Britains Military Status in 1900

Britains Military Status in 1900

In 1900 many people believed that a large empire was important,

not only for trade but also for prestige. In the years up to 1900
many countries wanted to control large, overseas, empires. The
result was that competition between the European powers grew
more intense. In 1898, the Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm the II,
said Our future lies upon the ocean. In order to do this,
Germany was building up its navy very rapidly.

In 1900 many people believed that a large empire was important,

not only for trade but also for prestige. In the years up to 1900
many countries wanted to control large, overseas, empires. The
result was that competition between the European powers grew
more intense. In 1898, the Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm the II,
said Our future lies upon the ocean. In order to do this,
Germany was building up its navy very rapidly.

In 1900 Britains navy was still the largest in the world. It had to
be, to protect the British Empire. But Britain was beginning to
realise that it did not have enough resources to protect its vast
empire. (Britain controlled in the region of 390 million people and
had a population of only 40 million). In particular, Britain was very
worried about the growing size of the German navy, especially as
Germany was increasing the size of its army as well it was now
one of the largest and best trained armies that Europe had ever
seen.

In 1900 Britains navy was still the largest in the world. It had to
be, to protect the British Empire. But Britain was beginning to
realise that it did not have enough resources to protect its vast
empire. (Britain controlled in the region of 390 million people and
had a population of only 40 million). In particular, Britain was very
worried about the growing size of the German navy, especially as
Germany was increasing the size of its army as well it was now
one of the largest and best trained armies that Europe had ever
seen.

The British were determined that their navy should remain the
largest and a race to build new battleships developed between
Britain and Germany.

The British were determined that their navy should remain the
largest and a race to build new battleships developed between
Britain and Germany.

Britain was getting so worried about the threat coming from

Germany that in 1904 they signed an agreement with France,
their old rival, to ensure that they would support each other if
anything happened.

Britain was getting so worried about the threat coming from

Germany that in 1904 they signed an agreement with France,
their old rival, to ensure that they would support each other if
anything happened.

Britains workforce
Many people in Britain in 1900 though that it was the poor who
were responsible for their own poverty; that they were lazy or
wasted money on alcohol, tobacco and other non-essential goods.
The only option for a very poor, but able bodied, person was to go
to a workhouse. These were set up all over the country.
Conditions in these workhouses were deliberately made so harsh
that only the most desperate would want to enter. The food and
clothing provided were very basic. Men, women and children
were separated and were forced to work for long hours at hard
and boring tasks.

A man called Charles Booth described, at the time, what it was

like to be poor. He defined poverty as an income of less than 1 a
week for a family of five, and calculated that around 30 per cent of
the population of these areas lived below this poverty line. He
also showed the link between poverty and a high death rate.

What Britain recognised was that if it had any chance of remaining

the worlds superpower then it had to improve conditions for its
workers. This was being done to great effect in Germany and as
a result it was becoming far more powerful as a country and as a
threat to Great Britain.

Britains workforce
Many people in Britain in 1900 though that it was the poor who
were responsible
their
own poverty;
were lazy or
Whatfor
was
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society that
like they
in 1900?
wasted money on alcohol, tobacco and other non-essential goods.
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1900.
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What was British society like in 1900?

Britain was a very mixed nation in 1900. One writer even went so
far as to claim that the lives led by the rich and poor were so
different that Britain was like two nations a poor one and a rich
one. About 3% were very rich (upper class), 25% were relatively
wealthy (middle class bankers, doctors, accountants , managers
and so on) and the rest, the working class, were poor with some
being very, very poor!

of Britain
enjoyed
a lifeat
ofthe
luxury
and
ease.
They
AThe
manricher
calledside
Charles
Booth
described,
time,
what
it was
land, He
homes
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many didnt
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week for made
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and calculated
that aroundand
30 per
cent of
the population of these areas lived below this poverty line. He
also showed the link between poverty and a high death rate.

The richer side of Britain enjoyed a life of luxury and ease. They
owned land, homes and many didnt have to work because they
made so much money out of investments and rents.

On the other side, the vast majority of poor people lived miserable
lives some earning only enough money to get by, others earning
nowhere
enoughwas
to feed
families.
Thereof
was
no state
What
Britain near
recognised
that their
if it had
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sickworlds
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or unemployment
benefit. conditions
The injuredfor
and
the
superpower
then it had to improve
its the
sickbeing
paid done
for their
own medical
workers. This was
to great
effect in care.
Germany and as
a result it was becoming far more powerful as a country and as a
threat to Great Britain.

On the other side, the vast majority of poor people lived miserable
lives some earning only enough money to get by, others earning
nowhere near enough to feed their families. There was no state
sick pay, pensions or unemployment benefit. The injured and the
sick paid for their own medical care.

In 1900 around 80% of the population lived in towns or cities.

This amounted to around 37 million people.

In 1900 around 80% of the population lived in towns or cities.

This amounted to around 37 million people.

Britain and the world in 1900

Britain and the world in 1900

In 1900, the British people had every reason to be proud. For a

start, most British people were better fed, clothed, healthier and
more educated than many of the people of other nations of the
world. Cities were full of shops that contained a wide range of
goods, either made in British factories or brought in from parts of
their Empire. In 1900, Britain controlled over a quarter of the
world (about 400 million people) and was the largest empire the
world had ever seen.

In 1900, the British people had every reason to be proud. For a

start, most British people were better fed, clothed, healthier and
more educated than many of the people of other nations of the
world. Cities were full of shops that contained a wide range of
goods, either made in British factories or brought in from parts of
their Empire. In 1900, Britain controlled over a quarter of the
world (about 400 million people) and was the largest empire the
world had ever seen.

Britain had been the first country in the world to have an industrial
revolution. As a result, Britain became a great industrial power
and, by 1900, was the richest country in the world. Yet Britains
status in the world was under serious threat. The USA was now
making more goods than Britain, and Germany and Japan were
quickly catching up. How long could Britain hold onto its position
as the country that did more trade (and made more money) than
any other?

Britain had been the first country in the world to have an industrial
revolution. As a result, Britain became a great industrial power
and, by 1900, was the richest country in the world. Yet Britains
status in the world was under serious threat. The USA was now
making more goods than Britain, and Germany and Japan were
quickly catching up. How long could Britain hold onto its position
as the country that did more trade (and made more money) than
any other?

FACTOR
Britain and the world
in 1900

What was British

society like in 1900?

Britains workforce

DETAILS

THE 3 MOST IMPORTANT POINTS

Britains Military
Status in 1900

Homework Complete your own Wikipedia insert. This must be no more than 150 words and it must explain what Britain was like in 1900