Question

What was the main reason for the armament race?
A.Imperial Expansion
B. Divide and Rule
C. Trade of slave
D. Economic exploitation

Answer 1

Hint: Armament race, also known as the arms race, is a competitive attempt by countries to possess more and better weapons. This pattern is a reaction to the threat posed by one country on the other.

Complete answer: Option A: The Industrial Revolution in the 1700s brought with itself modern weaponry for improved warships. The continuous threat posed by colonial expansion led to countries like France and Russia to build powerful armies to counter the expansion. Germany also substantially increased its military budget to counter the naval dominance of Britain. This power struggle converted into an armament race was mainly due to the threat of imperial expansion.
Option B: Divide and rule was a policy used to conquer nations by breaking up larger power into small pieces for better and easier implementation of strategies.
Option C: Trade of slaves was transatlantic trading of slaves between Europe, Africa and the New World.
Option D: Economic exploitation is an ideology of gaining profit through production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. It was used by the colonisers in their respective colonies for their own economic interests.
Thus, option (A) is the correct answer.

Note: The unruly possession of arms led to the formation of some important arms control agreements between nations like Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty I (START I), Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, etc. In the post-Cold War era, the armament race has extended to the accumulation of nuclear weapons as well.