Britain at Mid-Century - Study Notes

Global Expansion - Why Britain became a global power in the 1700s

1. Geography: Island nation with a strong sea-faring tradition; led to global settlements.
2. Success in War: Gained Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and slave trade rights via the Treaty of Utrecht ($1713$). The Treaty of Paris ($1763$) ended the Seven Years' War, consolidating British power and expanding the British East India Company's influence.
3. Favorable Business Climate: Fewer trade restrictions and supportive aristocratic investment.
4. Union with Scotland: The Act of Union ($1707$) unified Scotland with England, forming Great Britain.
5. Ireland: Implantation began in the $1600s$, involving repression of Catholics.

Growth of Constitutional Government

• Constitutional government: Power defined and limited by law, leading to a decline in monarchical power.
• Political parties: Whigs (favored constitutional limits, commerce, reform) and Tories (traditionalist, landed interests).
• Cabinet system: Developed when George I from Germany took the throne in $1714$, leading to organized political groups and collective decision-making.

Empire and Global Context

• Britain's naval strength, colonial holdings (North America, Caribbean, India), and commercial ventures fueled imperial expansion.

Vocabulary

• constitutional government
• prime minister

Key Dates

• $1707$: Act of Union with Scotland
• $1713$: Treaty of Utrecht
• $1714$: Accession of George I; cabinet system development
• $1763$: Treaty of Paris ends Seven Years' War

Implications

• The shift towards constitutional limits and parliamentary democracy laid groundwork for modern governance, empire management, and economic policy.