A Laissez - Faire Empire

• Policy followed by Liberals but also some Conservatives

• The debate in the 19th Century was over Free Trade or Protectionism

• The British Economy was the only advanced Industrial nation in the world.

• Its products were wanted and needed all over the world.

• Therefore Britain encouraged Free Trade and used the Navy to ensure this

• Eg in South America Free Trade was the price of British aid in overthrowing the Spanish.