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19th Century American Imperialism Essay

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Imperialism affected Britain by economic benefits, it was mostly to entrepreneurs. The profits in the early centuries from trade in furs, tea, and or slaves. Also the success in sugar, rubber, and cotton plantations. Success came in the 19th century when Britain became the “Workshop of the world.” By 1850 maybe half a total world GDP. Economic benefits to the poor were they emigrated as miners to Australian, fishermen to Newfoundland, farmers to Southern Africa, and just about anything to the united states. Some people made no more money than they did back home. But many became more appreciably to the money they made since it was more than back home. During the late imperialism of the 19th century, colonies became based of strategic consideration. …show more content…

The mercantilists advocated in theory, and sought in practice, trade monopolies which would insure that Britain's exports would exceed its imports. A profitable balance of trade, it was believed, would provide the wealth necessary to maintain and expand the empire. After ultimately successful wars with the Dutch, the French, and the Spanish in the seventeenth century, Britain managed to acquire most of the eastern coast of North America, the St. Lawrence basin in Canada, territories in the Caribbean, stations in Africa for the acquisition of slaves, and important interests in India. The loss in the late eighteenth century of the American colonies was not offset by the discovery of Australia, which served, after 1788, as a penal colony. However, the loss influenced the so-called "swing to the …show more content…

Because she has already taken possession of Fiji in the east, and we hope it will soon be known authoritatively that she has taken possession of New Guinea at the northwest, adjoining her Australian possessions, and the islands between complete this chain of islands lying along the Australian coast. Taking possession of the New Hebrides would not add much to her expenses, as her governments on Fiji and New Guinea with the visits of her men-of-war passing through the group of the New Hebrides and intervening islands on their way to New Guinea, would almost be sufficient for all her requirements on the islands

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