17th Century English Navy Developments - Essay Example

17th сеntury еnglish nаvy dеvеlорmеnts Student Name: Student ID: Instructor Name: Date of Submission: The British Empire mainly relied on its economic and military strengths to further its influence in different part of the world. This process started after the end of the English Civil war that involved the King against parliament and ended with a dictatorship of a highly talented but an authoritarian British general Cromwel in 1649 (Fulton, 1911). At this time the British navy begun to develop, and the mid 17th centuray the British navy become the most powerful force in the world (McLynn, Frank, 2004). The English navy would largely rely on the foreign traders for its sustainability, and in return the British naval would provide the traders with easy access to foreign markets through coercion and warfare whenever it was needed (Rodger, 1997). This essay will discuss the development of English navy from 1600 to 1645 (Brewer, 1989). From the description above it is clear that British naval played a crucial role in establishing British emperor to be a superpower in military force by the end of the Napoleonic wars. The development of the British navy took off under the leadership of Cromwell, also known as Lord Protectors of the British throne after the end of civil wars that lasted till 1649 (Fulton, 1911).During this period, Britain started to depend on its navy force as a source of their defence and national wealth (Brewer, 1989). In 1646 the British naval grew to 217 vessels, 106 vessels were built and 111 vessels were captured (Emma Christopher, 2006). The “Blue water” policy helped a lot in the development of English Navy, under this policy, naval power and commercial wealth was seen as mutually sustaining (McLynn, Frank, 2004). Rich and flourishing trade that was being supported by the English navy provided funds in form of human manpower, as well as customs revenue that lead to continuous protection of foreign british markets, as well as the expectation that these efforts would lead to the establishment of other new trade routes or new markets (Rodger, 1997). This policy was seen to make a lot of sense, since Britain as a country was an island and a strong naval force would secure the island from external attack by other nations or empires (Emma Christopher, 2006). However, “Blue water” policy had its own limitations. When the island found itself isolated from the rest of the world, foreign invasion became possible. Foreign trading was not the only factor that led to the development of English navy, the govenement also played an important role in all of this growth (Emma Christopher, 2006). For example, the Navigation Act that was passed in 1645 was one of the aspect that helped increase English naval dominance in the world. This acts stated that all raw materials from British colonies had to be taken back to a British port or Britain, this allowed the British emperor to tax more crews hence there was an increase in income and profit for the British empire (Fulton, 1911). This Act was based on the ideology of mercantilism, which trade was viewed as limited so that if one nation or empire gained another nation or empire had to lose its wealth (McLynn, Frank, 2004). In that period, wealth defined in term of precious metal such as gold and silver, how much an empire possess these precious metal showed how wealthy that country was. Draining another empire or country that was a threat in war of its precious metal was thought to be a good idea as increasing wealth of a country (Emma Christopher, 2006). To begin with the Navigation Act allowed the English navy to develop and boost its power, this was as a results that the majority of crews on these vessels were English. This inevitably increased the number of skilled crew members which in turn contribute to the English navy’s development and overall power. Not only did this Act boost the English navy’s influence it also boosted trade and shipping between England and its colonies. The British empire decided to expand its naval force fleet (Raymond, 1987). Although the English navy was an expensive venture, the creation of the national debt and Bank of England helped the empire to provide the required amount of funds that was needed to keep British empire as the dominant force in the world (Fulton, 1911). The country’s debt was the brain child of Bank of England where British citizens were able to invest their money into the financial institution and promised to be paid back with interest after a period of time (Christopher, 1949). National debt provided a stable income for the English navy and allow it to be stronger which in turn helped Britain to protect its foreign trade. Trading companies played an important role that led to development of English navy in the 17th century (Christopher, 1949). These trading companies allowed the British empire to obtain raw materials and goods which increased the amount of money entering the the empire’s funding which in turned helped develop the English navy and secure the empire interests in different part of the world (William, 1989). Most of these trading companies started shops in areas where their products were valued and desired by many. Between 1600 to 1645 Royal Adventures Company was a dominant company that based it trading on ivory, gold and slaves. Prior to the abolision of slave trade, the English navy was inevitably involved in the slave trade itself, a fuction of protecting the British empire interest at sea (Christopher, 1949). The slave trade contributed to the development