What Was Britain's Position in 1919?

Learning goal: Learning goal: How strong was Britain in How strong was Britain in

1919?1919?

British strengths in 1919British strengths in 1919

Men and EquipmentMen and Equipment

Britain had only lost 5% of its male Britain had only lost 5% of its male population, whereas France had lost 10% population, whereas France had lost 10% and Germany 15%. and Germany 15%.

In 1918:In 1918: The British army numbered 5.5 million menThe British army numbered 5.5 million men The Royal Navy had 58 battleships, over The Royal Navy had 58 battleships, over

100 cruisers and a many smaller craft100 cruisers and a many smaller craft The RAF had over 20,000 planesThe RAF had over 20,000 planes

The British EmpireThe British Empire

The British Empire had greatly The British Empire had greatly assisted Britain’s war effortassisted Britain’s war effort

It had provided vital raw materials It had provided vital raw materials and 2.5 million troops. and 2.5 million troops.

The war seemed to have proved that The war seemed to have proved that the Empire was united and useful. the Empire was united and useful.

The Lack of Major RivalsThe Lack of Major Rivals Germany had been defeated; its army had Germany had been defeated; its army had

ceased to exist as a major fighting force, its ceased to exist as a major fighting force, its fleet was in the hands of Britain and its fleet was in the hands of Britain and its empire was lost.empire was lost.

Russia was in chaos. Civil war was raging Russia was in chaos. Civil war was raging and several provinces had taken advantage and several provinces had taken advantage of the turmoil to declare independence.of the turmoil to declare independence.

France had been hard hit by the warFrance had been hard hit by the war Common ties of language, culture and Common ties of language, culture and

tradition meant that there was already talk tradition meant that there was already talk of a ‘special relationship’ between the USA of a ‘special relationship’ between the USA and Britainand Britain

Japan and Britain had been allies since 1902Japan and Britain had been allies since 1902

Financial StrengthsFinancial Strengths Britain’s enormous reserves of wealth and its established Britain’s enormous reserves of wealth and its established

hold on many overseas markets cushioned the economic hold on many overseas markets cushioned the economic impact of the war.impact of the war.

There was no great trade deficit - indeed Britain’s There was no great trade deficit - indeed Britain’s balance of payments remained in the black for the war balance of payments remained in the black for the war years as a whole. years as a whole.

The elimination of German competition had helped The elimination of German competition had helped British manufacturers. British manufacturers.

In spite of millions of men being mobilised for the armed In spite of millions of men being mobilised for the armed forces, industrial output had barely fallen. forces, industrial output had barely fallen.

Britain had been able to finance the war largely out of its Britain had been able to finance the war largely out of its own resources and had even been able to loan vast sums own resources and had even been able to loan vast sums of money to other allied governments, especially Russia. of money to other allied governments, especially Russia.

Although Britain owed money to the USA most of this Although Britain owed money to the USA most of this debt had been contracted by Britain on behalf of its allies debt had been contracted by Britain on behalf of its allies who owed Britain far more money than it owed the USA.who owed Britain far more money than it owed the USA.

Britain in 1919 – Britain in 1919 – the weaknesses!the weaknesses!

You have heard the positives….now its time You have heard the positives….now its time for for youyou to put forward the weaknesses of to put forward the weaknesses of Britain’s position in 1919.Britain’s position in 1919.

Write a letter to the British Prime Minister Write a letter to the British Prime Minister David Lloyd George explaining what he David Lloyd George explaining what he should be worried about. should be worried about.

Try to rank the reasons in order of their Try to rank the reasons in order of their seriousness. seriousness.

Use pp. 2-5 of Farmer to write this letter.Use pp. 2-5 of Farmer to write this letter. Key terms: Threat from Germany and USA, Key terms: Threat from Germany and USA,

economic and financial problems after economic and financial problems after 1918, defence problems, lack of allies, 1918, defence problems, lack of allies, imperial weakness, the foreign threat.imperial weakness, the foreign threat.

The British Empire in The British Empire in 19191919

How many countries can you name How many countries can you name that were part of the British Empire that were part of the British Empire in 1919? Two minutes in pairs.in 1919? Two minutes in pairs.

The British Empire The British Empire What problems can you see What problems can you see

here?here?