Section One-Imperial Rivalry

Question 1

How were countries in Europe and the World a threat to the British Empire?

Answer 1

• In 1871 Germany was united as a single country and became a new powerhouse in Europe; with its huge supply of natural resources and favourable geographical location in centre of Europe it showed its great industrial potential
• Russia extended their control into Central Asia and by 1884 Russia had taken its empire to the borders of Afghanistan and they began constructing a railway network which the British feared could carry an army to challenge the British position in India; Russia also appeared set on imperial expansion in the north of China as work on the Trans-Siberian Railway would begin in 1891
• Impact of the Great Depression also encouraged new interest in expansion in Africa as new sources of raw materials may be found; the French became considerably more active in Africa in the 1880s, expanding beyond their old coastal settlements, while Germans began making annexations from 1884 in the South-West and Western regions
• Naval power of other countries especially France and Russia gave other nations the means with which to explore areas e.g. Asia and Africa where previously British faced no previous competition
• In South East Asia, French established a foothold in Indo-China in 1860s and began to push north