British History – Changes over time
Contents:
1.
2. Lord Liverpool: pg.4
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Parliamentary reform:8. Great Reform Act: pg.25
William Pitt:
King George III had considerable power over the Commons – limited by the 1689 Bill of
Rights – set out and increased Parliamentary Sovereignty
o Able to hire and fire ministers, block legislation, dissolve and summon Parliament
Chose the PM from the party who had the majority in Commons
o Often gave out patronage to get his way
William Pitt the Younger – December 1783 - March 1801
How did he become PM?
1
, o Royal support:
George III increasingly involved in politics after the war with America – tried
to persuade North to stay on
East India Bill – bribed Lords to vote against the bill – voted down by
a majority of 8 Lords
Fox-North coalition despised by the King
North seen as a traitor – failed to win the American War – should
have been easily won – lost to France even more embarrassing
o Moved over to the anti-monarchical Whigs
Fox despised by the King – ‘he had very little care or desire for
politics’
o Supported Washington’s forces in the American War –
believed the king was to blame for the high taxes set
Wore a uniform of George Washington’s army in the
aftermath of the war
o Pitt’s own ability
Became an MP for Appleby in 1781 at the age of 21
In 1782 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer
Held some power in the Commons – ran his father’s Chatamite faction
Able to introduce bills such as Parliamentary Reform in 1783 –
although this was voted down
o Used this to on the surface try to redistribute the power
from rotten boroughs – instead it uncovered the underlying
flaws of the Fox-North coalition
Reformers in Parliament began to view Pitt as their
leader rather than Fox
Clever – Cambridge University degree – knew not to outwardly oppose the
King – did not always agree – Catholic Emancipation
Increase significance of the PM?
o Got rid of sinecures gradually – a type of patronage given that was very costly to the
government and dispersed power further
o Established the PMO as the most important office instead of cabinet
Henry Dundas and William Grenville given cabinet positions – Pitts most able
advisors
Grenville Foreign Affairs 1791 – 1801 – Dundas Home Sec 1791-94,
Secretary for War 1794-1801
Regency Bill 1789 – decreased the powers of the Prince Regent in wake of
the ill health of George III
o Failed to pass a bill for Parliamentary reform 1785
Get rid of 36 rotten and market boroughs and increase the representation of
London and Westminster – pop of over 750,000 people
o Failed to obtain Catholic Emancipation 1801 – blocked by King
Did not therefore increase the powers of the PM above that of the King –
undermined Parliamentary Sovereignty
2
, Pitt a successful PM?
o FAT reforms
Trade and IR
Jay Treaty with America 1794 – no increased tariffs and America
could trade in the East Indies
o British exports doubled from £3.3 million in 1793 to £6.7
million in 1800
2/3 of all exports went to America
Eden Treaty 1786 with France
o Freedom of navigation and trade between the two nations
Reduced tariffs on goods – wine
Solved issues at Nootka Sound 1790 and at Ochakov Fortress 1792
o Nootka Sound – Spain seized British ships in 1789
Preparing for war – but solved peacefully through
the Nootka Conventions 1790-95
o Ochakov Fortress sieged by Russia in 1788 – Pitt was
humiliated – demanded Russia retreat but they did not –
considered resignation
Financial reform
Stage 1 -1783-92 – lift economy
o 1784 debt stood at £250 million
Runs a surplus in 1793 £1 million
o Exports had declined 12%
o 1786 he introduced the sinking fund – money set aside for
the reduction of debt
1786-93 reduced £10 million of debt
o Increased excise taxes to the rich
Window tax, servant tax, wig tax, horse and carriage
tax
o Decreased smuggling – 20% of imports
Immensely lucrative due to the duties placed on
products – tea duties 119% of the price – 6 times
higher than continental Europe
Reduced tea duties to 25% - search ships for
contraband
Revenue increased by £1 million by 1792 –
gradual process
o Decreased government spending form £25 million to £16
million – no armies to finance
o 1799 government spending up from £16 million to £49
million – able to borrow due to the prudence of the golden
years
o 1805 £3 million subsidy for the support of the Russian army
Increased income tax to finance it to 10% from 5%
3
, Administrative reform
Decreased sinecures – an expensive form of sinecures – patronage
o Did not replace them when they died – to avoid political
conflict
Army and navy reforms
o Army, navy and ordinance two and a half times larger than
all other civilian administration combined
43 new ships built an d85 repaired between 1783
and 93 – 1790 regained power of the seas
o Held power for over 20 years – second ministry not as successful – not a wartime
leader
No opposition – held kings support
Dealt with the Regency Crisis 1789 – only real threat – Regency
favoured F ox as a leader
1790 120 seat majority – held the support of the Commons
o 1794 due to Fox’s affiliation with supporting the French
Revolution many Whigs moved over to Pitt – Loughborough,
Portland, Burke
Why was there no Parliamentary reform before 1812? – pg.24
Lord Liverpool:
Problems faced by Lord Liverpool 1815-1820
o Riots 1815-1820
1816 Spa Fields riot
Henry ‘orator’ Hunt spoke to crowds – 10,000 people calling for
Parliamentary reform
o Local militia dispersed the crowds due to fighting
March 1817 March of the Blanketeers
Cotton workers (weavers) organised a march from Manchester to
London to present a relief bill to the Prince Regent
o Agent provocateurs dispersed the march at the outset – got
no further than Stockport
June 1817 March from Pentrich to Nottingham
Weavers planned to march from Pentrich to Nottingham
o Broken up before – 45 arrested and 3 were executed (100
taking part in the march
Huddersfield uprising 1817
March on Huddersfield – broken up easily by constables and
yeomanry
o This and Pentrich showed how unorganised the radical
threat was
4
Contents:
1.
