Question

What was Britain's primary goal in building an Empire?

• A. Gaining power and wealth
• B. Spreading Christianity
• C. Dominating other races
• D. Waging wars

Answer 1

The correct option is A Gaining power and wealth

With respect to its colonies, British mercantilism meant that the government and the merchants became partners with the goal of increasing political power and private wealth, to the exclusion of other empires.Many statesmen before 1914 were convinced that the concept of the struggle for existence was also valid in foreign policy. Empires and nation states were seen as entities that could rise and fall. According to the principle of Social Darwinism, only the strongest states would survive. Colonial expansion was therefore viewed as a precondition for gaining access to necessary resources. This imperialist mood was directly influenced by the idea of the “survival of the fittest”. Hence, Option A is correct. The rest of the factors were the means by which they intended to gain control over other countries. It was not their aim, but methods of gaining the aim, hence, these are incorrect.