Niall Ferguson - Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World - Empire for Sale 4/5

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 six: Empire for Sale

The fall of the British empire is usually attributed to Nationalist groups fighting for independence, yet as Niall Ferguson argues in this final programme of the series, it was really due to the crippling cost of running the empire and financing the two World Wars. He reflects on the achievements and problems of the empire and concludes that in its twilight years Britain did more good than harm in fighting two far worse empires, namely Japan and Germany. Visiting some of the hot spots of the two World Wars and of the campaigns for independence that followed, such as Gallipoli, Istanbul, Suez, Amritsar and Singapore, presenter Niall Ferguson gives us a vivid picture of an empire on its last legs.

The British empire took 300 years to build and less than three decades to dismantle, leaving just a few scattered islands in its charge. Niall summarises the legacy of the empire in terms of the English language, a free market economy and parliamentary democracy across most of the world, yet doesn't hesitate in reminding us of the horror of the empire for millions of people.

In conclusion, Niall claims that America now controls an empire, not by owning colonies but by virtue of the spread of its brands, culture, economy, faith and ideals across the globe.

Category:

Education

Tags:

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

[dawnnadir]

Where is Hong Kong?

[fomiz]

doesnt matter, china runs everything now

[William00048]

@NearAbbeyRoad Another by the way. If the US had honoured another war time agreement there would never have been a Vietnam War. Ho Chi Min was a US agent during the war. His assistance was secured with the agreement that Vietnam would become independent of France at the end. The US reneged, Ho Chi Min took aid where he could find it and the rest is history.

[William00048]

@NearAbbeyRoad By the way. Our special relationship allies tried to give Hong Kong to China at the end of WW2. US presidental general order no1 stated all Japanese troops had to surrender to general Chiang Kai Shek. The UK had to rush a fleet there to take the surrender of the Japanese. The US after some attempt to dissuade the UK informed Chiang Kai Shek Britain would not give up Hong Kong without a fight.

[William00048]

@NearAbbeyRoad Just looked it up myself. Yes, the UK did indeed receive money from the Marshal Plan. It received $385 Million in the form of loans.  Other countries had loans and grants. Many countries had their repayment requirements reduced. The UK paid for every bullet and repaid every $.

[William00048]

@NearAbbeyRoad I have an open mind. I too feel the US behaved rather poorly in this. If you can show that the US did indeed help the UK out with money from the Marshal Plan rather than a simple loan, then please do tell. If the UK provided the blood while the US provided the metal would in some degree be welcome news too, but I think the reality is that the UK fought alone 39 - 41 taking the full cost in blood and treasure.

[William00048]

@NearAbbeyRoad Stick this in your search engine. Settling a debt: The British make good on a war loan from the U.S. Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It doesn't mention that no Marshal Plan money went to the UK but does say that the UK felt had done by that we had born the brunt of the war but had to take out a $4.34 Bn loan from the US.

[William00048]

@NearAbbeyRoad If nobody paid, how did the US leave the second world war and indeed the first world war more wealthy than it went in. You just said, give back then free, can't give it back if it is at the bottom of the Atlantic or if it was destroyed in action. That makes your comments on Lend-lease a little mute. on your comments on Marshall Plan money going to the UK, state your source. The UK only finished repaying it's debts to the US 29 December 2006.

[NearAbbeyRoad]

@William00048

Lend-lease was free. Use it then give it back, or if you keep then pay.

Marshall Plan money went to the UK.

[DAVIDCGosling]

thoose monsters desreved the A-Bomb