4. Foreign affairs in the 18th century. Building the Empire

What marked the establishment of Britain’s first colonial empire?

• Wars with France

• Britain became a maritime, trading, and financial superpower

• British government system and financial institutions evolved

What was the role of the Whig parliament during this period?

• They supported wars to keep markets open for English commerce

• Worked with wealthy City merchants to pass key laws, including the Act of Settlement

• Dominated government after the Glorious Revolution and the Hanoverian succession

What led to the subjugation of Ireland?

• James II's rising, assisted by France, was defeated by William at the Battle of Boyne (1690)

• Resulted in the confiscation of Irish lands, making Ireland an English colony

How did William’s foreign policy impact Europe?

• Aimed to protect Holland and maintain a balance of power in Europe

• Britain took the lead in European politics after the War of Spanish Succession

• 1707: Union of Scotland and England was signed, creating Great Britain

How did the Age of Walpole influence British politics?

• The House of Hanover restored the power of the Whigs

• Walpole served as the first Prime Minister, stabilizing the country and avoiding foreign wars for 20 years

What caused the Jacobite Rebellions?

• The desire to reinstate the Stuart monarchy

• Both uprisings in 1715 and 1745 were unsuccessful, leading to destruction of the clan system in Scotland

What sparked colonial rivalries between Britain and France?

• Competition in North America and India

• Britain sought to expel France from these regions, with significant military success

What was the significance of William Pitt the Elder’s leadership?

• Led Britain during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763)

• Britain gained vast territories from France, establishing the First British Empire

What challenges did George III face in restoring the powers of the monarchy?

• Tensions with Parliament and mismanagement led to the disruption of the empire

• The American War of Independence (1775-1783) ended with the recognition of American independence

How did the French Revolution impact Britain?

• The French Revolution (1789) led to a split in the Whig party

• Most Whigs feared “Jacobinism” and joined Pitt’s government, while radicals supported the American cause

How did Britain initially respond to the French Revolution?

Pursued a policy of non-intervention, but declared war on France in 1793 when the balance of power was threatened

vHow did Britain maintain naval supremacy during the Napoleonic Wars?

Nelson’s victories at the Battle of the Nile (1798) and Trafalgar (1805) secured British dominance at sea

What was the role of the Peninsular War (1808-1814) in the Napoleonic Wars?

• Britain, led by General Wellington, fought in Spain, weakening Napoleon’s forces

• The war kept Napoleon on the defensive, delaying his conquest of Europe

How did Napoleon’s defeat in 1814 impact Europe?

• Britain’s allies defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig (1813)

• In 1814, Wellington entered France, leading to Napoleon’s exile to Elba

What was the outcome of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)?

• European powers divided the spoils of victory after Napoleon’s defeat

• The “Holy Alliance” (Austria, Russia, and Prussia) led to a period of reaction and despotism in Europe

How did Britain emerge from the Napoleonic Wars?

• Britain became the world’s leading colonial power

• Expanded its empire, acquiring territories like Ceylon, the Cape of Good Hope, and Malta

What were the long-term consequences of Britain’s victories?

• Britain became the "workshop of the world" with growing industrial and colonial dominance

• The foundation of Britain’s second empire was laid, as they expanded their global reach

subjugation with Ireland

• irenald was not accepting William as king

• IR lost, became colony of BR

• Battle of Boyne - William defeated Jocabite amry, saved EU from FR rulling

Wiliam III

• wanted to keep EU save from being too powerful

• supported by whig parliament

• after was of Ausberg and Spanish succesion → BR took leanig role in EU and laid foundation for Emipre

1701

Union of Scotanld and ENG

Union of Scotanld and ENG

signed bc SC wanted to use financial benefits of ENG → beggining of GB

act of settlement

it settled the succession of Hannoverian kings to the thorne, if queen Anne dies without children

Robert Walpoe

• the first BR prime minister

• govermend BR through House of commons

7 years war

• a conflict between Fr and Br over their colonies in North America and India

• sided with Prussia

• won

• the first established BR empire

war of independence

• 1775

• fight over br colonies in N AM

• br lost, had to give up their colonies → disolved empire

1800

Union of Ireland and BRitain

Battle of Trafalgar

this victory made BR naval supremacy, seas belonged to BR

BR and FR at war, wanted to stop Napoleon from taking over EU

Peninsular war

BR (gen. Wellington) lehping Sp to win their colonies back from FR

1813 - Napoleon lost

Congress of vienna

allies meeting

decided whos land in whose

interrupted by Napoleon