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The British Empire has been the foremost economic power for most of the 19th century. As a result of the Industrial Revolution which began in the United Kingdom, Britain became the wealthiest country in the world by the late 18th century, and was a leading trading nation and manufacturing power.
By 1820, 30% of Britain's exports went to its Empire, rising slowly to 35% by 1910. [74] Until the latter 19th century, India remained Britain's economic jewel in terms of both imports and exports. In 1867, when British exports to her Empire totaled £50 million, £21 million of that was earned from India's market alone. [75]
Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776. British government recognized independence in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris; the United States has subsequently expanded its territory, taking in the Red River Colony in 1818 and Columbia District in 1846, as well as gaining territory that was not a part of the British ...
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. . It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and colonisation attempts by Scotland during the 17th century.
Puddling became widely used after 1800. Up to that time, British iron manufacturers had used considerable amounts of iron imported from Sweden and Russia to supplement domestic supplies. Because of the increased British production, imports began to decline in 1785, and by the 1790s Britain eliminated imports and became a net exporter of bar iron.
Britain, lastly, had an abundance of labor, or industrial workers in this case. There are many other conditions that help show why the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain. The British Isles and colonies overseas represented huge markets that created a large demand for British goods.
In 1763, victory in the Seven Years' War led to the growth of the First British Empire. With defeat by the United States, France and Spain in the War of American Independence, Great Britain lost its 13 American colonies and rebuilt a Second British Empire based in Asia and Africa.
By the 19th century, the British empire had replaced the Indian economy as the world's largest textile manufacturer. From 1858, the Indian economy was controlled directly under British imperial rule, also known as the British Raj. India continued to be occupied by the British until India gained independence in 1947.