pitttttt to peeeel 111111

when was pitt asked by George III to form a gov? (+context)

• 19 December 1783

• Pitt was 24 y.o. , member of parliament for 4 years

what are some drawbacks that Pitt faced when becoming PM?

• his age, very young + inexperienced in political life

• the rest of the cabinet sat in the House of Lords (he was in the Commons which was uncommon)

• in the House of Commons, most of the MPs supported the previous ministry, the Fox-North coalition

(at any time his opponents votes could render Pitt powerless)

why did George III appoint Pitt?

• he disliked the Fox-North coalition

• wanted an able and loyal PM, not the Whigs (liberals) who wanted to dominate him

who wanted to call for an election and why?

• January 1784, George III wrote to Pitt and urged him to call for an election

• he was concerned that it was wrong for Pitt to remain PM

• ^ with only royal backing + without the support of the majority in the HoC

and how did Pitt react?

• the policy of the Whigs was merely to obstruct + belittle the new PM

• so he stood firm, saying that the opposition would not vote against him

(not force him into an election)

what was the Mutiny bill and when was it passed?

• March 1784

• an annual measure to confirm the legality of military discipline

• basically punishing people if they deserted the army

• and improving the payment of the army and their quarters

-meant that they were able to maintain the armed forces - which was crucial in maintaining the country

what was the significance of the passing of the Mutiny Bill?

• it was an annual measure, however if the opposition has managed to defeat it

• it would have shown his lack in his ability to govern

how did Pitt gain the advantage by the March 1784 election?

1. had set out ideas for reform (change was hopeful)

2. appeared to be loyal and patriotic, supporting the King against the selfish Whigs

3. won respect of many powerful MPs in the HoC

4. introduced a bill in 1783 to bolster **increase the representation of independent ‘county’ members

-over the ‘borough’ members (who were often Whig supporters, more controlled by those who ‘owned’ the smaller boroughs)

5. gained respect for his integrity for refusing royal sinecures (lowkey free money no responsibilities)

6. had public recognition

7. confidence of the King

8. expert in gaining support from the owners of rotten boroughs, w/ the small number of electors they had

what did fox do to get defeated ?

• many of Fox's supporters were forced either to withdraw or to make deals with their opponents to avoid electoral defeat

• many pro-Fox MPs who remained opposed to Pitt failed to get elected ("Fox's Martyrs”).

• Fox was seen as an opportunist and radical due to the unpopular Fox-North Coalition, so Pitt had support of the upperclass

what benefits did Pitt get from being supported by the King?

• he could count on the majority in the HoL

• because of the influence of peers linked to George’s personal household

- ^ peers controlled many of

• George III strengthened this by creating new peers

• Bishops in the Church of England w/ the right to vote in the HoL were also on good terms w George III

what was the need to reform finance and administration?

1. influenced by shelburne while he was chancellor of the exchequer, he had ideas about modernising improving finance and government

2. pressure from the country, saw the British defeat in the American war (1776-83) as an indication of weak gov

3. the 18th century Britain was involved in a number of wars - that were becoming more expensive and were using up more tax revenue

4. Britain had just lost the American colonies

5. America had been the largest market for British manufactured goods, reserved for British exporters, and now the new United States was able to trade with anyone

what were some of the reforms that Pitt made?

• India Act, 1784

• Parliamentary Reform

• Finance: dealing w/ Debt

• Finance: Taxation

• Dealing w/ Smuggling

• Administration: Reorganisation of Government

what and when was the India Act?

• East India Company- a private company independent from the British Gov — had its own army and collected its own taxes

• ^ but was very corrupt and the gov general, Hastings from 1774-84, was impeached **put on trial when returned to Britain in 85.

Pitt:

-created a new Board of Control, in an attempt to avoid corruption, w the board appointed by the King (Pitt appointed)

-their job: to “superintend, direct and control”, asserting power of the British over the EIC

-from 1858-1947, India was ruled by the British Govt

what was the Parliamentary reform?

• 1785 - Pitt introduced a Bill to remove the representation of 36 rotten boroughs

• Proposed small extensions of the franchise (the right to vote)

• BUT this was defeated in the HoC and Pitt made no attempt to re-introduce it

what was financial reform, dealing w/ debt?

