Brno Farm

Unit 8: Revolutions (Part 2): The Global Trade Summit

Duration: Up to 8 hours

Overview

This 6 to 8-hour project, “The Global Trade Summit,” is designed to explore the Industrial Revolution’s impact on trade policies, economic sectors, and industrial economies. You will research historical contexts, create a fictional trade summit presentation, and reflect on economic patterns. The project includes collaborative and individual tasks, encouraging creativity and critical thinking.

Materials Needed: Computer/tablet with internet access, paper, pens, art supplies (optional for visuals), timer.

Project Breakdown

Course Objectives Understand how trade policies shaped the world economy during the Industrial Revolution. Analyze the development of industrial economies and their economic sectors (primary, secondary, tertiary). Develop research, collaboration, and presentation skills.

 

Session 1: Research & Context (Approximately 2 hours)

Objective: Build foundational knowledge on the Industrial Revolution, trade policies, and economic sectors.

Introduction:

The Industrial Revolution (roughly 1750–1900) was a transformative period that shifted societies from agrarian to industrial economies, driven by technological innovations, trade policies, and economic restructuring.

Trade Policies and the World Economy: The era saw a shift from mercantilism (state-controlled trade to amass wealth) to free trade, exemplified by Britain’s repeal of the Corn Laws (1846). Global trade networks expanded due to colonial empires, with raw materials (e.g., cotton from India) fueling European and American industries. Steamships and railroads enhanced global commerce, creating an interconnected world economy.

Development of Industrial Economies: Innovations like the steam engine, spinning jenny, and mechanized factories revolutionized production, shifting economies from agriculture to manufacturing. Britain led, followed by the U.S. and parts of Europe. Urbanization surged as people moved to cities for factory jobs, and capital investment grew, laying the foundation for modern capitalism.

Economic Sectors and Patterns: Economies diversified into primary (raw materials, e.g., mining), secondary (manufacturing, e.g., textiles), and tertiary (services, e.g., banking) sectors. Industrial regions specialized, with patterns like Britain’s textile dominance or the U.S.’s steel production, driven by resource availability and trade networks.

Session 2: Create a Fictional Trade Summit (Approximately 2 hours)

Objective: Apply research to create a fictional 19th-century trade summit presentation, representing two different countries.

Setup:

• Imagine you’re delegates at a “Global Trade Summit” in 1875, each representing a nation (e.g., Britain and the United States, or Britain and India).

What is a Trade Minister?

A Trade Minister is a government official responsible for overseeing a country’s international trade policies, negotiating trade agreements, and promoting economic growth through trade and investment. Their role is pivotal in shaping how a nation engages with the global economy, balancing domestic interests with international opportunities. Below is an overview of a Trade Minister’s responsibilities, focusing on trade policies and economic sectors, contextualized for the Industrial Revolution period (1750–1900) to align with your project, while also incorporating broader insights for a comprehensive understanding.

Responsibilities of a Trade Minister

A Trade Minister develops and implements policies to regulate imports, exports, and foreign investment, aiming to strengthen the domestic economy and enhance global competitiveness. Their work spans economic sectors (primary, secondary, tertiary) and involves collaboration with other government agencies, businesses, and international organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) in modern contexts, though during the Industrial Revolution, such coordination was less formalized.

Crafting Trade Policies

1.  

• Historical Context (1750–1900): During the Industrial Revolution, trade policies shifted from mercantilism, which prioritized accumulating wealth through restricted trade and colonial monopolies, to free trade, particularly in Britain. Key policies included:
  • Repeal of the Corn Laws (1846): This abolished tariffs on imported grain, reducing food prices and promoting free trade, benefiting industrial economies by lowering costs for workers and boosting export markets.
  • Navigation Acts Repeal (1849): These laws, which restricted colonial trade to British ships, were repealed to open trade routes, supporting Britain’s industrial dominance in textiles and iron.
  • Colonial Trade Networks: Trade Ministers oversaw policies leveraging colonies for raw materials (e.g., cotton from India) to fuel industrial production, exporting manufactured goods back to colonies.
• Modern Parallel: Today, Trade Ministers negotiate free trade agreements (e.g., USMCA) or impose protectionist measures like tariffs to protect domestic industries, balancing economic growth with national interests.

1.  

Promoting Economic Sectors

• Primary Sector (Raw Materials): During the Industrial Revolution, Trade Ministers ensured access to raw materials like cotton, coal, and iron through colonial trade or bilateral agreements. For example, Britain’s trade policies secured cotton from the U.S. and India for its textile industry. Policies often favored exports of raw materials from colonies to industrial centers.
• Secondary Sector (Manufacturing): The Industrial Revolution saw a boom in manufacturing, with Trade Ministers promoting exports of textiles, machinery, and iron goods. Policies like tariff reductions or trade agreements with European nations boosted Britain’s textile exports, while protectionist tariffs in the U.S. supported emerging industries like steel.
• Tertiary Sector (Services): Though less prominent in the 19th century, the tertiary sector (e.g., banking, shipping) grew with industrialization. Trade Ministers supported policies for maritime trade, such as subsidies for steamship companies, to facilitate global commerce.
• Historical Example: In Britain, the Trade Minister (often within the Board of Trade) advocated for policies to expand manufacturing exports, aligning with industrial growth in cities like Manchester, while ensuring raw material imports through colonial trade routes.

Negotiating Trade Agreements

• During the Industrial Revolution, Trade Ministers negotiated bilateral treaties to open markets. For example, the 1860 Cobden-Chevalier Treaty between Britain and France reduced tariffs, boosting trade in manufactured goods and wine.
• They also managed colonial trade policies, ensuring favorable terms for industrial nations. For instance, Britain’s trade policies with India prioritized cotton exports to British factories, often at the expense of local Indian economies.

