Opinion of the British Empire

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

It's one of those things that had an overall net positive impact on the world even if HPish.

[Mopsus]

Isn't "Freedom Empire" an oxymoron?

[politicus]

Isn't "Freedom Empire" an oxymoron?

Of course, but this is Atlas.

[Sol]

Come to think of it, the idea that the British had a divine mission to end forever the scourge of slavery also contributed significantly to British conquests further east. Isn't history fun.

Wasn't that also a big reason for king Leopold's conquest of the Congo? Obviously rather ironic.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Wasn't that also a big reason for king Leopold's conquest of the Congo? Obviously rather ironic.

Yes, although that was entirely disingenuous on his part.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Come to think of it, the idea that the British had a divine mission to end forever the scourge of slavery also contributed significantly to British conquests further east. Isn't history fun.

and in East Africa (Zanzibar, etc).

and the thing is... they did clamp down on the Slave Trade.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Horrible, horrible empire.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

and the thing is... they did clamp down on the Slave Trade.

Exactly. History is complicated isn't it?

[Oak Hills]

It had a few positive effects, but of course those are far outweighed by its utter horribleness in other areas.  Clear HE, like all empires.

and the thing is... they did clamp down on the Slave Trade.

Exactly. History is complicated isn't it?

It most certainly is.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Come to think of it, the idea that the British had a divine mission to end forever the scourge of slavery also contributed significantly to British conquests further east. Isn't history fun.

and in East Africa (Zanzibar, etc).

and the thing is... they did clamp down on the Slave Trade.

As if that was the main reason to swallow up huge chunks of East Africa and southern Arabia.

[BaconBacon96]

A Freedom Empire, despite everything bad.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Not as bad as some other empires (I don't think the worst crimes of the Empire match the sheer horrors of the conquistadors wiping out entire civilisations for the hell of it or Leopald's Free State), but pretty lousy.

The Amritsar massacre, the genocide of the Aborigines, concentration camps and mass internment in places like Aden/South Africa/Cyprus, the Opium wars, the insane handling of the Irish Famine and the wipeout of the Iraqi rebellion for starters - all heinous crimes that stain the nation's history. I really really hate the argument that goes "oh well it sucks and all, but it had to be done because colonialism was inevitable/for the greater good".

[Simfan34]

I am a product of it. FF.

[Murica!]

I am a product of it. FF.

The most selfish reason here, congrats.

[Oak Hills]

Come to think of it, the idea that the British had a divine mission to end forever the scourge of slavery also contributed significantly to British conquests further east. Isn't history fun.

and in East Africa (Zanzibar, etc).

and the thing is... they did clamp down on the Slave Trade.

As if that was the main reason to swallow up huge chunks of East Africa and southern Arabia.

Contributed to it, Snowstalker, contributed.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Horrible, and what's worst is that it lasted 5 centuries.

[RosettaStoned]

 Terrible Empire of course, however, my country's empire was far worse.

[pikachu]

Very low, though my family were among those who benefited from it...

[politicallefty]

Massive FE. Much of the blood that flows through me is derived from those that supported King/Queen and Country.