Imperial Federation was a mid-19th Century proposal to create a federated union in place of the existing British Empire. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Empire was one of the largest empires in history. ...

At the time, the British Empire consisted of many colonies, some of which were largely self governing (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) and others not (India, West Indies, Fiji). The future of the empire remained uncertain, as it was unclear what the end result would be if all colonies eventually became self-governing. Among other concerns, it would be very difficult for British interests to be maintained if every colony was essientially already sovereign. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...

Creating an Imperial Federation thus became a popular proposal. The plan was never firm, but the general proposal was to create a single federal state among all colonies of the British Empire. The federation would have a common parliament, and would be governed as a superstate. Thus, Imperial unity could be maintained while still allowing for democratic governance. A federation (from the Latin fœdus, covenant) is a state comprised of a number of self-governing regions (often themselves referred to as states) united by a central (federal) government. ... A state is an organized political community occupying a definite territory, having an organized government, and possessing internal and external sovereignty. ... An aerial view of Parliament of India at New Delhi. ...

The Imperial Federation League was founded in London in 1884 and subsequently branches were established in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados and British Guiana. While the proposal was often associated with segments of the British Tory Party, it was also popular among proponents of Liberal or New Imperialism such as E. W. Forster. The movement was also a vehicle for British race nationalism, inspired by such writers as Dilke and Seale and ideas of a greater Britain encompassing the largely white self governing colonies and dominions. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The term New Imperialism refers to the policy and ideology of imperial colonial expansion adopted by Europes powers and later the United States and Japan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; approximately from the Franco-Prussian War to World War I (c. ... World map indicating the five core countries of the Anglosphere (in blue). ...

One of the main obstacles to the scheme was what one of its proponents Richard Jebb called colonial nationalism. Giving authority to a super-parliament composed of many competiting interests was seen by opponents as a compromise over the powers of the local parliaments. Leading colonial supporters of imperial federation such as Australian prime minister Alfred Deakin however saw the movement as a way to increase the influence of the dominions over imperial defence and foreign policy. The colonial branches of the Imperial Federation League in fact outlived the demise of the home branch in London, which collapsed in 1896 when it failed to resolve internal disputes over imperial trade policy. Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb (August 27, 1841 - December 9, 1905) was a British classical scholar and politician. ... Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919), Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later second Prime Minister of Australia. ...

The First World War put an end to large scale popular debates over imperial federation. Defence concerns and problems of imperial cooperation were also resolved through the system of colonial or Imperial Conferences. The idea of Imperial unity was carried on after the war by Lionel Curtis and the Round Table group which continues to this day as a forum and promoter of the Commonwealth of Nations. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Imperial Conferences were gatherings of British Empire government leaders in London in 1887, 1897, 1902, 1907, 1911, 1921, 1923, 1926, 1930 and 1937. ... Lionel Curtis is the author of The Commonwealth of Nations (1916) and Civitas Dei: The Commonwealth of God (1938), arguing that the United States must rejoin the British commonwealth and that the commonwealth must evolve into a world government. ... In Japanese pop music, Round Table (officially ROUND TABLE) is a band that produces music mostly for Anime soundtracks. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ...