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Year 9

Social Darwinism and race in the British Empire

I can explain the importance of Charles Darwin's ideas for British imperialism in the mid-19th century.

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New
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Year 9

Social Darwinism and race in the British Empire

I can explain the importance of Charles Darwin's ideas for British imperialism in the mid-19th century.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The British Empire was very large and ruled over a diverse mix of people.
  2. Charles Darwin developed the theory of natural selection and evolution.
  3. Social Darwinism adapted Darwin's theories to claim that some groups of humans were superior to others.
  4. Social Darwinism was used to justify imperialism.
  5. Many ideas were used to justify British imperialism, such as the desire to spread Christianity.

Keywords

  • Empire - an empire is a collection of territories or countries ruled by a single person or government

  • Colonies - colonies are countries and territories ruled over by another country

  • Evolution - evolution is the process of gradual change which occurs over long periods of time

  • Social Darwinism - Social Darwinism was the false claim that Charles Darwin's ideas apply to human societies, making some groups of people superior to others

  • Imperialism - imperialism refers to the control of one country over another and the expansion of a country's empire by gaining new colonies

Common misconception

Ideas of racial superiority were the only justification for British imperialism.

Cultural and religious beliefs such as a belief in the superiority of Christianity helped to justify an encourage British imperialism throughout the 19th century.

In learning cycle 1, rather than present pupils with a choice of adjectives, they could be asked to provide two of their own which can appropriately describe the British Empire and then asked to justify their choices.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an empire?
a country or territory ruled by another country
Correct answer: a collection of territories or countries ruled by a single person or government
a group of countries who make agreements to work together
Q2.
Write the missing word. Charles developed the theory of evolution.
Correct Answer: Darwin
Q3.
Write the missing word. A } is a country or territory ruled by another country.
Correct Answer: colony
Q4.
Who gained control over Bengal, in India, between 1757 and 1764?
The King of Britain
The British Parliament
Correct answer: The British East India Company
Q5.
Which statement is most accurate?
Only European countries developed empires.
Only Asian countries developed empires.
Only African countries developed empires.
Correct answer: Empires have been developed by a wide range of countries.
Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
1 - English colony founded at Jamestown
2 - The East India Company gains control over Bengal
3 - Egypt, Kenya and Sudan all become part of the British Empire
4 - Soldiers from across the empire help Britain to fight in the World Wars

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each of the key words to its correct defintion.
Correct Answer:colonies,territories ruled over by another country

territories ruled over by another country

Correct Answer:empire,collection of territories ruled by a single person or government

collection of territories ruled by a single person or government

Correct Answer:imperialism,refers to a country's expansion of the territory under its control

refers to a country's expansion of the territory under its control

Q2.
Write the missing word. People often claimed that 'the never sets on the British Empire.'
Correct Answer: sun
Q3.
Which type of British colony offered more political power to the people who lived in it?
Crown Colony
Correct answer: Self-governing colony
Neither
Q4.
What did Social Darwinists falsely argue skull measurements could show?
Africans were superior to other racial groups
Asians were superior to other racial groups
Correct answer: Europeans were superior to other racial groups
All races were equal
Q5.
Which religion did many people in Britain claim made their country superior to others?
Correct answer: Christianity
Hinduism
Judaism
Sikhism
Q6.
Which statement is most accurate?
Correct answer: Social Darwinism increased Britain's belief that its imperialism was justified.
Social Darwinism decreased Britain's belief that its imperialism was justified.
Social Darwinism was not relevant to Britain's ideas about imperialism.

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