TRADE AND COMMERCE

Question 1

value of tea in india in 1854 vs 1876

Answer 1

1854 = 24,000 pounds
1876 = 2.4 million

Question 2

colonial conference in 1887

Answer 2

• conference which soon became the imperial conferences (with king)
• it was a discussion on if free trade should be adopted in empire, in which it was disucssed it shouldn’t

Question 3

how would trade and commerce between britain and empire benefit people in britain

Answer 3

1. employment at docks and ports - industrial boost of such cities
2. migration opportunities into empire

Question 4

% of british imports from empire from colonies from 1875, and going to colonies

Answer 4

imports: 20% from empire

exports: 33% british products to empire

Question 5

describe industry in empire

Answer 5

• markets of colonies would not conflict with that of british economie, partially because they could not compete
• local colonies could not compete in price
• british investment allowed a modernisation of industry and technology
• but, the british morphed and exploited their economies to tailor their interests (ie cotton in egypt) - 40% + 50% point, meaning the british massively controlled economies and did not diversify them

Question 6

value of cotton in india from 1854-1876

Answer 6

1854 = 1.6 million
1876 = 5.8 million

Question 7

canals and rivers in empire

Answer 7

• were used for easy transportation, but also irrigation of arable land - would boost rice growth etc
• were relied on to offset the impact of famines within empire and provide a source of food
• canals and rivers would strengthen and deepen trading routes for ideas of exploration etc

Question 8

what years were charters given to:
- national african company / RNC
- IBEAC
- BSAC

Answer 8

RNC / NAC = 1886
IBEAC = 1888
BSAC = 1889

Question 9

1881 charter

Answer 9

north borneo trading company obtain a charter

Question 10

key stat in australia on mining within empire

Answer 10

in 1861, victoria (australia) was producing 124 million pounds of gold, which was a 1/3 of the world total

Question 11

value of cotton in india in 1854 vs 1876

Answer 11

1854 = 1.6 million

1876 = 5.8 million

Question 12

what % of british exports was india taking by 1914

Answer 12

india took 20% of british exports (150 million) by 1914

Question 13

describe the agriculture industry in empire

Answer 13

• australia and new zealand were prominent for their vast amounts of cheap, agricultural materials (ie wool, beef etc)
• south africa was producing cotton, sugar, cocoa and palm oil
• malaya was producing rubber, tin etc
• indians were typically brought to the west indies, west africa etc
• there were vast plantations in tea in india and ceylon
• due to a lack of competition, prices were relatively low, and workers were typically exploited by the british

Question 14

stats / examples of railways built from 1857

Answer 14

1. indian railway expansion increases from 5000 miles to 24000 miles
2. 1861 = punjab railway
3. natal government railway was formed in 1887 - by 1895 it was linking to the witwaterand region (idea of good communications)
4. cape to cairo railway

Question 15

railways within empire from 1857

Answer 15

• expansive railways built (ie india) allowing for easy communication and suppression of nationalism
• in india, railways were used to link cotton and jute railways, or rice for exports
• idea of invisible trade
• railways were the single largest investment from britain in the self-governing colonies of canada, australia, new zealand etc

Question 16

impact of gold discovery in rand region on britain

Answer 16

• gold discovered in 1886
• a gold rush of boers in the enter the witwaterand region for gold
• 30,000 british migrate into the rand region as skilled labourers, these 30,000 which were at risk of unemployment in cornwall

Question 17

describe mining in empire and which areas were valuable for what materials

Answer 17

• mining provided the british with access to key, valuable materials which would boost its economy and enrichen individuals
• was good at promoting migration into empire and compensating for high degrees of unemployment in britain
• gold was discovered in australia and was producing hundreds of millions in value

niger / nigeria - palm oil, tin
south africa - diamonds, gold
india - cotton, jute, rice

Question 18

british trade and commerce system with empire from 1857

Answer 18

1. mercantilism
   - heavy reliance of colonies using british ships, british products, sending product to britain (limited relationship between colonies and other international powers)
2. liberal
   - idea of an association between the undertaking of capitalism and colonies becoming more liberal + civilised
   - free trade and open markets would drive prosperity

Question 19

examples of canals within empire

Answer 19

1. chenab canal scheme 1883
2. 1867 = st lawrence canal schemes

Question 20

reasons for close trade between britain and empire from 1857

Answer 20

• loyalty
• felt there was a duty to trade
• there were easy trading patterns between britain and its colonies
• there were common economic bonds between britain and colonies so trade was easier

Question 21

tea in india

Answer 21

there was 1 tea plantation in 1857 to 295 by 1871
- a plantation was established at coonoor in the 1860s by james taylor

Question 22

ships and shipping within empire from 1857

Answer 22

• opium wars and forced opening of ports after first opium war allowed for a reliance on ships for trade purposes
• ships would carry spices, tea, opium etc and were critical in strengthening bonds of empire
• steamships reduced the time between empire and britain (ie suez, to west africa etc) - efficient trade, response to nationalism etc