The British Empire wasn’t just a political system.
It was the greatest heist in history.
They looted $65T from India, stole Africa’s gold and diamonds, and built their empire on famine, slavery, and debt.
Here’s how Britain got rich while its colonies bled: 🧵
It was the greatest heist in history.
They looted $65T from India, stole Africa’s gold and diamonds, and built their empire on famine, slavery, and debt.
Here’s how Britain got rich while its colonies bled: 🧵
Britain's formula was a 4-step colonial playbook:
1. Enter under the guise of “trade agreements.”
2. Take military control of key ports, resources, and governance.
3. Restructure local economies for British interests.
4. Tax the locals, extract wealth, export it to London.
1. Enter under the guise of “trade agreements.”
2. Take military control of key ports, resources, and governance.
3. Restructure local economies for British interests.
4. Tax the locals, extract wealth, export it to London.
India: The $65 Trillion Loot
Economic historians estimate that between 1765 and 1938, Britain drained $45–65 trillion (in today’s money) from India.
How? Forced cash crops → famine (e.g. Bengal 1770, 10 million dead).
Heavy taxation → British coffers.
Economic historians estimate that between 1765 and 1938, Britain drained $45–65 trillion (in today’s money) from India.
How? Forced cash crops → famine (e.g. Bengal 1770, 10 million dead).
Heavy taxation → British coffers.
Railroads were built not for Indians, but to speed resource extraction.
India’s share of world GDP fell from 23% (1700) to under 4% (1950).
India’s share of world GDP fell from 23% (1700) to under 4% (1950).
Africa: Gold, Diamonds, Oil
South Africa: De Beers (Cecil Rhodes) turned diamond mines into a British monopoly.
Nigeria: oil fields dominated by Shell-BP (formed during colonial rule).
Ghana: “Gold Coast” wealth extracted while locals remained impoverished.
South Africa: De Beers (Cecil Rhodes) turned diamond mines into a British monopoly.
Nigeria: oil fields dominated by Shell-BP (formed during colonial rule).
Ghana: “Gold Coast” wealth extracted while locals remained impoverished.
Egypt
The Suez Canal was built with Egyptian labor (tens of thousands died).
When debts piled up, Britain seized control in 1882.
The canal became Britain’s lifeline to India until it was nationalized in 1956, sparking the Suez Crisis.
The Suez Canal was built with Egyptian labor (tens of thousands died).
When debts piled up, Britain seized control in 1882.
The canal became Britain’s lifeline to India until it was nationalized in 1956, sparking the Suez Crisis.
Malaysia: Rubber Plantations
Britain turned Malaya into the world’s largest rubber exporter, fueling Britain’s tire and automobile industries.
Local farmers were forced into plantations, paid little, while profits flowed to British companies like Dunlop.
Britain turned Malaya into the world’s largest rubber exporter, fueling Britain’s tire and automobile industries.
Local farmers were forced into plantations, paid little, while profits flowed to British companies like Dunlop.
Kenya: Land & Plantations
The “White Highlands” were seized for British settlers.
Native Kenyans were displaced, taxed, and forced into labor on coffee and tea estates.
Resistance (like the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s) was crushed brutally.
The “White Highlands” were seized for British settlers.
Native Kenyans were displaced, taxed, and forced into labor on coffee and tea estates.
Resistance (like the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s) was crushed brutally.
The Industrial Revolution’s Dirty Secret
Britain’s economic miracle wasn’t just innovation.
It was fueled by:
Indian cotton & opium
African gold & diamonds
Caribbean sugar & slavery
London’s banks, factories, and railroads were built on the backs of colonized labor.
Britain’s economic miracle wasn’t just innovation.
It was fueled by:
Indian cotton & opium
African gold & diamonds
Caribbean sugar & slavery
London’s banks, factories, and railroads were built on the backs of colonized labor.
After Independence, the economic control stayed.
Colonial corporations became multinationals (Shell, Unilever, Barclays).
Nations are trapped in debt.
Trade agreements kept raw materials flowing out, finished goods flowing in.
The “heist” never stopped. It just modernized.
Colonial corporations became multinationals (Shell, Unilever, Barclays).
Nations are trapped in debt.
Trade agreements kept raw materials flowing out, finished goods flowing in.
The “heist” never stopped. It just modernized.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
