A positive view of the British Empire in the 19th century? Surely a jest!

During our studies with UNISA we were asked to do an essay with the following title.

Analyze the reasons for the shift towards a more positive view of empire in Britain during the nineteenth century.

The following was my response.

Whoever wrote this question either had their tongue in their cheek or was acting the silly fellow. Nobody who knows anything about Ireland in the 19th century would ally the term “British Empire” and “positive view” in the same sentence.

Sure the negativeness of English rule didn't even conclude in the nineteenth century but went on until 1921 when the island was torn asunder by "Perfidious Albion" and which left a bitter legacy that is still with us today.

Or maybe the question reflects the new political correctness, whereby if it happens to blue eyed (which the Irish have in abundance), white people (lily white Celts whose bare skin never sees the sun), then it’s not important.

I wonder how many know that over one million people died in a famine which the government in Westminister could have acted quicker to alleviate and that a further one million immigrated to America and Australia and carried the seeds of future bitterness against the Limies and the Poms.