The Changing Nature and Extent of Trade - Topic 1.2

Question 1

What is an entrepôt?

Answer 1

A port, city, or other centre to which goods are brought for import and export, and for collection and distribution.

Question 2

How was Singapore acquired and…

How did Singapore assist the growth of the empire?

1819

Answer 2

• Singapore was acquired in 1819 after the collapse of the Dutch in the Napoleonic Wars. Sir Stamford Raffles arranged a treaty with local leaders and established a trading post and port there
• Due to its strategic location on one of the world’s most used and valuable trade routes the Singaporean economy exploded and assisted the growth of the British Empire by proxy.
• As it had no tariffs and enhanced free trade greatly improved Singapore’s strategic necessity for the British.

Question 3

How was Hong Kong acquired and…

How did Hong Kong assist the growth of the empire?

1842

Answer 3

• Hong Kong was acquired after the First Opium War (1839-42) and Britain used gunboat diplomacy to get its way with the Chinese
• It was an ideal and secure location for the British in China and allowed large ocean-going vessels to offload their massive amounts of cargo without paying tariffs.
• Hong Kong was also a constant reminder that the British were better, and more powerful than China and could always get what they wanted from the Qing.

Question 4

How did opening up Shanghai help facilitate Britain’s trade in the east?

How did the Unequal treaty benefit the British in Shanghai?

1842-1864

Answer 4

• Shanghai was a gateway to previously inaccessable interior territory in China. Under the Treaty of Nanking, the British were allowed to trade with Shanghai and also anyone rather than a Hong monopoly.
• The British settlement there was de facto self-governing
• Businessmen from Shanghai’s foreign settlements set up the Shanghai Municipal Council to co-ordinate public services. The council never answered to the Qing government, and Shanghai became an international city governed by businessmen.

Hong Monopoly - A guild operating import-export monopoly

Question 5

What utility did Weihaiwei provide the British Empire?

1898

Answer 5

Weihaiwei was leased to the British by the Qing government in 1898 and The British were able to keep an eye on the Russian port of Port Arthur to make sure that Russia and Britain didn’t have another “Great Game” in China. The port only had military significance just in case Britain needed to counter Russia in the East. Weihaiwei demostrates that colonial interests weren’t only for commercial intent as the port had no commercial value.

Question 6

How was Zanzibar acquired and…

How did Zanzibar assist the growth of the empire?

1890

Answer 6

• Zanzibar was acquired in 1890 after the Anglo-Zanzibar War which lasted for 39 minutes. The British wanted to take advantage of the already entrepot-style economy in Zanzibar created by Oman.
• It provided safe trade from the Cape of Good Hope to India and Aden. Trade often flowed through Zanzibar and the British could profit from it.
• After the opening of the Suez Canal, the volley of ships passing through Zanzibar decreased as European ships didn’t have to go around all of Africa anymore.

Question 7

What utility did the Suez Canal provide to the British Empire?

1869-1956

Answer 7

• Became viable after the creation of steamships and French investment
• Trade with the Asian markets grew exponentially and the Suez Canal became more important for Britain as it began to massively facilitate trade
• PM Disraeli with the Rothschilds brokering the deal (loan £4,000,000 to Disraeli), was able to buy 44% of Suez shares from the Khedive of Egypt
• “Highway to our Indian empire” - Benjamin Disraeli