Taking Measure: Naval Power
The bar graph shows the number of ships of the line (naval warships) of each power in Europe in the late 1780s, as estimated by the French government. As naval warfare became increasingly important, the number of warships available to each power could be a critical factor.
Source: Adapted from the data in British Library Additional MSS 74100, Apperçu [sic] de la Balance du Commerce de la France Année – 1789, Ensemble le Relevé de la Population des Finances et Forces Militaires des Principales Puissances de l’Europe.
Questions to Consider
- What were the consequences of Great Britain’s naval superiority?
- How would naval power affect the formation of coalitions during the French revolutionary wars?
- Why would Great Britain put so much emphasis on its navy?