What Makes the British Commonwealth Hold Together?

By Herbert Heaton,
Professor, University of Minnesota

Contents

What’s Included in the British Commonwealth?

Why do we ask?

• Is there an Englishman in the house?
• What is this thing we’re talking about?
• The independent Commonwealth
• The dependent Empire
• What’s in a name?

What Happened after America Pulled Out In 1776?

• The new British Empire
• Spoils of the Napoleonic Wars
• Enterprise and expansion
• The empire of settlement
• The empire of commerce
• The new imperialism
• “Old Joe” Chamberlain
• The mandates

Growth of the Empire

• The Early Years
• Colonial Expansion, 1780–1880
• The Empire Comes of Age, 1850–1914

Why Haven’t Other Colonies Followed Our Example?

• Lord Durham’s report
• The crucial test
• The scope of self-government
• The right to be heard

Are the Dominions Really Independent?

• Autonomy and equality of status
• Eire—the test case
• The other dominions
• Unity and free association
• Consultation, cooperation, coordination

Are the Colonies Moving toward Independence?

• What of India?

The Commonwealth at War

Will The Commonwealth Hold Together?

• What of “Empire Preference”?
• Will the rest of us hang together or separately?

To the Discussion Leader

• Organizing your discussion
• Questions for discussion

For Further Reading