nap econ

Question 1

did have a positive impact by allowing Britain to increase economic superiority over its European rivals through the actions of the EIC

Answer 1

• Glorious First of June (one of the first great actions of the French Wars)
  o Britain’s strategic victory allowed Britain to blockade the French for the rest of the French Wars
  o through this blockade, it had superiority over THE ATLANTIC
• the importance of the Atlantic in creating a market for Britain
  o by having superiority over the Atlantic, Britain could export and import goods from India and China
   imports- tea, cotton, sugar
   export- textiles, pottery, coal, iron
  o by importing goods like tea and sugar a consumer market could be sustained in Britain and along with this, tariffs which would raise money for the economy
• role of the EIC
  o by having superiority over the Atlantic, the EIC could expand and sustain operations in India
   created jobs for the British people
   the EIC paid heavy duty taxes to the government for importing Asian goods

Question 2

continental system led to decreased trade with European countries which meant Britain lost out on export partners and starting unnecessary wars

Answer 2

• impact of Napoleon signing the Berlin Decrees on European trade
  o Britain could no longer sell to European nations thus losing out on potential customers for its export market
  o European countries had the money to import large stock from Britain so Britain had lost its wealthy customers
• led to the War of 1812 with America
  o cost Britain to send troops and ships to America

Question 3

the continental system had a positive impact on the British economy as a domestic market grew as a result of not being able to import steel and iron from European countries

Answer 3

• domestic market boomed due to a lack of foreign imports
  o iron and steel manufacturing increased by a factor of 4
   would have allowed Britain to use and sell its own steel which would generate income
   would create jobs for thousands of British people who in turn contributed to the tax system —–> anyone earning more than £60 a year having to pay graduated income tax introduced in 1799 —> contributed to £155 million
  o setting up of a competitive market economy through private companies
   private dockyards created jobs for British people (10,000 jobs)
   built both merchant ships and warships
• more merchant ships = more trade
• more warships = more protection of trade

Question 4

important to acknowledge the cost of the war on British economy as well as the disruption to labour and trade the war did create

Answer 4

• heavy economic cost of running the war for Britain (having to resort to borrowing)
  o having to pay for the running of the armed forces
   cost £43 million in 1811
  o having to pay subsidies to keep other countries fighting
   cost £66 million between 1793-1815
  o having to resort to loans to pay off £16 million deficit
• labour force decreased with the expansion of the RN and BA
  o army offered a better alternative to men instead of factory work ———> 1/6th of British workforce in the army
   less labourers would mean lower factory output which would have hurt the economy
  o focus on war production would mean less focus on consumer good?
   less money to be made from weaponry compared to consumer goods
• although Britain did sell 120,000 muskets to Russia

Question 5

concl

Answer 5

• statement that it had +ve impact has a stronger case than having a -ve impact
• important to acknowledge the massive cost the wars had as well as the decrease in Britain’s export market due to the Continental system
  HOWEVER
• the war had put Britain in an even more favourable position from which it could expand it’s economic activity with its colonies
  o reminder of the importance of superiority over the Atlantic
• and the development of a domestic market gave an income to the British people allowing them to invest and contribute to the British economy