The German-Great Britain trade rivalry like the U.S.-Japan
trade rivalry involved a rising power cutting into the trade of
an already dominant trading power. There were several causes of the
German-Great Britain trade rivalry according to Hoffman. The first was
German's industry's zeal in procuring new contracts and expanding
markets. They did this by fulfilling contracts even if they were very
small and constantly trying to stay up with market demand. Second,
Germans had a knowledge of languages that the English firms lacked.
Third, German industry was aided by their government. In contrast
Great Britain did not even supply consular assistance in helping
develop markets in British colonies. Fourth, British trade was hurt by
the conservatism of British manufacturers who were unwilling to
develop new markets or hold onto those it already possessed. These
four factors are just some of the factors that helped German industry
grow and rival that of Great Britain.
These four factors are all very similar to the Japan-U.S.
trade rivalry. Japan like Germany was able to catch up to the U.S.
because the U.S. was large and arrogant and refused to believe it
could face competition from Japan. Like Britain, U.S. industry
believed that they could hold onto markets and would not face
competition. British and U.S. industry were startled by the fast rate
of growth and industrialization that allowed Germany and Japan to
transform themselves quickly into trading rivals. This fast rate of
growth also caused friction between both sets of countries. Relations
between Germany and Great Britain were damaged as they bickered over
markets in particular colonies in Africa . This is similar to the
friction between the U.S. and Japan unfair trading practices and
closed markets.
Both the U.S. and Great Britain in response to losing markets
toyed with the idea of economic nationalism and tariffs. As Britain
lost markets to Germany many in Britain felt that Britain should adopt
tariffs on goods while others known as the free traders believed that
a free trade would benefit Britain by creating markets. This split
between Tariff Reformers and Free Traders is similar to the split in
the U.S. between those in favor of free trade and those opposed to it.
Germany's grab for new markets in the 1890's through commercial
treaties such as the 1891 treaty with Austria-Hungry is similar to
both the United States and Japan's free trade zones with neighboring
...onger. But a generation later, the game was on once again; the war aims were much the same. Germany felt it must defend its way of life and stand up for progress. Britain wanted to defend the status quo but it used the excuse of the invasion of another country as the immediate pretext for entry: first Belgium, later Poland. In both world wars, Germany was the innovator, morally and technologically. Britain and France were fighting previous wars while Germany led the way in technology, techniques and tactics.
Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many European nations began to increase their military spending. Between 1910 and 1914, “France increased her defence expenditure by 10%, Britain by 13%, Russia by 39%, and Germany was the most militaristic as she increased by 73%” (World). Europe industrialized throughout the eighteenth century, which allowed them to develop and produce large volumes of new and deadly weaponry. Many Europeans also increasingly began to use military strength as a way to prove nationalism, which is why there was such a large increase in military spending during this period. In Germany and the Next Great War, which was written in 1911, Friedrich von Bernhardi stated that the Germany “must secure to German nationality and German spirit throughout the globe that high esteem which is due them” (Bernhardi). Bernhardi was a strong supporter of the German military, as he saw it as a way to assert German nationalism and prove that Germany was a dominant force. He, along with other Germans, thought that increasing the German military would enable Germany to become a powerful nation. Brandon Brown, the author of the textbook Causes of World War I (The Great War), stated that these European nations quickly found a “reason to use their militaries against each other in an attempt to prove who is superior” (Brown). European nations used military power as a way to assert global power throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This resulted in growing tensions throughout Europe, which contributed to World War
British imperial regulations with the American colonies were closely tied in with the system of mercantilism. Mercantilism controls the relations between the leading power and the colonies under its empire. A nation would want to export more than it imports gaining more money to obtain economic stability. The colonies exist for the profit of the mother country.
Japan and China reacted differently to the reforms of Imperialism. When put under pressure, Japan succumbed to the power of Western Imperialist ideas. Conversely, China, resisted for a long time. As a result, Japan had more technology, while China was unenlightened of the new advances. Japan also gained more respect from other countries, that China did not have.
Transatlantic trade was a subject of great competition between three powerful European nations; England, the Netherlands and France. England in particular, had very strict rules that Parliament passed, from 1651-1733, in order to acquire more money through the colonies. For example, the colonies could not trade with any other country besides England, in addition, they were not allowed to manufacture certain products. Despite the unfairness of these new laws, England's financial goals were accomplished, as the Dutch soon lost superiority in the Atlantic trade and their internal and external economy grew. Not only did these new laws become the catalyst of London emerging as a powerful city, but between 1650 and 1770,
Conflict for power existed not only in Europe, but because of imperialism it spread across much of the Eastern Hemisphere. First and foremost, economic rivalries had developed between Britain, Germany, and France. The two Allied members of the group were very concerned about their Central opponent, as both wished to contain Germany’s territorial claims on the resource- and labor-rich continent of Africa.
