The British Empire declined mainly because Britain was weakened by the two World Wars, which cost huge amounts of money and caused great damage. After the wars, Britain was in debt and could not afford to control such a large empire. At the same time, many countries wanted independence and no longer wanted Britain to rule them. New powerful countries, such as the United States and the Soviet Union, also emerged, meaning Britain was no longer the strongest nation in the world. Over time, more countries became independent and the Empire gradually became smaller. | Chalk