Britain's Empire was a matter for pride, not guilt - as Indians know

[darkbeaver]

The Empire of reason will someday interrupt your schedual, that day you will become human, and you will appreciate pain and the love that it bears.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Worth noting that Briddin's closest colony, Ireland, was so happy with the blessings of Briddish colonialism that they rebelled every generation for centuries until they got (mostly) free.

Ireland was a little different as it was considered part of Britain. As a result it was governed differently. But you are right about the revolts. It just goes to show that if you treat people like $hit for centuries they will not take it lying down.

 

[darkbeaver]

The British Empires rise to dominance was in large part fueled by opium deals in the far east.

 

[Blackleaf]

The British Empires rise to dominance was in large part fueled by opium deals in the far east.

The 1840-42 Anglo-Chinese war (the so-called “Opium War”) is almost universally believed to have been triggered by British imperial rapacity and determination to sell more and more opium into China. That belief is mistaken. The British went to war because of Chinese military threats to defenseless British civilians, including women and children; because China refused to negotiate on terms of diplomatic equality and because China refused to open more ports than Canton to trade, not just with Britain but with everybody. The belief about British “guilt” came later, as part of China’s long catalogue of alleged Western “exploitation and aggression.”

Center for European Studies - Harvard University

 

[Curious Cdn]

The 1840-42 Anglo-Chinese war (the so-called “Opium War”) is almost universally believed to have been triggered by British imperial rapacity and determination to sell more and more opium into China. That belief is mistaken. The British went to war because of Chinese military threats to defenseless British civilians, including women and children; because China refused to negotiate on terms of diplomatic equality and because China refused to open more ports than Canton to trade, not just with Britain but with everybody. The belief about British “guilt” came later, as part of China’s long catalogue of alleged Western “exploitation and aggression.”

Center for European Studies - Harvard University

Yeah, it was all about "free trade", eh?