... him to conciliate.” (pg. 216) Finally, Taylor explains, after Britain’s failure to help reach an agreement, the aggression dragged both France and Britain into war with Germany.
The origins of imperialism lie far in the past, Medieval times was the beginning of the Hapsburg’s and beginning of Europe as we know it today began to take form. The German’s were powerful centeral country in this mix. The Germans strove to become a powerful partner in trade and economic power. This was the continuation of rivalries between the European countries. All major players wanted overseas holding to fortify their own economy and their place in the world. (Singh pg3)This is the time that set up the rivalries and pushes to lea...
Century. There were several key factors in Britain’s rapid growth as an international empire. Britain 's development at this time had an important international and military dimension. An empire based on sea power, commerce and naval dominance consolidated British overseas colonization and trade. Three key factors facilitated Britain’s rise to power, the first is warfare, the second is colonization and the third is trade.
Imperialism in the late 1800’s blossomed when a new phase of global expansion erupted. One of the main goals of this global expansion focused on new markets and sources of raw materials. Due to the Second Industrial Revolution, the demand for new markets and the exploding numbers in production compelled business leaders to search out new sources of investment for the growing economy. Rapid territorial expansion redirected the competing ideologies of agricultural demands, Native Americans, European Immigrants, and industrial capitalist in this new empire. In this search, manufacturers needed to find new raw materials in order to better equip themselves to sustain against the newly rising competitors. This caused competition with foreign market systems all around to begin pursuing an imperialistic empire. The European powers responded with aggressive nationalism when expanding their empire. This concept began trending internationally as other nations adapted the new concept of maintaining a steady nation through the new ideals of expansions.
Within Europe, imperialism occurred at the height of industrialization. As European countries were discovering more about the sciences and mass production benefits via industrialization, a demand and competition for more land and produce was developing, and this would create the tension needed to begin the First World War. Germany and Great Britain were two powerful European countries that had been trying to establish control in Africa and Asia, two countries that were not as strong as them, and relatively vulnerable. Due to rebellions of the native people and interferences by each other and other countries, they were not entirely successful. This lack of cooperation between European countries in the attempt to govern and control weaker states so as to use their products for trade caused tension, and finally after it built up to a certain point, war was the only option left.
The common factor amongst all three instances of British Imperialism was Britain’s greed for economic opportunity. Greed is often caused by unjustifiable pride, which Britain undeniably had. England was so willing to achieve various advancements to its own economy that it created long lasting and devastating destruction in three other regions of the world. These countries still face lingering effects from British greed.
The Industrial Revolution, a notable evolution in production technologies and specialized machineries, became one of the main causes of British imperialism. As the need for more advanced materials grew to support the Industrial Revolution, many nations sought foreign territory which could supply their quickly-growing demand. The Industrial Revolution allowed England to develop better weapons, such breech loading rifles and better ships which helped to conquer different territories. In addition, the British started colonizing and taking control of various countries because they provided new trade opportunities and more income for the mainland. Religion and social Darwinism played another major part in this global force, due to a belief that it was “the white man’s burden” to colonize and “modernize” the rest of the world which they saw as developmentally inferior.
These expansions began to develop the West through strategic trading routes and ever growing demand ultimately leading to an Industrial Revolution. When you add the technological and economic advantage to the western world that was already a great power, you get the beginnings of a superpower. They had the resources to take advantage of current technology, but they needed new markets to export these goods. This gave them the motivation to expand further in India. Sparking off the invention of machines for mass production in the fields of textile, metallurgy, steam power and agriculture. Providing the British with goods to sell to the ever growing market and the need to explore for raw materials. The increased industry and ever growing trade created larger banks, generating a money economy replacing barter exchange. The domination of the trade was the key to capitalism which was an extreme motivator for many people in the western world as it enabled people with new
In many respects, the Boer War resembles the struggle toward globalization a century later that Friedman describes in The Lexus and the Olive Tree. The British, with their more advanced industry and technology, attempted to pull the Boer Republics away from the Olive tree and into the new global economy, golden straightjacket and all. The British Empire had much at stake in the conflict, and eventually achieved its main goals. It protected its holding at Cape Town, which was essential in order to control the southern trade route to India, and resisted the threats of increased European presence in South Africa as well as the threat of Afrikaner nationalism in Cape Colony and in the Boer Republics that bordered it. British investors held about half the stock of the mining industries in the Boer Republics, so the protection of the industry was vital not only to the interests of those particular investors, but more indirectly for the protection of free global trade, which Britain’s economy relied upon. With mines running as efficiently as possible, more gold could be produced and put into circulation in the world market, which favored Britain as the primary leader in the global economy.