Re: Invasion of Okinawa, Iwo Jima instead of Philipines

L2007 wrote:
"Stephen Graham" <graham1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:kZOdnXuX86JVm3rbnZ2dnUVZ_tSknZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
L2007 wrote:
"Stephen Graham" <graham1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:266dnajDw_olXnjbnZ2dnUVZ_ruqnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
But here are a couple of things to consider: find out who had the largest merchant marine in the world in 1860 (and then figure out what happened to it); which is the largest export economy in the world in 1900 and what happens in the following decades?

Yep the world goes in cycles. 85% of all ocean trade was shipped on British ships in 1913. Over half the world sea going vessels were registered in Liverpool at one time.

So if the US had the largest merchant marine in 1860 and the largest export market in 1900, don't you think it had something to do with the development of the world economy in the 19th and 20th centuries?

The trade routes were well established by then.

By 1800? Are you sure you mean that?

BTW, the US merchant fleet was decimated in the Civil war and never recovered.

My earlier note (quoted above) might indicate that I knew that. But never recovered might be exaggerating matters a bit, as someone familiar with World War Two and merchant shipping should know.

The Confederate navy was unofficially based in Liverpool. The world's most successful naval ship ever (most ships sunk) was the CCS Alabama. Built in Liverpool, crewed by a Liverpool crew and not once dropped anchor in an American port. (a digression from WW2).

Do you know what the Alabama cost the UK and how that compares to the dollar amount of damage it did to US shipping?

Another point. The US merchant marine in 1860 was primarily coasters. not deep water vessels.

And your source for this claim is?

Think hard now. Read Empire by Nial Ferguson.

How about Wallerstein's Modern World-System instead?

is based and lectures in the USA.

Why does that matter? Does it matter that Niall Ferguson is faculty at a US university?

No axe to grind.

Why do you think Wallerstein has an axe to grind?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Invasion of Okinawa, Iwo Jima instead of Philipines
    ... Over half the world sea going vessels were registered in Liverpool at one time. ... So if the US had the largest merchant marine in 1860 and the largest export market in 1900, don't you think it had something to do with the development of the world economy in the 19th and 20th centuries? ... The world's most successful naval ship ever (most ships sunk) was the CCS Alabama. ... Does it matter that Niall Ferguson is faculty at a US university? ...
    (soc.history.war.world-war-ii)
  • Re: OTSMN - my great uncle probably witnessed last U-boat sinkings of WW2
    ... "Convoy" by Martin Middlebrook, published 1976. ... Some 21 ships were sunk. ... Merchant Marine, but unless a specific convoy is described (as with "Convoy" ... family history but it's also raw history of wider interest. ...
    (sci.military.naval)
  • Re: OTSMN - my great uncle probably witnessed last U-boat sinkings of WW2
    ... "Convoy" by Martin Middlebrook, published 1976. ... Some 21 ships were sunk. ... Merchant Marine, but unless a specific convoy is described (as with "Convoy" ... family history but it's also raw history of wider interest. ...
    (sci.military.naval)
  • Re: Invasion of Okinawa, Iwo Jima instead of Philipines
    ... So if the US had the largest merchant marine in 1860 and the largest export market in 1900, don't you think it had something to do with the development of the world economy in the 19th and 20th centuries? ... the others are not major international trading centres. ... Does it matter that Niall Ferguson is faculty at a US university? ...
    (soc.history.war.world-war-ii)