The British Empire Quiz

1. At its height, the British Empire covered approximately what fraction of the world's land?

1. 1/10
2. 1/3
3. 1/4
4. 1/5

2. When did Britain abolish the slave trade throughout its empire?

1. 1776
2. 1807
3. 1833
4. 1865

3. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 led to what major change in India's governance?

1. India became a republic
2. India gained independence
3. The East India Company was dissolved and the British Crown took direct control
4. The Mughal emperor regained power

4. Which empire preceded Britain's control of Australia?

1. Captain Cook claimed it for Britain directly
2. No colonial empire — it was uninhabited
3. The Dutch Empire
4. The Spanish Empire

5. The Boer War (1899-1902) took place in which country?

1. Australia
2. India
3. Kenya
4. South Africa

6. In which year did India gain independence from Britain?

1. 1945
2. 1947
3. 1948
4. 1950

7. Hong Kong was returned to China from British control in which year?

1. 1984
2. 1989
3. 1997
4. 2000

8. What was the 'Scramble for Africa'?

1. A migration of African peoples across the continent
2. A race by African nations to become independent
3. A war between Britain and France over African territory
4. The rapid European colonisation of Africa in the late 19th century

9. Who was the first British monarch to be proclaimed Empress/Emperor of India?

1. King Edward VII
2. King George V
3. Queen Elizabeth II
4. Queen Victoria

10. The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 — what was its significance?

1. It abolished the monarchy
2. It established the British Empire
3. It granted voting rights to all Englishmen
4. It limited the power of the English monarch and established rule of law

11. The East India Company was primarily a:

1. British government department
2. Military organisation
3. Privately owned trading company that controlled much of India
4. Religious missionary society

12. The famous explorer Cecil Rhodes gave his name to which African territory?

1. Ghana
2. Kenya
3. Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
4. Zambia

13. When did Britain finally decolonise its last major colonial territories? The handover of which territory effectively ended the British Empire?

1. Bermuda, 1999
2. Falkland Islands, 1982
3. Gibraltar, 2006
4. Hong Kong, 1997

14. What was the main commodity that triggered the Opium Wars between Britain and China?

1. Opium
2. Silk
3. Silver
4. Tea

15. The Battle of Plassey (1757) was a turning point in Britain's control of India. Who did Robert Clive defeat?

1. The Maratha Confederation
2. The Mughal Emperor
3. The Nawab of Bengal (Siraj ud-Daulah) and French allies
4. The Portuguese forces

16. Which Act of Union in 1707 united England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain?

1. Act of Settlement 1701
2. Act of Union 1800
3. Acts of Union 1536
4. Acts of Union 1707

17. Which Prime Minister oversaw the British Empire during World War II?

1. Anthony Eden
2. Clement Attlee
3. Neville Chamberlain
4. Winston Churchill

18. The British Empire's Commonwealth of Nations evolved from the Empire. How many member states does the Commonwealth have today?

1. 26
2. 36
3. 56
4. 56+

19. The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 was led by whom?

1. Eric the Red
2. Harold Godwinson
3. Rollo of Normandy
4. William the Conqueror

20. What was the British policy of 'divide and rule' in colonial territories?

1. A military strategy of attacking on multiple fronts
2. A trade policy favouring British goods over local products
3. Exploiting existing divisions between groups to prevent united resistance
4. Splitting colonies into smaller administrative units