Final answer:
The British Empire greatly expanded the English language by establishing English as the language of administration and trade in colonies around the world. British economic, cultural, and military dominance during the 18th and 19th centuries, followed by the rise of the United States as a global superpower, solidified English's status as a global language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The political/historical event that expanded the English language significantly was the expansion of the British Empire. The establishment of the British Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries laid the groundwork for English to become a global language. British naval power and expansive colonization programs during the 18th and 19th centuries were key in spreading the English language around the globe.
During this time, British economic, cultural, and military power was on the rise, resulting in the displacement and assimilation of native languages in favor of English in many parts of the world. This influence continued well into the 20th century, and after World War II, it was the subsequent rise of the United States as an economic, cultural, and technological superpower that further elevated the status of English as a global language.
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