Aspects in breadth: ruling the waves.
Theme 1: The changing nature and extent of trade:
Introduction;
Decisive victory over France in 1763: would seem British would have economic and military
supremacy.
HOWEVER: aggressive trade policy in N. America triggered revolt and Britain's European rivals
combined during W of I to challenge Royal Navy.
1815: Britain emerged as world's superpower with global trade dominance.
Britain at centre of global network of strategic ports and trade routes, through which immense wealth
flowed.
o Until industrialization of emerging powers (Germany, USA) enable businesses to compete
commercially with British factories.
Timeline;
1763 Victory over France in 7 Years War: Britain introduces taxes to raise money from
colonies.
1775 American War of Independence begins over 'no taxation without representation'.
1779 Free trade granted to Ireland to prevent civil unrest: Anglo-Irish trading relationship
boosted.
1805 Victory at Trafalgar: Royal Navy achieves supremacy at sea.
1807 Slave trade is abolished after a 19-year parliamentary campaign.
1815 Victory at Waterloo: parliament passes Corn Laws to keep grain prices high.
1819 Founding of Singapore by East India Company shows effectiveness of free trade
enrepôts.
1833 Abolition of slavery in West Indies, compensation paid to slave owners.
1842 Victory in First Opium War - Britain forces China to cede Hong Kong and open
Shanghai and other ports to Western trade.
1846 Famine in Ireland Repeal of Corn Laws to lower grain prices splits Conservative
Party.
1849 Navigation Acts abolished: Free trade supporters dominate parliament.
1875 Purchase of Suez Canal shares gives Britain controlling interest in new trade route.
1882 Britain occupies Egypt to protect interest in Suez Canal.
1890 Britain partitions East Africa with Germany, declares Zanzibar a Protectorate.
1898 Britain leases Weihaiwei to counter Russian acquisition of Port Arthur.
Theme 1: The changing nature and extent of trade:
Introduction;
Decisive victory over France in 1763: would seem British would have economic and military
supremacy.
HOWEVER: aggressive trade policy in N. America triggered revolt and Britain's European rivals
combined during W of I to challenge Royal Navy.
1815: Britain emerged as world's superpower with global trade dominance.
Britain at centre of global network of strategic ports and trade routes, through which immense wealth
flowed.
o Until industrialization of emerging powers (Germany, USA) enable businesses to compete
commercially with British factories.
Timeline;
1763 Victory over France in 7 Years War: Britain introduces taxes to raise money from
colonies.
1775 American War of Independence begins over 'no taxation without representation'.
1779 Free trade granted to Ireland to prevent civil unrest: Anglo-Irish trading relationship
boosted.
1805 Victory at Trafalgar: Royal Navy achieves supremacy at sea.
1807 Slave trade is abolished after a 19-year parliamentary campaign.
1815 Victory at Waterloo: parliament passes Corn Laws to keep grain prices high.
1819 Founding of Singapore by East India Company shows effectiveness of free trade
enrepôts.
1833 Abolition of slavery in West Indies, compensation paid to slave owners.
1842 Victory in First Opium War - Britain forces China to cede Hong Kong and open
Shanghai and other ports to Western trade.
1846 Famine in Ireland Repeal of Corn Laws to lower grain prices splits Conservative
Party.
1849 Navigation Acts abolished: Free trade supporters dominate parliament.
1875 Purchase of Suez Canal shares gives Britain controlling interest in new trade route.
1882 Britain occupies Egypt to protect interest in Suez Canal.
1890 Britain partitions East Africa with Germany, declares Zanzibar a Protectorate.
1898 Britain leases Weihaiwei to counter Russian acquisition of Port Arthur.
