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Naval BuildUp, Free Trade, & the Empire
In 1903 India proclaimed its loyalty to its Emperor, King Edward VII. Lord Curzon represented the King. Germany was building a bigger fleet and this threat led to the British Government building a new naval base in the Firth of Forth.
Free Trade versus Tariff Reform was much debated in Parliament. Chamberlain wanted free trade on corn for the colonies. In 1903 Ritchie scrapped the corn import duty altogether. Chamberlain continued to fight for preferential terms for the colonies. He wanted Tariff Reform and planned to use revenues for social reform. He resigned in 1903 to commit himself to achieving this.
Gugliemo Marconi |
GUGLIELMO MARCHESE MARCONI (1874-1937)- An Italian physicist and inventor
- Born in Bologna - of Italian and Irish blood
- Went to school at the Technical Institute of Livorno
- Started experimenting with electromagnetic waves and proved wireless telegraphy could work at Bologna in 1895
- In 1899 he built a wireless station at La Spezia and the Marconi Telegraph Co. on the London Stock Exchange
- Sent signals across the English Channel in 1898 and across the Atlantic, in Morse Code, in 1901
- In 1909, Marconi won the Nobel prize for physics with Karl Braun
- Invented short-wave radio and on behalf of the British Government set up a worldwide radio telegraph network
A man called Albert Mansbridge set up the first evening classes. He founded the Workers' Educational Association in 1903.
Extract From The Illustrated London News In February 1903 The high political oracles sadly avow that they do not know why the Germans dislike us. They would have brotherly love continue. It is a pious sentiment in which everybody joins; meanwhile the Kaiser is increasing his fleet. The Kaiser has said that the future of Germany is on the blue water. Our answer is that the past, present and future of England are there already. If the German aspiration can be reconciled with the British possession, so much the better for brotherly love. But there is an important distinction. Germany is a great military Power, and her army assures her security. Our security depends absolutely on our mastery of the sea; and when the Kaiser's ambition challenges that mastery, we must make it perfectly clear to him that his ambition is a vain dream.
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1898 | Gladstone dies
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1899 | Second Boer War begins
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1901 | Edward VII becomes king
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1902 | Balfour becomes Prime Minister Balfour's Education Act is passed Anglo-Japanese Alliance
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1903 | Chamberlain resigns to campaign for tariff reform The Women's Social and Political Union is founded by Emmeline Pankhurst
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1904 | The Russo-Japanese War begins
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1904 | Entente Cordiale with France
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1905 | Campbell-Bannerman becomes Prime Minister
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1906 | Trade Disputes Act is passed
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1906 | Labour Party formed from the Labour Representation Committee
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1907 | Anglo-Russian entente is formed
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1908 | Campbell-Bannerman dies Asquith becomes Prime Minister
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