benefits of trade and commerce around 1890?

• what did britain gain from trade and commerce? [1]

  • by 1890 empire=wealthier britain, so more trade= more wealth. (ONLY GEN OPINION) eg 20% of Britains total exports were from India by 1914 (£150 mil) with supplies like raw cotton and tea
  • canada also was a big supplier, they supplied 10% of Britains beef exports and 15% wheat flour by 1914
• what did britain gain from trade and commerce? [2]

  • mainly helped expand communication wise, ocean steamships were a major bulk transport (improvements of travel)
  • railways were also largely used, new lines being made entirely for trading (Uganda -> sea of Mombosa in 1900) and expanding other lines like Indian network
  • overall developmental wise britain improved (can be argued in other flashcard- engineering)
• was trade within the empire significant?

  • may seem less significant than thought of. britain was behind in chemical/electrical engineering as for example they relied heavily on rubber imports from Africa/Asia. the Russians, Germans and French had their own synthetic rubber production by 1910. it can be argued reliance on imports/exports has a negative effect, eg undermining domestic food production=depopulation of countryside
• what was disbanded in 1893?

  imperial federation league, was established in 1884 to promote closer ties within the empire. the fact it was disbanded in less than 10 years alludes the true interest of the empires commercial importance