Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914: breadth - trade

Question 1

protectionism

Answer 1

taxes or prohibitions on imports + exports designed to protext domestic producers. lack of competition -> higher prices tho

Question 2

mercantilism

Answer 2

policy ensuring that value of exports is more than value of imports (+ve trade balance). objective was to acquire gold + silver thru +ve balances of trade

Question 3

free trade

Answer 3

an alt system whereby import + export taxes are minimised to allow merchants to compete across borders - restrictions favoured merchants who can produce cheapest goods but risks driving others out of business.

Question 4

Quakers organised 1st abolitionist movement in Britain, petitioning in parliament then joining non-conformist abolitionists + William Wilberforce (who was persuaded to lead a parliamentary campaign for abolition)

Answer 4

1787

Question 5

abolitionists capitalised on anti-French credentials and introduced Foreign Slave Trade bill - prohibited any British subjects from supplying slaves into French colonies

Answer 5

1806

Question 6

parliament passed Slave Trade Act which ended British involvement in the trade

Answer 6

1807

Question 7

Adam Smith published an Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations which argued that import and export tariffs prevented trade from effective operation by constraining merchants from finding best deals

Answer 7

1776

Question 8

the election of the Whigs and the Representation of the People Act was passed - more representative (250k ppl), consisted of groups opposing protectionism (manufacturers + consumers)

Answer 8

1830-1832

Question 9

Navigation Acts

Answer 9

passed in 1651-73
- colonial goods produced for export could only be carried on English-built + owned ships
- goods e.g. sugar, cotton, tobacco had to be shipped to an English port even if they were exported to another destination
- European imports to British colonies also needed to land at an English port + be reshipped

Question 10

salutary neglect

Answer 10

light-touch approach to American gov until 1760s. Navigation Acts weren’t strictly enforced under this system and local management + setting of local taxes was headed by its governors + local assemblies

Question 11

The Sugar Act 1764

Answer 11

set a duty of 6d per gallon on molasses + sugar imported from non-British Caribbean colonies. resented in the 13 American Colonies bc they believed BE can regulate trade but not tax + raise revenue in the 13 colonies.

Question 12

The Stamp Act 1765

Answer 12

it required stamps (that represent tax) to be fixed on all formal documents, paper and playing cards. opposed by the colonial assemblies who passed resolutions condemning the Act.

Question 13

The acquisition of Singapore

Answer 13

1819

Question 14

The acquisition of Hong Kong

Answer 14

1842

Question 15

Chinese blockade

Answer 15

1839

Question 16

Gunboat diplomacy

Answer 16

displaying naval power as a means of intimidation in foreign policy

Question 17

Opening Shanghai to trade

Answer 17

1842

Question 18

Taiping Rebellion

Answer 18

uprising that lasted for 1850-64 led by Hong, leading to 20-30 million dead.

Question 19

Purchase of Suez Canal

Answer 19

1875

Question 20

Acquisition of Zanzibar

Answer 20

1850

Question 21

Lease of Weihaiwei

Answer 21

1898