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The Importance Of The British Empire

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The British Empire left a significant mark on the world and it was the Empire with an immense power who governed lots of countries. However, the country which was vastly different from others and had a great influence on Britain was India. India, the most precious pearl in the ocean called the British Empire, was the driving force of growth and development of Britain. Two core reasons of why India was so valuable to Britain are India's location and population. India was vitally important to the Empire as it had a strategic position. Being set in a very convenient place India was geographically beneficial for the British because it gave a core location for Britain to rule the Empire. In India, Britain could control its Empire to the west, but could also look at Southeast Asia through Afghanistan and push it to China. To the west, it was possible to control the Middle East. For the Empire, India was like a balcony which allowed to look at people from the top and control them. The population was the other reason for Indian significance. Over 300 million people lived in India and this huge population was an incredibly profitable for British industry. In the 1880s, for example, about 20% of Britain's total exports went to India. By 1910 these exports were worth £137 million. Additionally, Britain used Indians for labor because they were easily available, cheap and fast adaptable. Laborers willingly agreed to work and be treated as slaves because they simply did not want to die from starvation and poverty. However, there was a demand rising day after day for laborers because of the abolition of slavery in 1834. This act caused a radical decrease of laborers. For example, most workers in Sugar Plantations were Africans, but they left. Thus, a huge number of people were needed. Consequently, Indians worked there and not only. Britain also needed India's vast population for manpower. Whilst Britain's own army was poor and the population was small, they were looking for a way to boost their military strengths. As an example, Bismarck once said:" If the British Army landed in Europe, I would get the Belgian police to arrest them" Otto Von Bismarck, 1917.

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