916, crown colony from 1916 July 12, 1979 Presidential Republic (in the Commonwealth)
Nauru administered by Australia as a mandate area on behalf of the United Kingdom and New Zealand from December 17, 1920 Mandate area January 31, 1968 from Australia Republic (in the Commonwealth)
New Hebrides Condominium
(now Vanuatu ) 		1906 founding of the condominium Condominium with France July 30, 1980 Republic (in the Commonwealth)
New Zealand Annexed to the United Kingdom in 1840 ( Treaty of Waitangi ) Colony, Dominion as of September 26, 1907 December 11, 1931 (Statute of Westminster)
November 25, 1947 full sovereignty, see Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947
January 1, 1987 ( Constitution Act 1986 ) 		Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Pitcairn Islands Crown colony since 1838 Crown Colony British overseas territory
North Solomon Islands The German Empire took over the northern part of the islands as a protected area in 1885. The remaining islands fell to Great Britain in 1899. After the end of the First World War, the German part was given as a League of Nations mandate under Australian administration and is now part of Papua New Guinea. protectorate July 7, 1978 Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Tonga on May 18, 1900, Tonga became a British protectorate under a treaty of friendship protectorate 4th June 1970 Constitutional Monarchy (in the Commonwealth)
Western Samoa 1919 as a League of Nations mandate to New Zealand League of Nations mandate, from 1945 UN trust territory 1962 Parliamentary Democracy (in the Commonwealth)

Antarctic

country British possession from managed as independent from the UK since Today's status
Bouvet Island December 10, 1825 as Liverpool Island Assigned to Norway in 1928 Outskirts of Norway
Dependencies of the Falkland Islands ( Falkland Islands Dependencies ) 1843 (South Georgia claimed from 1775, other areas from 1908) Colony administered from the Falkland Islands without being politically part of it South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have been a separate overseas territory since 1962. Argentina has been claiming the territories and temporarily occupied South Georgia since 1925 during the Falklands War .
The British Antarctic Territory has also been a separate area since 1962. It includes all areas south of 60 ° S and between 20 and 80 ° W. The claim is not recognized under the Antarctic Treaty . Managed from London .

See also

Portal: British Empire  - Overview of Wikipedia content on the subject of British Empire

literature

  • Claudia Schnurmann : From an island kingdom to a world power . Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 317016192X (Development of the British Empire from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century)
  • Edward Allhusen: British Empire Throughout the World 1905 . Old House Books, Moretonhampstead 1993, 2004, ISBN 1873590032 (Reprint of a map of the British Empire from 1905, with a brief description of all colonies)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Hochgeschwender: The American Revolution . CH Beck, Munich 2016, ISBN 978-3-406-65442-8 , pp. 513 .