Napoleonic War of British Economy

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”.

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”.