ALDRED

BY

PETER, WILLIAM, THOMAS, ANDREW

VSMCDONOUGH

ECONOMIC COST & BENEFITALDRED By 1914 over 1/3 of British exports went to the Empire. Imperial trade became more and more important to Britain's economic

survival between WWI and WWII. The Empire brought work back to its people in particular the British

working class. Defence cost were a key issue. Empire was no longer relevant and became too costly to maintain. Britain had emerged from the war facing huge and with an Empire less

stable than it has been at any other time. Empire encouraged preferential trade agreements with Britain and it

colonies.

ECONOMIC COST & BENEFIT

MCDONOUGHBetween 1903 and 1914 British exports to the empire

increased by 32%, imports from the Empire increased by 31%, British trade with Africa doubled, and 42% of all British overseas investment went to the Empire.

ROUND 1… ALDRED!!Aldred wins the first round as although they have similar

ideas on Economic cost and benefits, Aldred goes into more detail and explains the effects on Britain and its people.

MILITARY/STRATEGIC COSTS & BENEFITSALDRED The British empire was defended by the worlds largest navy and

in India alone, 340,000 troops. The geographic spread of the Empire demanded an expensive

naval defence system. The danger of a aggressive rivalry from Germany became a

serious problem by the start of the 20th century. Considerable anti-imperialist reaction followed the brutal

suppression of the revolt of the Matabele in Rhodesia (1893-4) Cecil Rhodes: “thoroughly thrashing the natives and giving

them an everlasting lesson.”

MCDONOUGH STUNNED AS ALDRED GIVES HIM NO TIME TO REPLYMcDonough doesn't really mention Military/Strategic

costs and so Aldred clearly takes this round.

INTERNATIONAL STANDINGALDRED The scale of the empire was a ever present measure of

Britain's status as a great power. By 1918 Britain’s status as great power and the

assumption that world power was centred in Europe had been undermined.

International opposition to Britain’s methods in the Boer war weakened the support for Imperialism at home.

This international opposition discredited Imperialism within the Liberal Party.

INTERNATIONAL STANDING• MCDONOUGH The Boer War “had jeopardised the entire wealth of the nation

in rousing strong resentment of other nations for no real gain”- J.A.Hobson

The idea that Britain was the “world’s policeman” who could be called upon in an emergency… was deeply weakened

The High moral tone Britain had struck in its diplomatic relations since the mid-nineteenth century rang hollow after the Concentration camps of the Boer War.

Britain sought diplomatic agreements with imperial rivals anywhere she could find them.

ROUND 3!! ITS TOUGH BUT MCDONOUGH TAKES ITMcDonough takes this round as he differs in his views to

Aldred. He seems to suggest that Britain's problems were becoming much more serious whereas Aldred doesn’t see these problems as seriously.

POPULAR SUPPORT FOR EMPIREALDRED The Middle classes were avid supporters of the Empire. The

working class less so, and were generally interested in the issues closer to home.

The 1900 general election (khaki election) resulted in a Conservative victory… It appeared that popular support lay with the government that took Britain to war with the Boers.

However… “There was considerable media coverage of the brutality of the war.”

Many working class voters rejected pro-war candidates in the 1900 election.

Many working class volunteered for military service not because they wished to show Patriotism and support the British empire… because they faced unemployment and poverty at home

POPULAR SUPPORT FOR EMPIRE• MCDONOUGHThe Boer War really marks the dividing line between the

passionate imperialism of late-Victorian England and the loss of self-confidence in Britain about its future that has typified the twentieth century.

Before the war the worst motive attributed to supporters of imperialism was excessive patriotism. Imperialism could even be seen as a “positive mission” designed to bring civilisation

ALDREDS DETAIL TAKES HIM FURTHER AHEADAldred comes away with this round as he goes into more

detail as to why popular support is weakened. McDonough talks more about popular support before the war however doesn’t explain in as much detail.

POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR EMPIREALDRED In many respects the Empire brought enhanced stability

to the British political system through a developed perception of national identity and national pride

By 1901 Britain was spending twice as much as Germany and French on imperial defence.

Protection of the empire was a primary objective of British foreign policy in the late nineteenth century.

Empire was too costly to maintain and it was impossible for Britain to ignore, or accommodate, the ever rising tide of nationalism.

POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR EMPIRE

MCDONOUGH “the Empire is heled together by a silken cord; twist this

cord into a whiplash and a crack of the lash would be the death knell of the empire”- Liberal Colonial Minister

Britain sought diplomatic agreements with imperial rivals anywhere she could find them.

ROUND 5 TIED! Although Aldred explains foreign policy and mentions

nationalism in regards to the Empire McDonough manages to hang on with a devastating quote that levels him with Aldred.

Aldreds devastating counter brings him right back into the round.

DOES THE BOER WAR MARK A TURNING POINT IN THE PERIOD• ALDREDAldred believes that the turning point for the British

empire came with the First World War. The high watermark of anti-imperialism came with the

second Boer War and this graphically illustrates the a scale of opposition by 1902.

Political Consensus between the major parties on the “new imperialism” had evaporated with impact of the Boer War.

DOES THE BOER WAR MARK A TURNING POINT IN THE PERIOD• MCDONOUGH• The Boer war was clearly one of those rare turning points in the history

of the empire between 1815 and 1914• It cast a giant shadow over British attitudes of the empire and imperial

defence…many contemporaries viewed it as the first nail in the coffin of the British empire

ALDRED 5 – MCDONOUGH 2McDonough loses this round to Aldreds explaining yet

again and also to the clarity of his work. The game goes to Aldred!!! Remember though this was just a bit of…