According to Peter Clarke's new book, "The Last Thousand Days of the British Empire," Britain's imperial collapse following WWII was partly due to its wartime commitments and subsequent monetary crisis:
* During WWII, Europe's gross national product plunged 25 percent, while America's increased 50 percent.
* WWII left India a creditor on a vast scale, with Britain owing it huge sums in the form of the sterling balances.
* Britain also owed a great deal to the United States, due to the terms of the Lend-Lease program, which allowed Britain to receive billions of dollars of material and supplies from America.
* In the aftermath of WWII, Britain could not even adequately feed its own people (who faced more draconian rationing in the late 1940s than during the war).
Clarke's hypothesis explains the woeful mismanagement and dissolution of Great Britain's empire, but what explains the cultural suicide and rabid anti-Americanism that grips most of her citizens today?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121391866926890325.html
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterDoes Clark mention that Britain had already passed her peak in the 19th century. Does he mention that as the first nation to industrialize Britain took a lot longer to modernize than other European nations and as a result of that the hangover of class did more to impede the full transformation of British society from feudal serfdom to modern industrialized country than most of her neighbors.
According to Peter Clarke's new book, "The Last Thousand Days of the British Empire," Britain's imperial collapse following WWII was partly due to its wartime commitments and subsequent monetary crisis:l
Did Clarke mention the City of London and how the wont of the financial hub is only to ensure its survival, and as a result of this arms length philosophy the history of the British Empire was one of doing everything at the lowest possible cost. Because the City on cares for itself it always tends to back the field as it were and thus there never was any real agenda to protect British interests. At the first sign of sustained trouble it was usually he who lives and runs away lives to fight another day...
I don't have the time to read the link so if he tackles any of these issues, it would be nice if you could paraphrase his answers to these and other burning questions. Ta.
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterI don't think cultural suicide or anti-americanism are particularly prevelant in the UK today, or at any time since WW2.
According to Peter Clarke's new book, "The Last Thousand Days of the British Empire," Britain's imperial collapse following WWII was partly due to its wartime commitments and subsequent monetary crisis:
* During WWII, Europe's gross national product plunged 25 percent, while America's increased 50 percent.
* WWII left India a creditor ...[text shortened]... ost of her citizens today?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121391866926890325.html
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterAnd what could possibly explain your rabid anti-British sentiments?
According to Peter Clarke's new book, "The Last Thousand Days of the British Empire," Britain's imperial collapse following WWII was partly due to its wartime commitments and subsequent monetary crisis:
* During WWII, Europe's gross national product plunged 25 percent, while America's increased 50 percent.
* WWII left India a creditor ...[text shortened]... ost of her citizens today?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121391866926890325.html
Originally posted by scherzoThe British mismanaged the United States so badly they finally had to be kicked out; and the only reason they managed to hang on to their other colonies for as long as they did was because we supported the wrong side in WWI and were their major creditor in both wars.
Exactly. Without the British he wouldn't be here! He should be thanking them, not vilifying them!
Without the British we'd be at the mercy of the French. 😲 What do you say to that, DSR?
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterBut the British did give us America as we know it, albeit indirectly. After the French and Indian war, the British were left with such a huge war debt from killing everyone that they heavily taxed the British Isles before moving to taxing the colonies in North America.
The British mismanaged the United States so badly they finally had to be kicked out; and the only reason they managed to hang on to their other colonies for as long as they did was because we supported the wrong side in WWI and were their major creditor in both wars.