of English navy and slave merchants (Rodger, 1997). The English navy grew during the period of conflict for control of the colonies (Emma Christopher, 2006). Once British empire had grown to dominate America, the English navy was still required to protect these settlement and merchant shippings (Brewer, 1989). There was no difference between the English navy and any large company in 17th century, with individual men and officers holding differing opinions about slave trade (Rodger, 1997). In those days, most successful naval officers were the owners of big plantation in Carribeans or in north America, and it was a common occurrence for English naval officers to have slaves on board their vessels (John and Richard, 2007). Although the practice of having slaves on board ships was not not allowed by the Admiralty (William, 1989). Contradictory, The English navy had slaves in it dockyards in Jamaica, Antigua and other carribean colonies (Black and Philip, 1988). Part of jobs of these slaves was to escort slave ships down African continent and fought a lot of war for the control of the valuable trade in the West Indies(Stone, 1994) . Upto 3 million Africans were transported since 1620 and the British businessmen dominated the trade (Black and Philip, 1988). By 1635 more than 200 slaves ships were leaving cities such as Liverpool, Bristol, London etc, on a yearly basis. Slave trade flourished and it share of the world sugar and coffee production was sustaining England as she turn toward war. The development of the English navy in the early 17th centuary was considerable as the British empire was more concern with change in economic and political climate in Europe. Beginning 1605, English navy lauched an expansin of their ship fleet with increased the number from 100 to 131 in 1715 after it civil war (John and Richard, 2007). In the same period, the number of cruise ships increased from only 7 to sixty five. But the expansion of English navy was developed at a cost, the tax burden in the British empire was doubled, with the bulk of the taks being realised from the land tax. The English also relied on the excise and customer tax to develop the English navy. The aims of this war include American colonies, West Indies and India, which was coming under threat from the French (Rodger,2004). British empire fought most of these battle on water, both in the Americas and in Europe. And the development of stronger English navy would play a crucial role in the country’s victory (Stone, 1994). The British naval power would reach it peak during this battle; very few Enlgish ships were destroyed (Raymond, 1987), while many of French merchant vessles were captured as prizes. British empire won the commercial war, and its navy development played an important role in defeating France in Canada (McLynn, Frank, 2004). In Europe, English navy was able to assist its Prussian allies by gaining naval supremacy in North Atlantic and Mediterranean at the French expense (Stone, 1994). This battle was seen as important because it raises the pride and grandeur in the English navy. In Britain practice of privateer-ing or pirating was lucrative and successful one. However, as commercial activities across atlantic sea become more prominent, so did the cases of piracy (McLynn, Frank, 2004). Whereas the privateer presented papers and follow when confiscating the treasures of a captured ship and ship itself; the period of 17th centuary gave birth to more of the stereotypical pirate type. The British empire which before the 17th centuary had praised and encouraged privateers in their colonies begun to see the need to change their stand on piracy of any kind (Christopher, 1949). Barbary Corsairs pirates that operated mainly in the Mediterranean sea and Western Europe (Paul, 2000), which left other places free from individualist pirates who by the end of the 16th centuray were to be found mainly in the coastal waters of North America, the Caribbean, In Indian Ocean, and around the Atlantic islands off the West African coast (Paul, 2000). The pirates began to become nuisance, The English naval recognised a duty to protect their merchants from pirates (Black and Philip, 1988). The British empire adopted a policy of piratical imperialism, actively supporting or condoning piracy committed by their people, since it was directed against the Spanish, who had monopolised Carribean trade (John and Richard, 2007). The capture or destruction of Spanish vessels by these pirates opened up trade to the English empire, and this nation started to dominate the carrying trade of the location. With the monopoly of trade by Spanish broken, piracy was started seen as a barrier to the development of trade in the British colonies (John and Richard, 2007). Therefore, the British empire set in motion a naval campaign from 1600. The number of English ships that were committed to this campaign was increased from just three or four in the West Indies, and Jamaica served as headquarters, with six ships. Naval orders stated that pirate vessiles were to be hunted down and destroyed and local colonial trade was to be protected from any pirate attack. The royal ships were seen as effective in defending these trade. The British fishery industry at the Newfoundland reach its height in the 17th century in terms of employment, production and revenue (William, 1969). This events overtook the French fishing industry in earlier centuries, in part because the French were forced off most of the island of Newfoundland after 1600 and in part because the British industy had expanded beyond the old limits (McLynn, Frank, 2004). In addition, secondary fishing activities such as almon, and later the seal hunting became prominent. This expansion, both in economic and geography activities made British settlement in Newfoundland possible (Rodger,2004). The Newfoundland fishery industry was made a target. This was regarded as one of the British empire’s most important national assets (Black and Philip, 1988). The wealth that was generated was estimated to have value in 1650 of 600,000 pounds, while the fishery industry function as a “ nursery ground for new seamen” (William, 1969). This was the component of the British seapower but the strategic value of the fishery industry remained with the mother country, therefore, it was the empire’s policy to preserve its migratory character. The defence of overseas British empire possessions was traditionally based upon the exercise and maintenance of naval power in the sea. Because Newfoundland settlement was conforming well with the British fisheries policy, Hardly anything was done to provide Newfoundland with local defences. Not until early 17th centuary when effort was made to provide the fishery industry with refuge in case of any attack (Black and Philip, 1988). When the American cruisers and privateers began to make their presence felt, the fishery looked for its defence to the English warships that were stationed round the clock for the purpose of supervising their fishing activities. In addition, the West Country had a flourishing and important cloth and wool trade in addition to the fishery industry (Rodger, 1997). But in Britain as in the rest of the world, the fishery industy was seen as greatest economic importance because it was used to supplement employment it profived by stimulating dozen of auxiliary trade (William, 1969). In his Discourse and Discovery of the Newfoundland (1620), Richard Whitbourne described some of the goods that were consumerd by the fishery industry: hooks, nets, leads, rope, line, beer and bread, coopers, brewers, bakers, tackle-makers, net makers, chandlers, hook-makers, smiths, rope makers, and carpenters were among the many tradesmenwho never left, yet these men were employed in the fishery industry. In West County the Newfoundland trade was controlled by a small number of merchant-venturers that were refered as the "Western Adventurers." These merchant had common concerns and interests and were seen to accumulate a lot of wealth. This cohesiveness and power made these merchants to be influential within this region (Rodger,2004). At same time because trading activities in Newfoundland was highly competitive rivalries between merchant families, individual merchants, or merchant communities were fierce. Political and Religious differences further divided the merchants (Rodger, 1997). Therefore, the deployment of English navy was therefore an important defensive strategy that discourage the harassment of the bank fishery, protect the major centres and watch over passing trade of the fishery that was effectively (William, 1969). In conclusion, the development of English navy propelled the British empire into the great power and influence stratosphere by the beginning of the 17th century (Rodger,2004). The end of the English Civil Wars in 1649 began the development of the English navy, which would eventually give birth to “blue water” policy that was desgined to establish the English navy as the foremost force in Europe. Throughout the 17th century, the British merchant relied heavily on the English navy to open up foreign markets in Africa, Asia and the Americas. This method made British empire the foremost economic engine in the world. References Black, Jeremy and Philip Woodfine (1988). The British Navy and the Use of Naval Power in the Eighteenth Century. Leicester: Leicester University Press. Brewer, John. (1989). The Sinews of Power: War, Money and the English State, 1688-1783. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Fulton, T.W. (1911) The Sovereignty of the Sea: An Historical Account of the Claims of England to the Dominion of the British Seas, and of the Evolution of the Territorial Waters, with Special Reference to the Rights of Fishing and the Naval Salute. London: The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. Rodger, N.A.M.. (1997) The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain 660 – 1649. London. McLynn, Frank.( 2004). 1759: The Year Britain Became Master of the World. New York,: Atlantic Monthly Press,. Rodger, N.A.M.(2004) The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815. New York and London: W.W. Norton and Company. Stone, Lawrence ed. (1994), An Imperial State At War: Britain from 1689 to 1815. London and New York: Routledge. John Parker and Richard Rathbone (2007). African History: a Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Routledge. Christopher Lloyd. (1949). The Navy and the Slave Trade: The Suppression of the African Slave Trade in the Nineteenth Century London:Longmans. William Ward. (1969). The Royal Navy and the Slavers: The Suppression of the Atlantic Slave Trade, New York: Allen and Unwin. Raymond Howell (1987). The Royal Navy and the Slave Trade . Oxford:room Helm. William Clarence-Smith. (1989). The Economics of the Indian Ocean Slave Trade in the Nineteenth Century edited. New York: Frank Cass. Paul Michael Kielstra. (2000). The Politics of Slave Trade Suppression in Britain and France, 1814-48: Diplomacy, Morality and Economics London:Palgrave. Emma Christopher. (2006). Slave Ship Sailors and Their Captive Cargoes, 1730-1807. London: Cambridge University Press. Read More