The Commonwealth

I will:
Examine the history of the commonwealth.
Understand the purpose of the commonwealth.
Know what the commonwealth does.
Conduct a research project on a commonwealth country.

Sports at the Commonwealth

Games:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Work in a group of 4
to complete the list.
Think of as many
examples as possible.

Sports

Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Boxing
Swimming
Synchronised swimming
Diving
Cycling
Hockey
Netball
Rugby
Shooting
table tennis
Weightlifting
triathlon

Did your list

include these
sports?

The British Empire Became the

Commonwealth

By the end of the 19th Century the British Empire ruled about a quarter of the Earths population.

There is no denying that the British Empire did some ugly things to the people in the countries that they ruled but they also did some
good things too.

Things have changed a lot over the years.

The first colonies to gain independence were Canada and Australia. Even though they gained independence in the late nineteenth
century they still recognised the British monarchy.

In 1931 the British Commonwealth of Nations was formed. Britain's former colonies chose whether or not they wanted to be part of
it when they became independent.

After the Second World War the rest of the British Empire began to collapse. Nationalist uprisings forced Britain to give
independence to its colonies.

Most of the former colonies chose to join the Commonwealth.

The last British colony to gain independence was Belize in 1981.

The British Commonwealth of Nations has since become The Commonwealth of Nations.

There are now 53 members of the Commonwealth. The official head of the Commonwealth is the British monarch.

All of the members of the Commonwealth are former British colonies except Mozambique who was granted membership in 1995.

There are
now 53
members
of the
Commonw
ealth.
Do you
recognise
any of the
flags?

1
7
13
19
25
31
37
43

3
8
14

20
26
32
38
44

4
9
15

21
27
33
39
45

10
16
22
28
34
40
46

11
17
23
29
35
41
47

12
18
24
30
36
42
48

1.

Antigua and
Barbuda

27.

Mauritius

2.

Australia

28.

Mozambique

3.

Bahamas

29.

Namibia

4.

Bangladesh

30.

Nauru

5.

Barbados

31.

New Zealand

6.

Belize

32.

Nigeria

7.

Botswana

33.

Pakistan

8.

Brunei Darussalam

34.

Papua New Guini

9.

Cameroon

35.

St Kitts and Nevis

10.

Canada

36.

St Lucia

11.

Cyprus

37.

St Vincent and the

Grenadines

12.

Dominica

38.

Seychelles

13.

Fiji Islands

39.

Sierra Leone

14.

Gambia

40.

Singapore

15.

Ghana

41.

Solomon Islands

16.

Grenada

42.

South Africa

17.

Guyana

43.

Sri Lanka

18.

India

44.

Swaziland

19.

Jamaica

45.

Tanzania

20.

Kenya

46.

Tonga

21.

Kiribati

47.

22.

Lesotho

Trinidad and
Tobago

23.

Malawi

48.

Tuvalu

24.

Malaysia

49.

Uganda

25.

Maldives

50.

United Kingdom

26.

Malia

51.

Vanuatu

52.

Western Samoa

53.

Zambia

Whats It All About?

At first the Commonwealth was mainly about ______.
Britain also promised to ______ its former colonies if
they were attacked.
The Commonwealth is now mainly about ______. It
encourages cultural and sporting links between its
members.

defend

trade agreements

discussion

The heads of each country meet to discuss things that concern all
members like human rights issues, economic and social
development and the environment.

It is
committed to
the
environment
and to
sustainable
development.

Members work with each other to improve the quality of life in

each country. The more developed members give aid to
development projects in other countries.

What does the Commonwealth do?

It helps countries working towards democracy to, sending

advisors and observers to check that elections are carried out
properly.

Meetings are about

health, education,
women's affairs,
agriculture and
science.

It runs projects such as

immunisation and HIV
awareness campaigns.

What the Commonwealth Do:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Complete the list

working in your group.

Display
Create a display on the Commonwealth
country that you reseerched.
The display should include as much
information as possible.

Questions
1. What is the value of the Commonwealth games
for the countries that participate?
2. What do you think are the advantages ad
disadvantages to belonging to the
Commonwealth?
3. Some people say that the Commonwealth is
outdated and ineffective. Other people say that
the Commonwealth promote friendship and
good will. What do you think?