The History of World Expositions |
The London World Exposition 1862
The particular aim of the world exhibitions in the 19th century was to promote peaceful competition between nations, so that this took the place of belligerent confrontations. However, given the nations’ appetite for power such an idealistic concept was bound to fail. After the Crimean War in the mid-fifties and the battles fought by the British to suppress insurgents in South Africa, it was the secession of the southern states in America in 1861 that most jeopardised the idea of the World Exhibition. In addition, the American Civil War posed a direct threat to the exhibition to be held in London. The war raging in the USA had caused a shortage of cotton, and the British textiles sector was suffering badly due to this. Many companies in the sector therefore had to cancel their participation at the World Exhibition due to financial problems. Unemployment and lower wages were the result of this state of affairs, and this threatened to reduce the number of visitors. Due to the Civil War, it was also doubtful whether the USA, which had made a considerable showing in London in 1851, would participate at all. In the event, there were only a few American exhibits in 1862. |
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EXPOSEEUM - The Museum of World Exhibitions, Hanover, Expo Plaza 11 Open every Sunday from 11 to 16 |
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