2.3.2
Costs of the Empire
Costs of Sustaining the British Empire
Costs of Sustaining the British Empire
By the late 19th century, the British public began to question the costs of the British Empire.
Resenting taxes
Resenting taxes
- There was increasing resentment amongst British upper middle classes about paying for imperial defence through taxes.
- Some thought that Britain's navy was too expensive.
Failure to modernise
Failure to modernise
- Britain’s reliance on the British Empire meant that the country failed to modernise at a time when Germany & the United States were industrialising fast.
- Britain's share of global manufacturing production fell from 23% in 1880 to 13.6% in 1913.
- Landes (1969) says that "the cities of the early 19th Century were not built to accommodate the factories of the 20th Century". Germany and the USA did not have these issues.
The negative impact of cheap imports
The negative impact of cheap imports
- Some groups in the British public argued that colonial food imports undermined domestic food production.
- There was also concern that cheap foreign labour in colonies depressed wages in Britain.
British loans and investment
British loans and investment
- British loans to countries in the British Empire yielded higher interest rates for investors, so they often invested in the Empire instead of Britain.
- This helped to generate competition against British industries.
- Lancashire's cotton mills faced increased competition from Indian cotton mills.
- Harley (2004) says that although this investment policy was optimal for private investors, it wasn't optimal for Britain's domestic economy. Landes (1969) argues that capital markets and investors unfairly favoured overseas investments relative to Britain.
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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