• National debt doubled to £243 mil during the American war

• every year 1/3 of the budget went to paying it off, so interest rates kept high (6%)

• 1786 - introduced the Sinking Fund, £1 mil a year investing to accumulate interest

• used to pay off National Debt, 1792 it was £170 mil

• but by 1793 Britain was at war with France - killed it off

• also only dealt w/ long term debt not short term (which rose by £7mil 83-93)

what was financial reform, taxation?

• pitt brought in new taxes to increase revenue + reduce debt

• eg. Window Tax (no. windows u had)

• taxes put on luxury items eg. hair powder and carriages

• both were very unpopular - second didn’t raise much revenue

• 1785 - tax in annual sales for shops, but lead to riots

• 1792 - the net income was 47% higher than previous year

• forced to apply an income tax on incomes over £60/ year due to war w/ France in 99

how did Pitt deal with smuggling?

• never had income tax, so tx on imports (duties / tariffs)

• some ppl smuggled goods to avoid paying it (about 20%)

• so Pitt lowered tariffs on items such as tea, wine and spirits

• tea duty: 119% → 25%

• ^ tea trade in china led to expansion of British interests in Asia, compensates for loss of American colonies

• Hovering Act- 1787 extended the duties of Customs officials to 12 miles off shore

how did Pitt reform administration (reorganising the government)?

• knew that some jobs had high salaries but little value (sinecures)

• decided to wait until 180 redundant offices occupants had died/retired and didn’t replace them instead of scrapping it immediately

• 28 offices gone by 1792 , almost all by the time Pitt died

• had 2 effects- 1) boosted governments finances, 2) reduced powers of the monarch in government

• by 1812 patronage system nearly destroyed

how far was Pitt responsible for the financial revival of Britain? (i.e. what’s the opposite angle)

• Increasing tax revenue wasn’t just him – the IndustrialR meant Britain’s economy was growing - so more revenue

• The period 1783-1793 no war, so was less pressure on government expenditure

• Not all were his ideas – some were the ideas of the PAC

• Sinking Fund: OG creator was Richard Price, a financial expert + a version of it had existed in the 1720s and 1730s

-also recommended in 1780 and set up by North

• Some of the reforms were due to other ministers - for example the joining of revenue into 1 fund was Richard Frewin

• The successful expansion of the Navy (33 extra warships) was the civilian controller of the Navy, Sir Charles Middleton

*it was inevitable that Britain would recover after the American War

what was the main issue with Pitt’s reforms?

• he wasn’t radical nor a great reformer

• He was constitutionally conservative

• There was no great “Plan” of reform – it was all “piecemeal”

He made no attempts to change:

- the system of cabinet government

-the CoE (e.g. Catholics and Non-conformists still had fewer rights)

-the powers of the monarch (also known as “the royal prerogative”)

-parties

what was arguably Pitt’s greatest achievement?

• political stability

• 1782-83 was a highly unstable period for Britain – 4 PMs in

• 21 months and that’s not including Pitt!!

-Whereas Pitt remained PM for 18 years: 1783-1801

what were some early reactions to the FR?

• mixed

• whig leader fox+others supported it , thought f was → constitutional monarchy like b

• radical reformers hoped it bring religious tolerance + wider political participation

• many in Britain x like Louis , he supported America in American revolution

• pitt was mainly focused on trade, hoped new French gov would cooperate

• Edmund burke strongly criticised it in reflections (said destroyed stability)

• supporters of it formed reform societies (London corresponding society)

• society of the friends of the people - 1792 by whigs to campaign for parliamentary reform

how did this change Britain?

• people became slightly more active and politically aware

how did unrest increase + what did pitt do in response?

• food shortages and high prices, and harvest in 1791

• paine’s rights of man, which was very influential and supported reform

• pitt introduced ‘seditious publications and meetings’ in 1792

what were people’s reaction to the execution?

• the execution - people were horrified,

• fear of French military power in Britain,

• fear it would encourage revolution in Britain

what about publications, what did people do?

• by 1793, many publications called for political reform

• Thomas paints rights of man, spread ideas of liberty

• American and French revolution encouraged support for reform

• mass meetings, banners and symbols spread radical ideas

what were the radical threats to the gov in 1790s?

1. economic conditions

2. support from the elite

3. war

4. political ideas and organisations

what were the political organisations?

• many were inspired by the French revolution

• most were small-discussion societies led by middle class

• society of the friends of the people supported wider voting rights + reform

• larger ones helped spread radical ideas more widely

how was support from the elite a threat?

• fox still had 50 supporters in HoC , was persuasive speaker

• radicals raised a lot of topics which had potentially large popular appeal

• some discussion on the rights of women

BUT- they were divided, with a lack of clear leadership

most elites backed the government , with support of armed forces

what were the economic threats?

• slum areas had lots of economic hardship

• would regularly fuel mob activity

• bad harvests 1792 caused wheat shortages and higher prices (went from 46 shillings per quarter to 58 shillings)

• rapidly growing population

• unrest due to changes in industry

BUT- mainly confined to mid-years and was not enough to trigger a revolt

how was war a threat?

• brought higher taxes and forced recruitment (impressment)

• economic distress caused by disruption of trade

• successes of Napoleon lead the gov to become more repressive

• naval mutinies at Spithead, wanted better conditions and pay of April and May 1797

BUT- majority of the people opposed revolution and a strong anti-french sentiment

what were the impacts of the fr

1. early reaction

2. radical groups and reform associations

3. conservative response to radicalism

what was the early reaction to the fr?

• pitt was concerned with domestic reforms, wanted to cooer pate w/ new French gov

• not much sympathy for French king from George III and upper class

• Edmund burke offered first opposition to it in ‘reflections’

what were the radical groups and reform associations?

• rise of it, elements of rev thought to come to Britain

• opposition to corrupt political system

• royal family unpopular

• London correspondence society gained 3,000 members in 3 years

• revolutionary society, society of the friends of the people, (wanted universal suffrage to males)

what was the conservative response to radicliams?

• gordon riots, over religious intolerance of catholics, army forced to deal w/ rioter

• 285 deaths and 200 injured , 20 executions

• few clashes between reformers and conservatives

• most successful conservative publication , rights of man (extend right to vote, reform, ending powers of monarchs, etc.)

what were the weaknesses of the threats

• failure to unite, e.g. fox and corresponding societies

• patriotism , war had encourages strong anti-french feels and support for king

• religion,

• minority, most radical activity undertaken by urban craftsmen and not majority of country who still lived in the countryside

• terror, violence and executions were more shocking than inspiring

• propaganda, gov. used it to create panic about revolution

what was the government’s pov of the threats

• threat of invasion as French troops landed in Ireland in 1798, supported a rising there

• problem of maintaining food supplies

• problems with the cost of war and recruiting enough soldiers

• foxite opposition failed to support the gov

• radicals openly supported ideals of Britains enemies

what were corresponding societies?

• radical groups with aims of

• stir public opinion in favour of reform

• educate ordinary people through speeches

• spread democratic propaganda

what were the four main reasons of the failure of radical threat

1. gov. repression (legislations brought in by pitt)

2. economic (when it got better, threat did too)

3. radicals divided (with diff aims / methods)

4. impact of political violence after FR , meant little for support of one in GB

whats some measures that pitt brought in?

• 1794- suspends habeas corpus (so can be put into jail without a trial)

• may 1794- arrests of leading London radicals

• 1797- suppression of naval mutinies through Seduction from Duty and Allegiance Act

• 1799-1800- Combination Acts which prevented workers uniting for higher wages

whats some context to Pitt’s trade reforms?

• Exports fell by 12% in the 1770s – (American War of Independence)

• Pitt has to deal w/ after effects eg. Britain suffered a loss of trade.

• Because there was no income (direct) tax and all taxation was on goods (indirect tax),

• a decline in trade meant a lack of revenue for the Government.

what are the main features of the Eden Treaty?

• 1786

• France reduced duties on oil, wines, spirits

• Britain reduced duties on textiles, pottery

• Either country, while neutral, could carry goods freely during a war in which the other was in

• Britain was free to negotiate cheaper duties with Spain and Portugal for oil, wines and spirits

• because there was no clause limiting British trade solely with France

• the Treaty operated until 1792

what was the Eden treaty?

• the opening up of French market to British manufacturers

• also marked Britain’s move back into the European system of international relations, as France improved

whats some failures of Pitt’s Trade Policies?

