A LEVEL HISTORY A: FROM PITT TO PEEL
1783–1853 ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Why was Britain isolated at the start of Pitt's time in office?.
Answer: - Britain lost war against America, who was backed by Dutch,
Spain and France- Policy to search import ships, led to League of Armed
Neutrality against Br- Br depended on oversea trade - Only ally w/ Prussia-
France had good relations w/ Spain, Austria and Russia- United
Provenances ruled by House of Orange, Pro-French Radicals threatened to
overthrow them
◍ What year was Pitt first elected as Prime Minister?.
Answer: 1784
◍ How did Pitt fix Britain's isolation issue?.
Answer: → Trade Treaty w/ UP, 1785→ Eden Treaty w/ France, 1786 -
Economic benefits to BR, proved Br and Fr could negotiate→ Br supplied
Orange supporters w/ money and ammunition; mobilized the military;
signed a defensive alliance w/ Prussia
◍ What did Pitt call himself?.
Answer: An "Independent Tory"
◍ Who was the leader of the opposition upon Pitt's ascension?.
Answer: Charles James Fox
◍ What coalition formed the government before Pitt?.
Answer: Fox/North coalition
◍ Why did George III dislike the Whigs?.
Answer: They supported parliamentary sovereignty/reduced powers of the
, monarch
◍ Why did George III dislike the Fox/North coalition?.
Answer: It was a coalition between Whigs and Tories, therefore making it
seem unprincipled
◍ Why did George ask Pitt to call an election?.
Answer: -The election was needed because when Pitt was assigned as prime
minister, most of Parliament was not in his favour, giving him a minority
support
◍ Why did Pitt need to delay the election?.
Answer: - Many Independent MPs, who had only held their seats for 3 years,
may have objected to such a sudden upheaval- If Pitt failed to win the
election, the monarch's power would be called into question- Pitt needed to
gain the trust of independent MPs
◍ What bill, passed before the election, showed that Pitt's strategy in gaining
support was working?.
Answer: The Mutiny Bill 1784
◍ What powers did Pitt use to gain support amongst the Commons?.
Answer: Peerages
◍ Why did Britain's navy need improving?.
Answer: - Royal navy in a poor state when Pitt comes to power, 1783- Old
ships patched inefficiently- Unfit for service, security issue for Br
◍ What saying, attributed to the Duke of Portland, describes the usage of
peerages in the Commons?.
Answer: "The powers of the crown had been let loose upon the streets"
◍ Nootka Sound Incident.
Answer: - Nootka Sound, Br settlement in Canada- Spanish naval force
arrived and declared the area theirs→ Pitt objected, sending 37 battleships
across to Nootka→ Demanded Spanish leave Nootka Sound, pay
compensation and leave the North America coastline above California→
1783–1853 ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Why was Britain isolated at the start of Pitt's time in office?.
Answer: - Britain lost war against America, who was backed by Dutch,
Spain and France- Policy to search import ships, led to League of Armed
Neutrality against Br- Br depended on oversea trade - Only ally w/ Prussia-
France had good relations w/ Spain, Austria and Russia- United
Provenances ruled by House of Orange, Pro-French Radicals threatened to
overthrow them
◍ What year was Pitt first elected as Prime Minister?.
Answer: 1784
◍ How did Pitt fix Britain's isolation issue?.
Answer: → Trade Treaty w/ UP, 1785→ Eden Treaty w/ France, 1786 -
Economic benefits to BR, proved Br and Fr could negotiate→ Br supplied
Orange supporters w/ money and ammunition; mobilized the military;
signed a defensive alliance w/ Prussia
◍ What did Pitt call himself?.
Answer: An "Independent Tory"
◍ Who was the leader of the opposition upon Pitt's ascension?.
Answer: Charles James Fox
◍ What coalition formed the government before Pitt?.
Answer: Fox/North coalition
◍ Why did George III dislike the Whigs?.
Answer: They supported parliamentary sovereignty/reduced powers of the
, monarch
◍ Why did George III dislike the Fox/North coalition?.
Answer: It was a coalition between Whigs and Tories, therefore making it
seem unprincipled
◍ Why did George ask Pitt to call an election?.
Answer: -The election was needed because when Pitt was assigned as prime
minister, most of Parliament was not in his favour, giving him a minority
support
◍ Why did Pitt need to delay the election?.
Answer: - Many Independent MPs, who had only held their seats for 3 years,
may have objected to such a sudden upheaval- If Pitt failed to win the
election, the monarch's power would be called into question- Pitt needed to
gain the trust of independent MPs
◍ What bill, passed before the election, showed that Pitt's strategy in gaining
support was working?.
Answer: The Mutiny Bill 1784
◍ What powers did Pitt use to gain support amongst the Commons?.
Answer: Peerages
◍ Why did Britain's navy need improving?.
Answer: - Royal navy in a poor state when Pitt comes to power, 1783- Old
ships patched inefficiently- Unfit for service, security issue for Br
◍ What saying, attributed to the Duke of Portland, describes the usage of
peerages in the Commons?.
Answer: "The powers of the crown had been let loose upon the streets"
◍ Nootka Sound Incident.
Answer: - Nootka Sound, Br settlement in Canada- Spanish naval force
arrived and declared the area theirs→ Pitt objected, sending 37 battleships
across to Nootka→ Demanded Spanish leave Nootka Sound, pay
compensation and leave the North America coastline above California→
