What led to Britain's rise to global prominence in the mid 1700's?

Answer 1

1. England's/Britain's rise had begun especially under Elizabeth I. Like most global powers of the time, Britain was on the Atlantic seaboard, which was an immense geographical advantage. (Compare with Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands). 2. Following the dismissal of the dynastically minded, pro-French, absolutist, Catholic (or crypto-Catholic) monarchs Charles I and II and James II, the Anglo-British people and their own aristocracy wielded 'national' political power and became increasingly prosperous. There was a newly found confidence and a sense of purpose. 3. Other key factors included the growing inability of France to handle its domestic affairs competently (from the 1740s onwards) - and the decline of Spain, too. 4. Especially in 1750s and the Seven Years' War (1756-63) Britain, under the de facto leadership of its first consciously 'imperialist' leader, Pitt the Elder, pursued a vigorous policy of overseas expansion, especially in North America and India ...