Breadth 1 - Trade evidence Flashcards
the power of the royal navy
During slave trade undertook 10,000 voyages and when it was abolished it prevented other countries benefitting from it
Commerce protection. Suppression of piracy, battle of the Saintes.
Pax Britannica, world policeman protecting British commercial interests.
the slave trade itself
The British undertook 10,000 voyages during the slave trade
Of 80k enslaved Africans transported, 42k were carried by British ships.
Europe relying on exports from the slave trade. For example, sugar and cotton
entrepots
Hong Kong, vital in opium and tea trade
Singapore was a major trade and financial hub
Singapore challenged the Dutch dominance in the Malay peninsula and suppressed piracy in the straits of Malacca
Zanzibar, in context of scramble for Africa, had a good location to export highly demanded African natural resources.
singapore
Ran as an entrepot so attracted trade
Challenged Dutch dominance in the Malay peninsula
suppressed piracy in the straits of Malacca
Became a financial and trade world hub
suez canal
1882, 5 million Tonnes flowing through, 80% was British
Cut the distance to far east Asia from 12.7Km to 7.2km
Gave the British access to middle eastern oil reserves which allowed them to set up coaling stations in the 1900’s
persistence in trade in Asia
Opium wars show the extent that the British wanted to be successful.
Treaty of Nanking 1842
Lease of Wehaiwei, control of a warm water port near Russia, no trade done but kept Russia under control.
disraelis acquisition of suez canal shares (willingness to expand commerce)
Bypassed government and cabinet to get a £4m loan from the Rothschild family to purchase shares
Commercial success as it allowed access to middle eastern oil reserves, also coaling stations in 1900’s.
Cut time taken from 12.7km to 7.2km.
tactics used to gain advantage on rivals
Move to free trade
Opening and acquisitions of entrepots
Acquisitions of Zanzibar, control in east Africa.
adoption of free trade`
Increased exports. India £21m, Australia £8m, Canada £5.8m
Manufactured cotton became very profitable and made up over 50% of British exports.
1860’s, 25% of world trade
Forced China to adopt free trade. Significance for Hong Kong and shanghai.
1867, British exports totalled to £181m c
activities in China
The opium wars, renewal of opium trade + Hong Kong
Treaty of Nanking 1842 got shanghai and money for the Opium wars.
Shanghai became the second port in china
repeal of the navigation acs to increase commerce
Removed tariffs which meant more trade flowing through
Replaced with income tax which meant profits would still be coming into Britain.
However, this led to the resignation of Robert Peel, which led to a split in the conservative party which had a bad look of Britain on the world.
trade with Americas
Sugar act which inreased profit from salutary neglect by around £78k. Good for Britain
1775-83, 40% of American imports came from Britain
Britain aided Latin American countries independence with improving trade links which was mutually beneficial
Transatlantic slave trade with Americas set up good relations for post slavery trading
Trade in meat with south American countries.
shanghai
Situated on Yangtze river which allowed routes into China
Good for opium trade
Second port in China, which was a significant area for the British empire.
Not an Entrepot so potentially more financial benefits if charging tax rates for porting.
zanzibar
In context of the scramble for Africa
Good location off the coast of Africa to ship to the east
Interest in African natural resources and Zanzibar was perfectly located.
Ran as an Entrepot so attracted more trade.
far east trade limited significance in expansion of british trade
Opium wars cost Britain lots of resources even though they won.
Can be argued that the profitability of entrepots is questionable.
Counter argument to opium wars, Treaty of Nanking paid it back.
goods from far east making trade there significant
Raw silk and cotton, and sugar big imports in the UK.
Tea trade. EIC imported 25.5M Lbs. of tea between 1785-87.
Opium trade. The British sold 1400 Tonnes of opium to China by the late 1830’s.
abolition of the slave trade as a changing pattern of trade
Economic argument for abolition, so could be beneficial for British Commerical interests anyway. Liverpool moved to other areas of trade in Africa and the Transatlantic
Bristol, slave trade collapsed, concentrated on other European trade and trade of African palm oil.
Counter – Bristol and Liverpool continued selling products by enslaved labour as had not been outlawed yet.
trade with india
By 1825, Britain’s biggest import was Indian cotton
EIC invested over £1m into developing raw silk in India
By 1900, India supplied Britain with Raw Cotton, rice, tea and wheat.
