What was the british commonwealth and why was it established for?

Question

What was the british commonwealth and why was it established for?

Answer 1

No need for the past tense.The commonwealth is a group of former colonies that chose to retain certain links to Britain.They have certain trading rights and freedoms of travel.

Answer 2

It's now just called the Commonwealth of Nations.  Originally the British Commonwealth was a term  used to denote the self governing areas of the British Empire namely Canada, Austailia, New Zealand, South Africa, and what was Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe).  The term quickly became broader to refer to the formal voluntary organisation of nations that were formerly part of the British Empire and wished to be part of the organisation which promotes common ties and cooperation (trade was a big link until the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1975).  Originally the idea was that only countries that had the monarch as its head of state could be in the commonwealth (a big reason why the Republic of Ireland leeft) but this was soon changed when India became a republic.  Those Commonwealth countries that still have the Queen as head of sate (via a local governor-general) such as Canada, Austalia and Jamaica are known as "Commonwealth Realms".  

Mozambique is an example of a nation that was never under British rule but was allowed into the commonwelath on the basis of its cooperation with surrounding members.  Countries that have left and rejoined include Pakistan and South Africa.  The most recent to leave was Zimbabwe.  Ireland, Burma(Myanar) and even the USA would be eligible to join if they wished to.

It remains the most successful post-colonial organisation of nations (numbering 53 now) as thankfully much of the dismantling of the British Empire was political rather than bloody (not excusing some incidents but still good compared to the French)

An interesting fact is that countries in the commonwealth do not have embassies in each others countries they have High Comissions with a High Commisioner to the country instead of an Ambassador.  Some films and TV drams frequently get this wrong such as a character's visit to the Australian "Embassy" in London in the British soap Hollyoaks. Refreshingly, In Cry Freedom the main character (played by Kevin Klein) is corrected when he asks where the British Embassy is in Lesotho (paraphrase) "This is a Commonwealth country my friend, you mean the High Commission".