Term
| After the loss of the American colonies, what happened to [G3]? |
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Definition
| He faced the most serious political crisis of his reign, and Lord North (who he favoured) resigned. |
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Term
| What was [G3] forced to accept after Lord North's resignation as PM? |
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Definition
| A Whig ministry led by Lord Rockingham, whom he disliked, but was capable of holding a majority in HOC. |
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Term
| When Lord Rockingham died unexpectedly, who took his place? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why was his political motivates distrusted? |
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Definition
| He had a close friendship with [G3]. |
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Term
| In agreement with Shelburne, who did [G3] appoint to Chancellor of the Exchequer? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why was Shelburne's ministry short-lived? |
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Definition
| Two opposing factions, Lord North and Charles James Fox, collaborated to bring him down. |
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Term
| What was he forced to accept after Shelburne's ministry was brought down? |
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Definition
| A coalition between Charles James Fox and Lord North. |
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Term
| Why did [G3] refuse to contemplate the Rockingham Whigs, despite their majority in HOC? |
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Definition
| They wanted to lower the power that the Monarchy had. |
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Term
| Why could [G3] not contemplate the Shelburne Whigs, despite supporting his position? |
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Definition
| They did not have enough of a majority to hold together a government. |
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Term
| Why did [G3] not contemplate Lord North? |
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Definition
| Would never forgive him for his betrayal. |
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Term
| Why did [G3] contemplate Pitt? |
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Definition
| Made a strong impression in [P] as COE through his debating skills; regarded as honest. Could also keep the ambitious Fox out of office. |
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Term
| How did [G3] dismiss Fox and North? |
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Definition
| Fox's India Bill (Nov 1783). Passed in HOC, where Fox had support, [G3] threatened peers and defeated in HOL - thereafter dismissing them. |
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Term
| Why was dismissing Fox and North significant? |
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Definition
| [G3] successfully asserted royal power, undermining democracy. |
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Term
| Why was Pitt's administration called the 'mince-pie administration'? |
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Definition
| Pitt announced he had accepted office as PM from King in (Dec 1783), predicted it wouldn't survive beyond Christmas. |
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Term
| Issues with Pitt as PM initially? |
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Definition
| Pitt had no following in HOC ∴ no HOC member would serve in his Cabinet, which he then made up of peers from HOL. |
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Term
| Why was having no support in HOC such an issue? |
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Definition
| Almost impossible to pass any measures through Parliament. |
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Term
| What did [G3] ignoring the convention of inviting the majority under Fox lead to? |
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Definition
| Fox was furious and had outspoken condemnation of the King - which led to Fox losing vital support. |
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Term
| How did Pitt survive calls for his resignation thereafter? |
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Definition
| He had firm support from [G3], his own personal ambition, and as Fox gradually upset his own supporters. |
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Term
| When was the Fox-North coalition defeated? |
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Definition
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Term
| When was Pitt appointed Prime Minister by the King? |
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Definition
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Term
| When Pitt believed there was a 'single vote' between them, what did he do? |
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Definition
| Ask the King to call a general election, which occurred in (March 1784) |
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Term
| Why could it be argued that the King was pushing the boundaries of a constitutional monarchy? |
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Definition
| Parliaments ran for seven years under the Septennial Act (1716), whilst [G3] was dissolving it after three so that his chosen minister could gain a majority. |
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Term
| How did the King and Pitt prepare for the election? |
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Definition
| King exercised influence in government controlled boroughs; Pitt used his sizable election fund from the King. |
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Term
| How many seats did Fox lose? |
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Definition
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Term
| What was the overall result of the 1784 election? |
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Definition
| Given Pitt a vote of confidence and a large majority in the Commons. |
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Term
| Where did Pitt draw support from? |
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Definition
| Whigs who supported his father, moderate Tories, and politicians know as 'King's Friends' whose votes depended on the King's wishes. |
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Term
| How did the King utilise patronage following the election? |
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Definition
| Created new peers in the Lords from the wealthy merchant class in the City, which overwhelmed the old Whig aristocracy & ensured support from the HOL. |
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Term
| What was the result of the 1874 election for Charles James Fox? |
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Definition
| Charles James Fox became emerged as the leader of the Rockingham Whigs and thus became a more cohesive group; standing in opposition to the incumbent government. |
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Term
| What were the pressing issues that Pitt had to deal with once he firmly had the majority? |
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Definition
| Financial impact of the war over the American colonies, to control the spiraling National Debt, and to restore confidence in the government. |
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Term
| When did the expensive war against the American colonies end? (American Revolutionary War) |
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Definition
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Term
| As a result of the American Revolutionary War, how high did the National Debt reach? |
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Definition
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Term
| What was the annual interest payments on this debt? |
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Definition
| £8 million (but didn't reduce the debt) |
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Term
| How did Pitt intend to tackle this debt? |
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Definition
| A reformed and effectively managed Sinking, into which he paid £1 million a year from taxation. |
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Term
| To what extent was the Sinking Fund a success? |
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Definition
| Successful as a peacetime policy; cutting debt by £10 million and restoring national confidence, but failed as a war-time policy. |
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Term
| What trade policy was Pitt interested in adhering to? |
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Definition
| Free Trade - believing it would boost the economy. |
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Term
| Who was Pitt a follower of? |
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Definition
| Adam Smith, utilising his theories of Free Trade by reducing heavy customs duties. |
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Term
| What did Pitt believe to restrict the development of trade and industry? |
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Definition
| An outdated system of tariffs, which was the tax on import and export of goods. |
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Term
| What was the tariff system based on? |
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Definition
| Based on mercantilism, the government's duty to regulate trade as to maximise economic activity. |
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Term
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Definition
| An economic policy whereby the government allows a free exchange of commodities without imposing tariffs. |
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Term
| How much of government revenue came from taxes on commodities? |
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Definition
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Term
| What was the negative consequences of these tariffs? |
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Definition
| Smuggling flourished as a means to bypass them; reducing government revenue. |
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Term
| How did the loss of the American colonies impact on British trade? |
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Definition
| Lost beneficial trading rights. |
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Term
| Through which Act did Pitt lower, simplify or remove complex tariffs on commodities? |
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Definition
| Consolidation Act of 1787 |
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Term
| What also changed with regards to tariffs? |
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Definition
| Goods would only qualify for one tax rather than several. |
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Term
| What was used to know the tariffs? |
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Definition
| A Book of Rates published the rate of duty for each item. |
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Term
| Overall, what did these tariff reforms do? |
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Definition
| Made collection of taxes easier and more efficient. |
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Term
| How was smuggling made less lucrative? |
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Definition
| High tax on tea, wine and tobacco reduced. Alongside Pitt's Hovering Act. |
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Term
| What was the Hovering Act? |
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Definition
| Enabled authorities to confiscate ships carrying smuggled goods within four miles of the shore. |
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Term
| What did the Excise Bill do? |
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Definition
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