Britain's Empire at the end of the 'long eighteenth century'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how Britain and its empire had changed by 1815.
Key learning points
- Britain's population, now incorporating Scotland and Ireland, had risen to 12 million, many of whom worked in industry.
- Britain had gone through a consumer revolution and had become the world’s first mass consumer society.
- Britain had gained additional territories in America, the Caribbean, Africa and India, and trade had flourished.
- Before abolition in 1807, Britain had been the largest carrier of enslaved people to the Americas.
- Britain had developed the Royal Navy which played a key role in establishing Britain as the dominant world power
Keywords
Private - controlled or paid for by a person or company and not by the government
Consumer society - a society in which people can afford to buy non-essential goods
Imports - goods brought in from another country
Exports - goods sold to another country
Common misconception
Empire was always about conquest.
In fact, empire was often an ad-hoc private affair. For example, the East India Company had taken control over large parts of India - an expansion driven by opportunistic officials largely acting independently of the British government.
Teacher tip
Comparison activity: create a chart which lists the changes after 1688 with the categories: population, industry, consumer society, goods traded, territories and naval power.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which event in 1688 marked a significant turning point in British history, leading to political stability that allowed for empire expansion?
Q2.What was the primary motivation for many people emigrating from England to the American colonies before the end of the 17th century?
Q3.By 1688, England had established a colony in based on the cultivation of tobacco, which became highly profitable.
Q4.Which private company was granted a monopoly on trade with India by Queen Elizabeth I?
Q5.The first English colony in the Caribbean, established by privateers and later supported by the English monarchy, was in...
Q6.Which law (or set of laws) passed by the English government was designed to control colonial trade and ensure that economic benefits flowed back to England?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which significant event in 1707 contributed to the unification of the United Kingdom, aiding in its global expansion?
Q2.By 1815, which commodity had become the single largest import into Britain, significantly influencing British culture and consumption habits?
Q3.The Revolution was a period of rapid industrial growth that transformed Britain’s economy and contributed to its rise as a global empire.
Q4.Which British company played a major role in expanding British control in India after the collapse of the Mughal Empire?
Q5.Britain’s victory in the War, considered the first global conflict, solidified its position as the dominant world power by 1763.
Q6.Which technological innovation helped improve navigation for the Royal Navy, contributing to Britain's naval superiority?
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Britain's Empire at the end of the 'long eighteenth century', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Britain's Empire at the end of the 'long eighteenth century', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The British Empire: why did it grow in the 17th and 18th centuries? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.