The Colonial Policy of Great Britain in the Assessments of English Intellectuals of the 18th Century

Based on the works of famous intellectuals of the Enlightenment (D. Defoe, J. Swift, Halifax, Ed. Burke, Ed. Fletcher, J. Priestley, B. Mandeville etc.), the author for the first time in historical science addresses their views on the colonial policy of Great Britain in the XVIII century. Enlightenment figures who defended “land” interests (Party of Tories), criticized the actions of the authorities, since any external expansion (wars or the seizure of colonies) undermined the economic base of landowners. Supporters of “monetary” interests (Party of Whigs), approved of the policy aimed at expanding the territorial possessions of England, became initiators of projects to improve the army and navy, as they saw guarantees of successful territorial conquests. In the second half of the 18th century, with the growth of democratic transformations in the country, most intellectuals began to oppose colonial wars. They approved of the liberation wars of the North American colonies, India, and Ireland, and also advocated the right of nations to self-determination

Archaeology · Colonialism · Economic history · Political science · Australian History and Society · History