A LEVEL HISTORY A: FROM PITT TO PEEL
1783–1853 CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Why was Britain in a crisis in 1780?.
Answer: - 4 Ministers fell in quick succession (doubts in king)- Britain lost
the 13 colonies (America)- Political instability (may collapse + risks
economy)
◍ How did someone join the House of Commons?.
Answer: Being elected from a borough or city (as a representing MP)
◍ How did someone join the House of Lords?.
Answer: By lineage (of a Lord) / Being born into it
◍ What were the two political 'groupings' in 1715?.
Answer: The Whigs and the Tories (Tory)
◍ What were the main ideas of the Tory group?.
Answer: - Oppose parliamentary reform- Defend the power of the Crown-
Defend the Established Anglican Protestant Church- Support the interest of
the upper class- Strict law and order
◍ What were the main ideas of the Whig group?.
Answer: - Make ministers accountable for their actions- Supported
parliamentary reform- Reduce the power of the Crown- Favoured religious
tolerance- Sympathy for the growing middle class
◍ Why was voting biased/unfair in the 1700s?.
Answer: Only 5% of men could vote by the 1700s, and you could only vote
if you were a male land owner of 40 shillings. The voting system was easily
corrupted - 'rotten boroughs' and 'pocket boroughs'
, ◍ What were rotten boroughs?.
Answer: Place that has lost a significant part of their population, but kept the
same amount of representatives in the government.
◍ What were pocket boroughs?.
Answer: Districts where a wealthy land owner controlled the election of
representatives
◍ In 1833, what percentage of those employed in cotton, wool, flax and silk
factories were estimated to be under the age of 13?.
Answer: 13%
◍ Why is the Bill of Rights (1689) important?.
Answer: It forced the Monarchy to share their power with the parliament,
resulting in a gradual decline in the Monarchy's power until King George III
came to power (1760 - 1820)
◍ Who were the 4 Ministers during 1782-83?.
Answer: North; Rockingham; Shelburne; Fox-North
◍ What percentage of the mining workforce were under the age of 18?.
Answer: 33%
◍ Who was Pitt's main Whig opposition?.
Answer: Charles James Fox (Part of Fox-North coalition before Pitt came to
power)
◍ What percentage of the total labour force were children?.
Answer: 15% - more than 1,000,000
◍ What happened to each of the 4 ministers before Pitt?.
Answer: North - criticised/shamed out of power for losing the 13
coloniesRockingham - Died in officeShelburne - Fox-North attacked him
out of power for being the 'King's puppet'Portland (Fox-North) - King
dismissed them after the failed 1783 India Bill
◍ Why was Pitt's government nicknamed the 'Mince Pie Administration?'.
Answer: Many people believed his government wouldn't last the 7 days till
1783–1853 CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Why was Britain in a crisis in 1780?.
Answer: - 4 Ministers fell in quick succession (doubts in king)- Britain lost
the 13 colonies (America)- Political instability (may collapse + risks
economy)
◍ How did someone join the House of Commons?.
Answer: Being elected from a borough or city (as a representing MP)
◍ How did someone join the House of Lords?.
Answer: By lineage (of a Lord) / Being born into it
◍ What were the two political 'groupings' in 1715?.
Answer: The Whigs and the Tories (Tory)
◍ What were the main ideas of the Tory group?.
Answer: - Oppose parliamentary reform- Defend the power of the Crown-
Defend the Established Anglican Protestant Church- Support the interest of
the upper class- Strict law and order
◍ What were the main ideas of the Whig group?.
Answer: - Make ministers accountable for their actions- Supported
parliamentary reform- Reduce the power of the Crown- Favoured religious
tolerance- Sympathy for the growing middle class
◍ Why was voting biased/unfair in the 1700s?.
Answer: Only 5% of men could vote by the 1700s, and you could only vote
if you were a male land owner of 40 shillings. The voting system was easily
corrupted - 'rotten boroughs' and 'pocket boroughs'
, ◍ What were rotten boroughs?.
Answer: Place that has lost a significant part of their population, but kept the
same amount of representatives in the government.
◍ What were pocket boroughs?.
Answer: Districts where a wealthy land owner controlled the election of
representatives
◍ In 1833, what percentage of those employed in cotton, wool, flax and silk
factories were estimated to be under the age of 13?.
Answer: 13%
◍ Why is the Bill of Rights (1689) important?.
Answer: It forced the Monarchy to share their power with the parliament,
resulting in a gradual decline in the Monarchy's power until King George III
came to power (1760 - 1820)
◍ Who were the 4 Ministers during 1782-83?.
Answer: North; Rockingham; Shelburne; Fox-North
◍ What percentage of the mining workforce were under the age of 18?.
Answer: 33%
◍ Who was Pitt's main Whig opposition?.
Answer: Charles James Fox (Part of Fox-North coalition before Pitt came to
power)
◍ What percentage of the total labour force were children?.
Answer: 15% - more than 1,000,000
◍ What happened to each of the 4 ministers before Pitt?.
Answer: North - criticised/shamed out of power for losing the 13
coloniesRockingham - Died in officeShelburne - Fox-North attacked him
out of power for being the 'King's puppet'Portland (Fox-North) - King
dismissed them after the failed 1783 India Bill
◍ Why was Pitt's government nicknamed the 'Mince Pie Administration?'.
Answer: Many people believed his government wouldn't last the 7 days till
