Niall Ferguson - Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World - White Plague 3/5

Historian and presenter Niall Ferguson takes us on a fascinating journey in both time and space to explore the impact of the British empire on the modern world. From the earliest British settlers in Virginia to the decline of the empire in the aftermath of the two World Wars, positive and negative aspects of the empire are illustrated through key events and players.

Niall Ferguson uses a wealth of original sources such as quotes, documents, film footage and photographs, as well as taking a contemporary look at key locations and drawing parallels with recent history, such as the USA's war against terrorism.

The series is highly entertaining, informative and thought-provoking, and provides an excellent and balanced overview of the British empire and its continuing legacy in the world.

Part two: White Plague

The concept of 'plantation' is explored in this programme, yet presenter Niall Ferguson is not referring to crops but the settlement of British people into the colonies. Without this mass white emigration there would have been no empire. Visiting Northern Ireland, the USA and Australia, we explore how the first colonies of the British empire developed.

In contrast to the Spanish, the British viewed the colonies as a way to gain land to settle on and use, rather than just conquest and plunder. The east coast of the USA was first settled by puritans wanting religious freedom, including those who sailed on the famous ship 'The Mayflower' in 1620. The combination of cheap land and abundant natural resources made this an ideal location for sugar and tobacco plantations. Niall goes on to describe the American War of Independence a century and a half later.

From Native American Indians to the Aborigines of Australia, the indigenous people of the 'New World' were treated appallingly, with little or no respect for land rights. One of the great ironies of the British empire is the difference between official policy in London and the actions of white settlers in the colonies.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• niall
• ferguson
• empire
• britain
• made
• modern
• world

[cptoronto06]

I love how he's completely ignoring the tour guide.

[Anekantavad]

Many of the points made in this episode are revealing, and explain why the map of North America looks the way it does. Canada exists because many 'American' colonists opposed the revolution, and were prepared to fight against the anarchy they believed would result from it. I'm not trying to be anti-American or insult anyone's heritage, but history is never as convenient as we would like it to be.

Thanks for posting these :-)

[hayunspain]

@panzercat39: The progression of the USA is by no means astonishing, I agree with you :)

[EndWesternTyranny]

@EndWesternTyranny i don't remember asking for a definition of the word. enjoy watching fox news...

[panzercat39]

@hayunspain Why not? The US is the worlds only superpower and it all came so fast,if you do not count the Native American experience,the history of the Americas is very short.And while all those things did come from England mainly,we made them uniquely American,terribly fucked up ;)

[hayunspain]

@panzercat39: You shouldn´t say from "from nothing to world´s only superpower"...US citizens (former british americans) just continued with the heritage of the western civilization, their economy, politics, etc didn´t just came out of the blue.

[Anekantavad]

@EndWesternTyranny " you have been heavily propagandized and indoctrinated"

I have? I was unaware. Well, that's how indoctrination works, no? You never know when it's been done to you if it's been done effectively.

Problem is, that applies to you too.

:-)

[EndWesternTyranny]

@Anekantavad you have an extremely twisted worldview. the US "saved civilization from totalitarianism" by itself acting like a totalitarian state and being responsible for millions of deaths worldwide? you have been heavily propagandized and indoctrinated

[Anekantavad]

@panzercat39 Of course. I don't dispute the imprint the US has left on the world at all, and I also think that once the history books are written, we may conclude that the US saved civilization itself from totalitarianism.

But America's eternal sense of frustration with itself seems to stem from the fact that it is expecting too much from human society. A paradise on earth isn't possible when your basic building material is flawed humans like you & I.

:-)

[panzercat39]

@Anekantavad I think the reason for the War of Independence,or the American Revolution,whatever you want to call it are obvious,why bow down to a little island nation thousands of miles away?We had all the resources we needed right here.And no matter what your opinion on the current state of affairs in the US,you have to admit it was a pretty impressive run,from nothing to worlds only superpower in a little over two hundred years.

[panzercat39]

All I got to say is...USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!!!

[Luso515PorTuoGraal]

And Enjeno cames from Engenho of Portuguese in São Vicente Brazil, the first in Americas, followed by Pernambuco and northeast Brazil. Altough not completely based in slavery or servitude - the first ones of course (not the common another ones spread to Brazil and Americas in general wich made the sistem).