Yeah they were.
"programs that operated between the early 19th century and 1967."
1800's to 1967.
Since Queen Victoria ruled from 1830-1901, and she has been defined as a conservative, where do you get that "progressives" are behind this?
"British empire was built on trade and on the need to defend it against other Europeans. The idea of creating new colonies was very unpopular after the loss of American states, but after 1830 it became again a topic of importance."
Hmmm, trade, defense, growth...
Sounds like the conservative mantra flowing around now to me.