The growing threats to the British Empire 1874-90
RUSSIAN THREAT
1870's
EUROPEAN SITUATION
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WEAKNESSES
STRENGHTHS
Economic and financial strengths
worlds greatest trading nation
balance of payment surplus :- service in industries ,- shipping,insurance
great manufacturing nation
Military strengths
powerful royal navy
Strong enough to deal with threats in Africa and Asia
Imperial enthusiasm
Forms of Imperial empire post - 1880. 1. enthusiasm for closer relations. 2. enthusiasm for expansion
1887-1900. greatest imperialism among people
Economic decline
decline in export staples
USA and Germany TAKE OVER steel production
Imports> Exports
Fragility
large territories
More frontiers to defend + longer supply lines
lancing loyalty to Britain in new colonies + they with the enemy
weak spots in 1890 :- Russian threat :- France => Eygpt, Sudan :- Boers republic: very rich and hostile => Southern Africa
Diplomatic weakneses
Fear of alliances against Britain
Conservatives :- realistic :-acknowledged the amorality of the world => danger of it
Liberals :- refused to regard all foreigners as rivals / enemies. :- believed in peaceful cooperation.
Military weakness
small army except Indian army
Indian army
Other countries started building fleets
after 1900 Germanys naval was a threat to the British naval
Afghanistan and India