2. Lord Liverpool: pg.4
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Parliamentary reform:8. Great Reform Act: pg.25
William Pitt:
King George III had considerable power over the Commons – limited by the 1689 Bill of
Rights – set out and increased Parliamentary Sovereignty
o Able to hire and fire ministers, block legislation, dissolve and summon Parliament
Chose the PM from the party who had the majority in Commons
o Often gave out patronage to get his way
William Pitt the Younger – December 1783 - March 1801
How did he become PM?
1
, o Royal support:
George III increasingly involved in politics after the war with America – tried
to persuade North to stay on
East India Bill – bribed Lords to vote against the bill – voted down by
a majority of 8 Lords
Fox-North coalition despised by the King
North seen as a traitor – failed to win the American War – should
have been easily won – lost to France even more embarrassing
o Moved over to the anti-monarchical Whigs
Fox despised by the King – ‘he had very little care or desire for
politics’
o Supported Washington’s forces in the American War –
believed the king was to blame for the high taxes set
Wore a uniform of George Washington’s army in the
aftermath of the war
o Pitt’s own ability
Became an MP for Appleby in 1781 at the age of 21
In 1782 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer
Held some power in the Commons – ran his father’s Chatamite faction
Able to introduce bills such as Parliamentary Reform in 1783 –
although this was voted down
o Used this to on the surface try to redistribute the power
from rotten boroughs – instead it uncovered the underlying
flaws of the Fox-North coalition
Reformers in Parliament began to view Pitt as their
leader rather than Fox
Clever – Cambridge University degree – knew not to outwardly oppose the
King – did not always agree – Catholic Emancipation
Increase significance of the PM?
o Got rid of sinecures gradually – a type of patronage given that was very costly to the
government and dispersed power further
o Established the PMO as the most important office instead of cabinet
Henry Dundas and William Grenville given cabinet positions – Pitts most able
advisors
Grenville Foreign Affairs 1791 – 1801 – Dundas Home Sec 1791-94,
Secretary for War 1794-1801
Regency Bill 1789 – decreased the powers of the Prince Regent in wake of
the ill health of George III
o Failed to pass a bill for Parliamentary reform 1785
Get rid of 36 rotten and market boroughs and increase the representation of
London and Westminster – pop of over 750,000 people
o Failed to obtain Catholic Emancipation 1801 – blocked by King
Did not therefore increase the powers of the PM above that of the King –
undermined Parliamentary Sovereignty
2
, Pitt a successful PM?
o FAT reforms
Trade and IR
Jay Treaty with America 1794 – no increased tariffs and America
could trade in the East Indies
o British exports doubled from £3.3 million in 1793 to £6.7
million in 1800
2/3 of all exports went to America
Eden Treaty 1786 with France
o Freedom of navigation and trade between the two nations
Reduced tariffs on goods – wine
Solved issues at Nootka Sound 1790 and at Ochakov Fortress 1792
o Nootka Sound – Spain seized British ships in 1789
Preparing for war – but solved peacefully through
the Nootka Conventions 1790-95
o Ochakov Fortress sieged by Russia in 1788 – Pitt was
humiliated – demanded Russia retreat but they did not –
considered resignation
Financial reform
Stage 1 -1783-92 – lift economy
o 1784 debt stood at £250 million
Runs a surplus in 1793 £1 million
o Exports had declined 12%
o 1786 he introduced the sinking fund – money set aside for
the reduction of debt
1786-93 reduced £10 million of debt
o Increased excise taxes to the rich
Window tax, servant tax, wig tax, horse and carriage
tax
o Decreased smuggling – 20% of imports
Immensely lucrative due to the duties placed on
products – tea duties 119% of the price – 6 times
higher than continental Europe
Reduced tea duties to 25% - search ships for
contraband
Revenue increased by £1 million by 1792 –
gradual process
o Decreased government spending form £25 million to £16
million – no armies to finance
o 1799 government spending up from £16 million to £49
million – able to borrow due to the prudence of the golden
years
o 1805 £3 million subsidy for the support of the Russian army
Increased income tax to finance it to 10% from 5%
3
, Administrative reform
Decreased sinecures – an expensive form of sinecures – patronage
o Did not replace them when they died – to avoid political
conflict
Army and navy reforms
o Army, navy and ordinance two and a half times larger than
all other civilian administration combined
43 new ships built an d85 repaired between 1783
and 93 – 1790 regained power of the seas
o Held power for over 20 years – second ministry not as successful – not a wartime
leader
No opposition – held kings support
Dealt with the Regency Crisis 1789 – only real threat – Regency
favoured F ox as a leader
1790 120 seat majority – held the support of the Commons
o 1794 due to Fox’s affiliation with supporting the French
Revolution many Whigs moved over to Pitt – Loughborough,
Portland, Burke
Why was there no Parliamentary reform before 1812? – pg.24
Lord Liverpool:
Problems faced by Lord Liverpool 1815-1820
o Riots 1815-1820
1816 Spa Fields riot
Henry ‘orator’ Hunt spoke to crowds – 10,000 people calling for
Parliamentary reform
o Local militia dispersed the crowds due to fighting
March 1817 March of the Blanketeers
Cotton workers (weavers) organised a march from Manchester to
London to present a relief bill to the Prince Regent
o Agent provocateurs dispersed the march at the outset – got
no further than Stockport
June 1817 March from Pentrich to Nottingham
Weavers planned to march from Pentrich to Nottingham
o Broken up before – 45 arrested and 3 were executed (100
taking part in the march
Huddersfield uprising 1817
March on Huddersfield – broken up easily by constables and
yeomanry
o This and Pentrich showed how unorganised the radical
threat was
4
