Why did the British Empire break up?

It is possible to list at least four basic forces which brought about the dissolution of the British Empire. First, both Britain and her colonies recognized that some kind of self-government was necessary in territories which were separated by thousands of miles from Britain.

Secondly, the colonies themselves began to chafe against British rule and to demand to manage their own affairs.

In the third place, individual British colonies and other nations began to forge  economic, social and political links.

Finally, many Britons themselves realized that the Empire had become unwieldy and that relationships within it were a handicap rather than a gain.