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George I
After Queen Anne's death, George I of the Hanover House succeeded her.
He didn't speak English and spent most of his reign in Hanover. This is why he had to rely upon a cabinet, a council of ministers. -
Period: to
Period of peace and stability
Under George I, England went through a period of peace and stability during which political debate, circulation of ideas, coffee houses and journalism began to rise.
This period is known as the Augustan Age or the Age of Reason.
Women started to have a more central role and began to take part in the debates on the great issues of the day. -
Prime Minister sir Robert Walpole
Parliament was still divided into Tories and Whigs, and among the Whig party, sir Robert Walpole drew attention and became Prime Minister (PM).
His anti-war government lasted 20 years. He opposed military expenses, promoted trade, and managed to reduce land taxes although he was accused of corruption by his opponents. -
Downing Street
Sir Robert Walpole was awarded a townhouse at 10 Downing Street, the same house where the British Prime Minister live today. -
George II
George II succeeded his father, and a period of wars and changes started. -
War of the Austrian Succession
In 1739 the War of the Austrian Succession broke out. This conflict was between Austria and Prussia but involved all of Europe. -
The Jacobite Rebellion
In 1745 Charles Edward Stuart, known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie", raised a rebellion in Scotland to reclaim the throne.
He and his supporters were defeated in 1746, and he escaped to France.
It was called the Jacobite rebellion because its aim was to restore the legitimate heir of James II, which name comes from the Latin Jacobus (Giacomo). -
William Pitt became Prime Minister
In 1756 William Pitt became Prime Minister. He carried out a foreign policy based on mercantilism and aimed to maintain a favourable balance of power in Europe.
The middle class was rising and trying to expand its profits worldwide. -
The Seven Years' War
In 1756 another war broke out, the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). It was considered as the first "world war" because it was fought in three continents. On the one hand, there were Britain and Prussia, while on the other, there was an alliance between France, Austria, Russia, Spain and others.
The war was even fought in North America, Canada and India. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the war, and France gave up a lot of territories that became British:
-Senegal in Africa
-Canada and the territories East of the Mississippi River in North America
-some islands in the Caribbean
-Bengal became an East India Company stronghold. -
Foundations of the British Empire
The new territories gained with the Treaty of Paris marked the foundations of the British Empire.