Impact of War

Question 1

European Trade

Answer 1

Couldn’t beat French army so began a financial/trade war.
Imposed blockade on key French ports.
French imposed Continental System, yet British economy continued to grow whilst it damaged French economy.

Question 2

Continental System

Answer 2

1807-12.
Attempt to choke Britain.
Restricted European countries from trading with Britain, didn’t deter merchant ships.
French economy heavily relied on British trade, damaged economy.
Sweden, Russia, France broke trade embargo.

Question 3

US Trade

Answer 3

Royal navy searched any vessel trading with France.
Annoyed Americans, so banned British trade.
Hurt US more than Britain.

Question 4

Economy

Answer 4

Nepotistic legislation: Corn Laws (maintain high prices) = Mercantilism (X>M) made rich richer, poor poorer.
Land-owning aristocracies and merchants benefited.
Developed canal system, The Grand Junction Canal (1805), reduced cost of transporting bulky goods.

Question 5

Finance

Answer 5

Cost: £1.6b –> £130b in 2017.
Funded by credit, sophisticated banking systems + govs refusal to change minimum wages, poor couldn’t afford rising food prices. Debt = £1b.
Income tax (1798-1802 & 1803-1816). 1st yr = £6m, aimed for £10m.
William Pitt, indirect taxes gov revenue, £12.7m (1783) to £18.6m (1792).
Property tax on no. of windows.
Robert Nozick, “taxation is legalized theft”.
Nepotistic legislation: Corn Laws (maintain high prices) = Mercantilism (X>M) made rich richer, poor poorer.
Land-owning aristocracies and merchants benefited.

Question 6

Industry

Answer 6

Cotton industry x3 from 1793-1813, 337 mills 1818.
Cyartha ironworks (S Wales) 500 tons (1787)–> 10k tons (1812).
Developed casting techniques = large quantities of weapons produced with minimal chances of faults.

Question 7

Agriculture

Answer 7

Board of Agriculture.
New farming methods = 50% higher production than any other European country. Allowed Britain to continue to function despite trade embargoes.
Crop rotation & selective breeding = more produce from land.
Parliamentary Enclosure Acts, merged 4.5m acres of land. Many left landless + new machinery = layoffs = more resentment.
Food prices soared due to poor harvests + trade embargoes; economy + supply saved by colonies.

Question 8

Camp Followers

Answer 8

Peninsular War, 6 wives per company. No restrictions on wives accompanying their husbands.
Unofficial camp followers – wives from home who hadn’t been selected amongst the official spouses but still went, making their own way on campaign.
Local women could become followers.
Supplied medical care, catering, servicing.

Question 9

Home Front

Answer 9

Napoleon tried to turn population on leaders = revolution.
Total war, affecting all.
Threat of French invasion led to formation of militia units across Britain, they were part time and not eligible for foreign service. Served as a base for regular recruits throughout war.
Yeomanry + fencibles = cavalry militia, acted against civil unrest.
Infantry militia raised by counties, garrison duty away from home to prevent conflict of loyalty when policing civil unrest.
By 1803, 380000 men served in reserves, 34000 were in the yeomanry.

Question 10

Propaganda & Media

Answer 10

Propaganda to encourage recruitment.
People told to pay taxes no matter their living situation “for the good of the country”.