The British Are Coming

This meme above is a humorous commentary on British colonialism. The joke in the meme implies that during the 18th and 19th centuries, the British Empire expanded so aggressively that no matter where you were in the world, relaxing peacefully on your beach, sooner or later, “the British” would arrive to colonize your land.

In other words, the cloud shaped like Britain symbolizes the sudden and often unwelcome arrival of British imperial power looming overhead.

More about the process:

The Wider Process of British Colonialism

Origins (16th–17th centuries)

• British colonialism began during the Age of Exploration, when European powers competed for global trade and territory.
• Early British ventures included colonies in North America (Virginia, New England) and the Caribbean (Jamaica, Barbados), driven by trade, agriculture, and competition with Spain and Portugal.

Expansion and the First British Empire (17th–18th centuries)

• This phase was based mainly on settlement and trade:
  • Colonies in North America, the West Indies, and India.
  • The Atlantic slave trade became central, linking Britain, Africa, and the Americas.
  • The East India Company established control over parts of India through both commerce and military power.
• The American Revolution (1775-1783) ended Britain’s control over the thirteen colonies, marking the end of the “First Empire.”

The Second British Empire (19th century)

• After losing the Americas, Britain expanded in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
• The Industrial Revolution made Britain the world’s leading economic and naval power.
• Key expansions:
  • India became the “Jewel in the Crown” after the 1857 Rebellion led to direct British rule.
  • Africa saw massive colonization during the “Scramble for Africa” (1880s–1910s).
  • Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other territories became settler colonies.
• Colonialism was justified through ideologies like the “civilizing mission”, Social Darwinism, and imperial nationalism.

Decline and Decolonization (20th century)

• After World Wars I and II, Britain’s power weakened.
• Independence movements grew across the empire:
  • India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947.
  • African nations followed in the 1950s–60s.
• The empire transformed into the Commonwealth of Nations, a voluntary association of former colonies.

Books on the topic:

• Empireworld: How British Imperialism Shaped the Globe
• Legacy of Violence: A History of the British Empire
• Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World

Photo credit: Golcar Matt/WeatherWatchers

More British Colonial Memes:

What do you think?