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The Future of Britain - Reconstructed Lecture

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Let us begin by understanding how Britain came to occupy her present position in the world. Our island geography gave us a natural advantage—insularity meant security from invasion, and the early consolidation of royal power brought unity where the continent remained fractured. With unity came commerce, and with commerce came the impetus for science and industry. By the nineteenth century, Britain had become the workshop of the world—the first nation to harness the power of steam, the first to build a modern industrial economy. Our population swelled, providing abundant cheap labour that could move fluidly to wherever industry demanded. From this foundation arose economic imperialism. We sold our manufactured goods abroad, lent capital to developing nations, and where necessary enforced order to protect our investments. The interest on those loans flowed back to stimulate home trade. Meanwhile, our workers—through struggle and organization—wrested higher wages from their employers, lea

The Future of Britain - Reconstructed Lecture Original Notes Reconstructed Lecture How Britain Rose to Power insularity, King's power unity, security commerce science, industry workshop of the world increased population, cheap labour (fluid) economic imperialism – selling, lending, enforcing order interest on loans stimulated home trade workers wrested higher wages increased consumption rise of standard of living good start in capitalist race How Britain Rose to Power Let us begin by understanding how Britain came to occupy her present position in the world. Our island geography gave us a natu

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