Balancing Domestic and International Interests

• Trade Ministers had to address domestic pressures, such as protecting local industries (e.g., U.S. tariffs on British goods to support nascent industries) while expanding export markets. They navigated debates between free trade advocates and protectionists, as seen in Britain’s shift from mercantilism to free trade in the 1840s.
• They also considered economic sector impacts, ensuring policies supported industrial growth without destabilizing agriculture or emerging service industries.

Advocacy for Economic Growth

• Trade Ministers promoted policies to integrate economies into global markets, fostering growth in industrial sectors. For example, Britain’s free trade policies in the mid-19th century boosted GDP by expanding textile and iron exports, while the U.S. used protectionist tariffs to nurture its manufacturing base.

1.  

Trade Policies During the Industrial Revolution

Key trade policies shaped the global economy during this period:

• Mercantilism (Early Period): Early in the Industrial Revolution, nations like Britain used mercantilist policies, such as the Navigation Acts, to control trade and amass wealth, prioritizing colonial resources for industrial use.
• Shift to Free Trade: By the 1840s, Britain embraced free trade, reducing tariffs to promote industrial exports and lower consumer prices. The repeal of the Corn Laws (1846) and Navigation Acts (1849) exemplified this shift, driving economic growth but challenging agricultural sectors.
• Protectionism in Emerging Economies: The U.S. and other industrializing nations used tariffs to protect fledgling industries. For example, the U.S. Tariff Act of 1828 protected textile and iron industries but raised tensions with agricultural regions reliant on cheap imports.
• Colonial Trade Policies: Industrial powers like Britain and France enforced policies to extract raw materials from colonies, supporting secondary sector growth (e.g., textile manufacturing) while limiting industrial development in colonies.

Impact on Economic Sectors

• Primary Sector: Trade policies secured raw materials (e.g., cotton, timber) through colonial networks, fueling industrial production. However, protectionist tariffs in some nations shielded local agriculture from foreign competition.
• Secondary Sector: Free trade policies in Britain boosted textile and machinery exports, while protectionist policies in the U.S. fostered industrial growth in steel and textiles.
• Tertiary Sector: The growth of shipping and banking was supported by trade policies that subsidized steamship lines and expanded port infrastructure, facilitating global trade networks.

Activity 2: Develop the Presentation: Work together as a pair to create a 2-page summit speech (1 page each). You are Trade Ministers from two different countries: Propose a trade policy for each of your countries (e.g., free trade or protectionism) and explain how it supports your industrial economy and economic sectors (e.g., manufacturing growth, raw material exports). Include 2–3 historical facts from your Session 1 research to make the speech realistic. There are some examples for you below. Practice:  Rehearse your speeches together, giving feedback on clarity and persuasiveness.

Session 3: Present & Debate (Approximately 2 hours)

Objective: Deliver summit speeches and engage in a friendly debate about trade and social policies.

Activity 3.1: Present Speeches: Present your 1-page speech as your Trade Minister character. Listen to the ‘opposing’ speech and take notes on 1–2 points you agree or disagree with. Grade the speech – there is a sheet you can use. Activity 3.2: Debate: Debate the proposed trade policies. Questions to consider: Do the trade policies benefit both countries or favor one? Are there trade-offs between economic growth and social equity? Use your research to support your arguments. Keep the tone collaborative and respectful.

Session 4: Reflection (Approximately 30 minutes)

Objective: Reflect on the project summarizing key insights.

Activity 4: Individual Reflection: Write a 1-paragraph reflection answering: How did trade policies and industrial economies shape the modern world? Include one example from your research or summit speech.

Session 5: Creative Output (Approximately 1 hour)

Objective: Create a final artifact.

Activity 4: Creation: Create a small drawing or diagram (e.g., a trade route map or factory illustration).

Global Trade Summit Rubric

This rubric scores three parts of the Global Trade Summit project: Summit Speech, Debate Performance (peer-judged), and Quiz (20 multiple-choice questions). Each part is scored from 1 to 4, with 4 being the best. You will use this to grade yourself and their partner where noted.

Criteria	1 (Needs Work)	2 (Okay)	3 (Good)	4 (Great)
Summit Speech (1 page each)	Speech is incomplete or unclear. Has 0–1 historical facts. Doesn’t explain trade policies, or economic sectors well.	Speech covers the role but lacks detail. Has 1–2 historical facts. Mentions trade policies, and economic sectors, but isn’t very clear.	Speech clearly covers the role and proposes a policy. Has 2–3 correct historical facts. Explains trade policies, and economic sectors well.	Speech is clear, engaging, and proposes a strong policy. Has 2–3 correct, well-used historical facts. Fully explains trade policies, and economic sectors.
Debate Performance (Peer-Judged)	Barely joins the debate. Arguments are weak or off-topic. Shows little respect to partner.	Joins the debate but arguments are weak. Ties to research are unclear. Shows some respect but may not listen well.	Actively debates with clear arguments tied to research. Connects to trade policies, and sectors. Respects and listens to partner.	Debates strongly with clear, research-based arguments. Fully connects to trade policies and sectors. Very respectful and listens well.
Creative Output (Drawing/Diagram)	Drawing or diagram is incomplete or unclear. No connection to trade routes, factories, or project themes.	Drawing or diagram is basic and lacks detail. Weak connection to trade routes, factories, or project themes.	Drawing or diagram is clear and relevant (e.g., trade route map or factory). Good connection to project themes.	Drawing or diagram is detailed, creative, and clearly tied to trade routes, factories, or project themes.
Quiz (Out of 20)	Scores 0–10 (0–50%).	Scores 11–14 (55–70%).	Scores 15–17 (75–85%).	Scores 18–20 (90–100%).