Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
Book
Edexcel A Level History, Paper 3
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Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
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The changing nature and extent of Trade 1763-1914
How Important was government policy in shaping changes to patterns of trade in 1763-
1914?
Britain emerged from 7YW victorious but indebted
o Gov debt was 157% of GDP in 1763 – rising to 260% in 1821
o Britain struggled to pay for American War of Independence, Napoleonic Wars
and French Revolutionary War
o Strategies of fighting armies and blockade of French Ports was effective but
expensive
Trade through this period kept the country ‘solvent’
o However, cost of maintaining land and sea forces was a recurring theme
behind economic policy
Government policy was initially protectionist (increase tax on imports to protect
domestic producers) and Mercantilist (Export value exceeds import value) and these
were designed to gain trade advantages with partners
o These policies alienated colonies – pushed Ireland towards rebellion
Free trade was adopted over time where government tried to increase volume of
trade and used coercion to make other countries follow
Standardisation of trade suited British merchants – their manufactured goods were
far cheaper than those of their rivals
o British trade dominance extended beyond empire – to China and South
America
This model was challenged by European powers – seeking increased geopolitical
influence (Power comes from territorial dominance of strategic areas)
o Rather than being developed around trade – colonies were seen as valuable –
leading to the colonisation of the weakest as seen by the Scramble for Africa
Britain gained power to prevent others doing it
o However, powers with smallest colonial empires and infrastructure
developed fastest during this period
o They overtook Britain in industrial production and military strength
o USA, Germany and Japan
The abolition of the Slave Trade 1807
Challenges to abolishing the slave trade
British involvement with slave trade began in the 16th Century and had not changed
significantly by 18th century
Slavers’ vessels came from English ports with
textiles, alcohol and firearms for slaves at West
African ports
Slaves were shipped in appalling conditions across
Middle passage (Crossing of Atlantic between
Africa and West Indies) to Americas
The survivors were destined for the Caribbean
where they would be resold and shipped to West
Indies, Spanish America or New India
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