How Did The British Empire Lose Their Economic And Military Power

1367 Words3 Pages

British Empire was losing their economic and military power bit by bit even before the First World War. However, it can be claimed that Britain’s long economic and military decline has triggered by the war because the decline became obvious after the war. The empire has used money more than other countries in the war. Britain lost more than what it got from the war. Because of the low economic situation of Britain, the scale of the Royal Navy became smaller than before the war. The war accelerated what was starting. Britain’s financial was damaged by its debts, and it was one of the reasons that British power was replaced by that of the United States. The Great Depression affected Britain very severely as well. Therefore, even though before …show more content…

Other countries such as the United States and Germany were catching up with the economic growth of British Empire by the early 20th century. Britain retained its dominance of world finance, and the Royal Navy still had big influence. However, it can be said that Britain’s long economic and military decline has triggered by the war because the decline became obvious after the war. Of course, it is difficult to point out 1 event which is responsible for the decline, but the First World War was one of the big reasons. Spending on the First World War once became two-fifths of the national income of British Empire. The empire spent money more than any other countries in the war. London was faced the financial problem. British finance only could stand for another 3 more weeks by April 1917. Then Britain got the financial support from the United States. The war brought Britain debts and unemployment when everything became normal. Around 20 percent of people in the United Kingdom were unemployed in 1923. Britain lost much more than what it got from the war. Because of the poor economic situation of Britain, the scale of the Royal Navy became smaller than before the war. The war accelerated what was starting. Britain’s financial was damaged by its debts, and it caused British power was replaced by that of the United States. It did not happen suddenly. It was the result of a long process of the ruling, the failure of the armies, and the economic strategy. The Great Depression affected Britain very severely as well. Therefore, Britain’s long economic and military decline has triggered by the

Open Document