British Rearmament
History: KS3, topic 16.1.7
British Rearmament
In response to Kaiser Wilhelm's foreign policy, Britain also increased the size of its military.
Naval Defence Act
- In 1889 AD Britain passed the Naval Defence Act in response to Kaiser Wilhelm's military policies.
- The Act allowed the Royal Navy to expand to match the combined number of battleships owned by the two largest naval powers (France and Russia).
- This was part of the naval race.
Dreadnoughts
- By 1909 AD, Britain felt threatened and began building a new type of super-battleship called the Dreadnought.
- Germany began building Dreadnoughts too.
Arms race
- An ‘arms race' developed between the two countries.
- The British people resented Germany’s attempt to threaten British naval superiority.
Test yourself on British Rearmament
What year did Britain pass the Naval Defence Act?