Causes of Trade Policy Change (OLD)

Question 1

Abolition of the Slave Trade: Economic (3)

Answer 1

• Slave rebellions (like in Haiti 1791-1804) reduced profits.
• Increased competition from cheap sugar from Brazil and Cuba caused surplus of West Indies sugar -> end of slave trade did not risk increased costs on domestic consumption
• Loss of profit and disease in slaves: 1/10 ships lose profit in 1778. Liverpool slave merchants lost £700,000

Question 2

Abolition of the Slave Trade: Political (3)

Answer 2

• Quakers peition Parliament in 1783. 1787 - they established the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade
• 1792 - large campaign led to 519 petitions from every country
• 1806 General Election - more abolitionist MPs were elected who then voted to pass abolition by a large majority in 1807.

Question 3

Abolition of the Slave Trade: Individuals and Ideology (3)

Answer 3

• Influenced by American and French revolutions new enlightment ideas: freedom and justice for all men
• Wilberforce raised awareness in parliament (speech in 1789) and won Pitt’s support in 1806
• Adam Smith argued paying labourers would be more efficient and profitable

Question 4

Abolition of the Slave Trade: Foreign Rivalries (2)

Answer 4

• 1794 France ended slavery in their colonies but then restored it under Napoleon, Britains support for ex-slaves and anti-slavery seen as anti-French as it would damaga French economy and war effort. Abolitionists aligned with anti-French
• Foreign Slave Trade Bill 1806 - banned British ships (trading under American ships) from supplying slaves to French.

Question 5

The signficant effects of the abolition of the Slave Trade (5)

Answer 5

• Starts move torwards free trade as it challenged mercantilism
• Accepted manufacturing as basis of British economy, not raw materials
• Search for new, prosperous trade routes outside the slave trade triangle opened new markets (Second Empire)
• Changed the role of the Royal Navy - world’s policeman (West Africa Squadron) to deal with illegal slave trading and smuggling
• Economic success -> free trade and free labour led to wealth not see before 1800s -> proved theories against mercantilism

Question 6

The less significant effects of the abolition of the Slave Trade (3)

Answer 6

• Short-term negative impacts on ports like Bristol and Liverpool (trade was already on decline though and still benefited from new free trade).
• Slavery continued after 1807 - until 1834 in West Indies (paid £20m compensation - 40% Govt expenditure)
• Slave trade continued illegally through smuggling

Question 7

Adoption of Free Trade: economic (5)

Answer 7

• Feared USA as rival trading nation after 1776 - still needed British goods so exports recovered quickly (disproved Protectionism)
• Govt debt (25x GDP) in 1815 meant wealth creation appealed
• Trade recession and unemployment Free Trade for economic revival through global movement of British goods
• Needed cheap imports of raw materials to manufacture and export out
• Needed cheap food import for growing populations (up 50% 1810-1841) -> Peel feared couldn’t feed them without lowering tariffs on food imports

Question 8

Adoption of Free Trade: Political (4)

Answer 8

• Great Reform Act 1832 extended electorate by 60% which increased middle, industrial class in Parliament who opposed protectionism
• 1838 Anti-Corn Law League pressure group held mass meetings and lobbyed Mps
• Peel founded Conservatives in 1834 from Old Tories and Peelites who did well in elections 1835/37 the won in 1841
• Peel won support from Whigs and Liberals to pass Free Trade and repeal Corn Laws in 1846 (Partly political as the Conservative party had appeal to new middle class voters and their commercial interests)

Question 9

Adoption of Free Trade: Individuals and Ideology

Answer 9

• 1776 ‘The Wealth of Nations’ by Adam Smith argued not to restrict the nation’s productive capacity but to set it free -> immdeiate impact and grew Free Trade ideologies in 1800s