• he initially wanted to join w Ireland under a single fiscal unit (so shared taxation)

• but there was opposition in Britain: people feared Irish competition

• in Ireland: political opposition, as financial control would lie w/ B parliament at Westminster, where Ireland was not represented

• so it never happened

final thoughts on Pitt’s trade policies?

• industrial revolution boosted trade anyways

• nothing new to the idea of lowering tariffs, eg. Walpole did it in 1730s

Why did most people support the slave trade?

• The slave trade produced an enormous amount of wealth for Britain

• Some cities e.g. Bristol became very rich, as did individuals

• Many people relied on slavery for income – merchants, sailors, ship builders

What methods did society for the abolition of the slave trade use?

• Wrote/published anti-slavery books, posters and pamphlets

• eg, Equiano published an autobiography (first-known slave narrative)

• Presented petitions to the House of Commons

• Held anti-slavery rallies

• Made anti-slavery medallions, crockery and bronze figures – role of Josiah Wedgwood - pottery featuring a slave in chains with the question:

• Am I not a man and a brother?

what did they achieve?

• The Society educated the public about the horrors of the slave trade

• It achieved abolition of the slave trade in 1807 in the British Empire

• This was enforced by the British Navy

• As a result the USA also banned the slave trade in 1808

• replaced by the Anti-Slavery Society in 1823,

• which worked to abolish the institution of slavery throughout the British empire

• Abolition was passed by parliament in 1833; with emancipation completed by 1838.

whats the significance of Pitt’s ‘failure’ to abolish the slave trade?

• Pitt supported abolition, but could not overcome opposition in Parliament

• During Pitt’s later years, war with France dominated politics

• After his death, reform became more politically achievable

• Pitt laid the groundwork but did not deliver

what happened in 1800?

• Act of Union passed

• ireland joined uk in 1801

Why is the period 1783-1830 considered a bad period for the Whigs?

• were in power briefly (feb 1806-march1807)

• and would have to wait ages until finally forming a gov in nov 1830

strengths and weaknesses of pitt as a leader?

• highly skilled in administration and finance.

• politically effective and remained PM for long periods.

• successfully presented himself as a defender of Parliament during the Regency Crisis.

• able to attract support from moderate Whigs + build a broad coalition government.

weak-

• He lacked the charisma and speaking ability of Fox.

• did little to build personal loyalty or a strong following

• less visionary and idealistic than Fox.

same for fox

• brilliant orator and one of the most striking political personalities of his time.

• He supported reform and defended constitutional ideas and liberty.

• He inspired supporters with his vision and idealism.

weak-

• damaging political decisions, such as joining with former enemy Lord North.

• actions during the Regency Crisis made him appear to support royal power rather than Parliament.

• His support for the French Revolution divided the Whigs and frightened many aristocratic supporters.

• He failed to keep the Whigs united and effective.

why were whigs split from 1782-83?

• after death of Charles Watson-wentworth in 1792

• they were split over whether or not to follow shelburne

• then fox joined a coalition with enemy north,

• which further split them

Why was the 1784 General Election a disaster for the Whigs?

• they were already divided

• unpopular after fox-north coalition

• king decided to appoint pitt who grew in support

• they lost 100 seats meanwhile

What was the Regency Crisis of 1788? Why did this strengthen Pitt and damage Fox?

• happened when George went mad in 1788

• fox wanted prince of Wales to dismiss pitt, pitt took it to parliament

• strengthened pitt as he valued parliament’s view and defend. their constitutional principles

• fox seen as giving power directly to monarchy

Why did the Whigs split over the French Revolution?

• whigs disagreed over if it was good/bad

• e.g. edmund burke opposed it, while fox supported it

• many aristocratic whigs felt alarmed so sided with pitt

• ,leaving fox with only a small no. supporters

Summarise the 5 Whig problems in the 1780s/1790s.

1. fox had bad reputation for being a gambler and womaniser, while his friendship w/ Wales and coalition looked unprincipled

2. pitt seemed more reasonable, appeared logical and to be practical in speeches

3. pitt supported their main ideas of reform (like slave trade or parliamentary reform) so now no longer had a uniqueness

4. some whig policies seemed mistaken, like opposing eden treaty.

5. whigs were divided over fr, and fox seems unpatriotic to oppose the war so lost even more supporters from that