14.1.7

International Relations with other Powers

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International Relations, 1857-1890 AD

By the late 1800s, Britain was increasingly concerned about European powers. These tensions helped to contribute to World War One.

Germany & a changing balance of power in Europe

Germany & a changing balance of power in Europe

  • Germany was newly unified as a country after a powerful victory against France (1871 AD) and was now a major power.
  • Germany began to expand its navy and this threatened Britain's hegemony internationally. Britain's navy was the strongest in the world and the British Navy was vital for protecting international colonies.
  • In the 1890s and 1900s, Germany created new industry cartels. In 1904 AD, the Steel Works Association was created and was subsidised to export steel globally.
  • Germany was becoming increasingly industrialised and competitive with Britain's manufacturing industries at the same time that Germany's economic and industrial power was growing.
France

France

  • France was embarrassed after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian war.
  • So, France sought to reassert its strength militarily elsewhere in the world.
  • In 1863 AD, Cambodia's King, Norodom had made Cambodia a French protectorate.
  • In 1885 AD, France gained territory in Vietnam after its victory over China in the Sino-French War.
  • In 1887 AD, France combined Cambodia with its territories in Vietnam to create French Indochina. In 1893 AD, after another war, France added Laos to French Indochina.
  • In response to France's increasing power in South East Asia, Britain took control of Malaya (1874 AD) and Burma (1885 AD).
Russia

Russia

  • Russia was increasingly encroaching into the north of China with the 1891 AD Trans-Siberian Railway.
The impact of the depression

The impact of the depression

  • Between 1873 AD and 1896 AD there was a global economic depression.
  • There had been a bubble in railroad (railway) investments that collapsed and in the UK, the City of Glasgow Bank went bankrupt. Internationally, lots of banks went bankrupt and stopped lending people money (giving them credit to invest). This was similar to the cause of the Great Depression in the 1930s.
  • With domestic demand falling in the UK, Germany, France, and the USA, all countries could increase their sales and output by selling their goods into new markets like Asia and Africa.
Jump to other topics
1

Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1

The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2

The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3

The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4

The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5

Medieval Religion

1.6

The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7

How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8

Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9

Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10

Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11

Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12

European Renaissance

1.13

Norman Conquest & Control

1.14

Historical Skills

2

The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1

Anglo-Saxon England

2.2

The Contest for the English Throne

2.3

Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4

King John

2.5

The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6

The Black Death

3

Worldviews

4

The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5

The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6

The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7

The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8

Religion in the Middle Ages

9

Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10

The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11

The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12

US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13

The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14

The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15

Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16

World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17

The Russian Revolution: 1917 AD

18

The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

19

World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

20

The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

21

Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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