Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
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Summary Britain's Informal Empire in South America
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Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
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A poster explaining Britain's informal empire in South America following the collapse of the Spanish empire in the context in the move to free trade. It can be used to demonstrate the effects of the move to free trade, changing trade patterns with the Americas, and the changing methods of British c...
Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
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Britain’s informal empire in South America
How did it come about?
By destroying the Spanish navy at the battle of Trafalgar, Britain
succeed in isolating Spain from its colonies in South America
and
achieve naval superiority in the Atlantic.
Attempts by the British to exert direct colonial control over
Spain’s colonies were met with violence and any prolonged
occupation and governance would be costly to the crown. So,
spurred by the growing success of free trade, the British
explored a different option.
What did it entail?
In the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars, many South American
colonies manged to secure their independence from Spanish
rule.
Many of these fledgling nations became vital trading partners
with Britain.
For example, Argentina provided cheap salted meat, wood and
cow hides.
By 1867, South American countries were importing £12 million of British goods per year.
How did Britain exert control?
These nascent states depended heavily on British trade for basic goods. Therefore, they were
unable to take action that could upset Britain out of fear for loosing vital supplies, so they
signed treaties and traded with the empire in a way deemed to be most beneficial to Britain.
The British Empire also completely outclassed these nations militarily and the constant
threat of armed intervention this created helped South American leaders toe the British line.
Furthermore, military action was sometimes taken against those who tried to apply
protectionist policies for example, the Anglo-French blockade of the River Plate in 1845.
Why was it successful?
It allowed Britain to exploit nations and direct their foreign and trade policy for its own
benefit without the administrative costs and political risks associated with direct colonial
rule; they did not have garrison large swathes of territory or risk being drawn into far-flung
conflicts.
In the spirit of free trade, Britain’s informal empire in South America proved that territories
could be profited from without being ruled directly. This led to a change in governmental
attitudes and it would shape Western foreign policy for centuries to come.
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