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George III chose Lord North as PM
From 1760 up until this date was ten years of an unstable government as George III could not find anyone that was suitable -
Period: to
How Pitt became PM
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Pitt entered Parliament
Refused to join the North Fox Coalition and joined forces with the King to defeat the India Bill -
Collapse of Lord North's Government
America won its war of independence -
North-Fox Coalition
Lord North, a Tory, formed a coalition with Charles James Fox, a Whig. George III had to accept this becase it had the support of the House of Commons -
Period: to
Pitt's Reforms
Financial:
-Annual Government Revenue increased by £4 million
-Efficiency of tax collection increased
-Government deficit of £12 million in 1780s turned into a surlus of £5 million 10 years later
Administrative:
-Treasury greater control on how government spent its money
-More efficient administration, less confusion
Trade:
-The value of Britain's imports doubled to £20 million between 1783-90, this increased revenues
-Exports from £12.5million in 1782 to £20million 1790 -
North-Fox Coalition dismissed by George III
George III claimed it did not have the support of the House of Commons -
Pitt won more support
Until March 1784. He had support of George and a reputation of a reformer and someone who acted with national interst -
Pitt asked by George III to form a minority government
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The King called a General Election
George III justified this by saying the Fox-North opposition threatened the stable government and challenged the right fot the king to choose the ministers he wanted. This was unconstitutional and contraversial. -
Pitt Won the 1784 Election
Pitt: 315
North-Fox: 213
Independents: 30
Pitt had a majority and many supporters, the King, supporters of a strong stable government and supporters of administrative reform. -
Pitt Reduced Smuggling
-Smiggling was made less profitable and more risky
-The authorities were given more power to search cargoes
-Import duties on tea (from 119% to 25%), wine, spirit and tobacco were reduced -
Pitt Introduced unsuccessful taxes
-Luxury good taxes were succesful, horses, gloves, hair power and ribbons, etc.
-Window, coal, linen and cotton tax were all withdrawn due to unpopularity and economic implications -
The East India Act 1784 was passed
-This gave joint control of India by the East India Company and a comittee that sat in London and was answerable by Paliament
-Trade improved with the East -
The Sinking Fund was reformed
-Annual sums were paid into this to reduce national debt, but ministers raided it for their own reasons
-Pitt Put it under control of 6 commissioners- this restored national confidence
-Worked well until war with France in 1793 -
Sinecure and Placemen were not replaced after death
-This was effective in the space of 20 years
-However, Pitt could not act radically as there would have been widespread opposition -
Treasury Commission of Audit created
-This oversaw public expenditature
-The Board of Taxes was reinforced by staff transfers from the Treasury and the Excise Board -
Navigation Acts were introduced
-These protected British shipping from foreign competition
-Imports and exports between GB and USA had to be carried by British ships
-By 1787 British exports to America returned to levels achieved in the early 1770s -
The Central Stationery Office was set up
-This ensured economies in the supply of stationary to departments
-Naval spending was tightened under Sir Charles Middleton
People with talent were promoted and encouraged ti use theiir talent to develop administrative policies -
The Consolidated Fund Act 1787
-Meant most revenue collected was paid into a single treasury fund account
-Governments had to bid for money from this central fund -
Revolutionary Society established
-Dominated by middle class dissenters -
Period: to
Radical Challege to Pitt
-Less than 200 convictions, showed people's fear of the government
-legislation intimidated, harrassed, destroyed the leadership and frightened the supporters -
French Revolution
-Initially welcommed by many in Britain
-Believed it would lead to reform in Britain
-Roused British reformers into action -
Intellectual Debate 1790
There were intellectual debates arguing about the rights of the people, for and against democracy -
LCS Formed
-Led by Thomas Hardy
-Discussed poverty and inflation
-Adopted a political programme to address the grievances: Universal Male Suffrage, anually elected parliaments redistribution of rotten boroughs to large towns -
Sheffield Society for Constitutional information formed
-Had 2,500 members in a few months -
Manchester Constitutional Society formed
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Loyalist Associations Emerged
-This was a response to the Dissenter campaign
-Petitions were made expressing loyalty to the King and the current system -
The Loyalsts Fight Back 1792
-The Association for Prserving Liberty and Property against Republicans and Levellers (APLP) circulated popularity written anti-radical pamphlets to ensure loyalty of the laboring population
-This put pressure on radical writers and the government took steps to control the radical publishing -
Royal Proclamations against seditious writing
-This gave the home office more power to monitor the activities of the radical societies, they could use spies and open letters -
War with France
-Patriotic reaction
-British revolutionaries were seen as being 'French'
-Fewer radical pamphlets published -
Economic Depression
-Widespread unemployment
-War interupted trade and placed an increasing tax burden on the middle and working classes
-Econom distress reached critical levels in 1795-6 when food prices were high, taxes high and wages low -
Radical Demands for reform
-Dissenters, Protestants who refused to conform with the Catholic Church, began a campaign against the Test and Corporation Acts
-These Acts prevented them from holding public office -
LCS membership 3,000
-Patriotic reaction did not last long -
Habeas Corpus Suspended until July 1795
Only a few Imprisoned without charge -
Leaders of LCS arrested
-41 men including Thomas Hardy arrested and charged with high treason
-The trials were abandoned
-This acted as a deterrent -
Treasonable Practices Act 1795
-Intimidated
-Gave wider powers to local and central governments -
Seditious Meetings Act 1795
-Made members of organisations question what they were doing
-Alienated prospective members -
LCS membersip 2,000
Due to government repression -
LCS membership 600
Due to government repression -
The Unlawful Oaths Act 1797
-Strengthened penalties against radicals
-1 person prosecuted
-Deterrent -
Habeas Corpus Suspended until March 1801
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LCS membership when banned 400
Most were middle and proffessional classes -
The Combinations Acts 1799 and 1801
-This banned radical organisations all together
-Driven completely underground