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Year 9 - History

The Great Exhibition and the British Empire

Interpreting the British Empire: how has it been commemorated and contested?

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about how the British Empire was viewed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They analyse how imperial anxiety, decline, and decolonisation have all led to changes in its historiography.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain what the Great Exhibition is able to tell us about British attitudes towards empire.

Key Notes

  • The use of gunboat diplomacy in the Don Pacifico Affair increased the British conviction in empire.
  • The Great Exhibition was opened in 1851 to showcase the best of British design and manufacture.
  • The Great Exhibition showcased goods from Britain's colonies and the wider world.
  • The Great Exhibition aimed to demonstrate the importance of the Empire to British supremacy.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • empire: an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by another person or group of people
  • gunboat diplomacy: gunboat diplomacy is foreign policy that is supported by the threat of military force
  • supremacy: supremacy is the state or condition of being superior
  • exhibition: an exhibition is a public display of works of art or items of interest

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The Great Exhibition was located in the Crystal Palace.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

The use of gunboat diplomacy in the Don Pacifico Affair increased the British conviction in empire. The Great Exhibition was opened in 1851 to showcase the best of British design and manufacture.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'empire'

an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by another person or group of people.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: The Great Exhibition was located in the Crystal Palace. Correction: The Great Exhibition, which became known as the Crystal Palace, was located in Hyde Park.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 9 History guide library.