Part One: Section 1: Pressure for Change, c1783-1812

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  • Pressure For Change, c1783 -1832
    • The British Political System c1783
      • Government and Representation
        • A Constitutional Monarchy with a royal figure head with limited power and a House of Parliament.
        • House of Lords, unelected peers with more political influence.
        • House of Commons, elected MPs some positioned through patronage and bibery
        • The Franchise was small and the requirements were not uniform and depended on the borough.
        • Industrial towns were still unrepresented compared to the countryside and the counties due to the influence of landowners.
      • Democracy
        • Elections were held every 7 years to create a more stable government.
        • The landed classes dominated administration in the towns and  counties.
        • Patronage was often used to win seats. It was also used by the Lord Lieutenant to appoint Justices of the Peace. To maintain law and order.
        • Bribery and Corrupt was still a huge issue at election as landowners could buy a seat through pocket or rotten boroughs.
      • The Political Parties
        • Whigs
          • Coming into decline after a long period in power.
          • Believe political power comes from the people and not the king. They also believe in religious tolerance.
        • Tories
          • Rising party in this period. More traditional, support the church and the monarchy.
        • Parties were not as uniform as they are now. most MPs were independent
    • Government: Pitt the Younger and his Successors
      • Pitt and the King
        • The King appointed Pitt as PM because Lord North has resigned and he didn't like the other option of Fox.
        • Though Pitt didn't have a majority, he gained support from the king.
        • 1784 election was used to gain support because they thought it was a mince-pie administration
      • Pitt's Reforms
        • Finance and Trade
          • Sinking Fund put money aside to reduce the National Debt.
          • Free Trade was adopted as a policy. This reduced tariffs on some items and the remaining taxes were made more efficient.
          • Hovering Act allowed ships to be searched before the shore to check for smuggled goods.
          • The reduction in duties was combated with increase in indirect taxes on luxuries that only the wealthy had to pay.
          • Trade treaties were reached with France to reduce duties and increase trade between the countries.
          • The Finance and Trade reforms meant the increase in government revenue and import and export doubled in value. As well as restoring public confidence and strength.
        • Administration
          • Abolition of Sinecure offices after the holder's death reduced spending.
          • He devised a new budgeting system to reduce expenditure. A Consolidation Fund was set up to keep account of government revenue and spending.
          • The changes in administration meant it was more efficient and cut excess expenditure.
          • Audit Office was set up to oversee expenditure and curb corruption. there was also a stationary department and abolished free post as well as reorganising the Cabinet.
        • The Finance and Trade reforms meant the increase in government revenue and import and export doubled in value. As well as restoring public confidence and strength.
        • The changes in administration meant it was more efficient and cut excess expenditure.
      • Pitt's Successors
        • Lord Grenville 1806-1807
        • Duke of Portland 1807-1809
        • Henry Addington 1801-1804
        • Spencer Perceval 1809-1812
    • Political Pressures on Government
      • Irish Rebellions and Union
        • Encouraged by the changes in France,the Catholics wanted reform. So the United Irishmen formed in 1791.
        • Pitt won over some of the Catholics with the Catholic Relief Act in 1793. But failed to put Catholic Emancipation.
        • The Act of Union in 1800 was meant to bring advantages for Ireland but only protestants saw the rewards by advancing in Government
        • Pitt resigned because the King would give Catholics relief or seats in Parliament.
      • Radicalism, Opposition  and Demand for Reform
        • Tom Paine was a inspiration for many radical groups in 1790s called Popular Radicalism.
        • Whigs were split over the French Revolution some favoring reform and others that feared the French Revolution coming to Britain moved over to support Pitt.
        • Pitt was seen to have restrict liberties and going against British ideas. so there was opposition in Government to his repressive actions.
        • Parliamentary Reform was called for because of the underrepresention  in the north and the corruption from rotten boroughs.
        • though there wasn't a lot of radical action, there were still food riots and industrial disputes in times of hardship.like the Luddites.
      • Influence of the French Revolution
        • The French Revolution made British politics revival and made a case for reform for the middle class and radicals.
        • But the events made people oppose radical action and lead to repressive action by the government.
        • Many people at the start thought it was a victory for Democracy and religious tolerance.
        • However, this led to a call for reform, like universal male suffrage and change to the aristocracy.
        • Pitt banned seditious writing in 1792, then habeas corpus was suspended in 1794.
        • Agents provocateurs were used to rat out radical leaders. Treasonable Practices, Meetings and Aliens Acts all curbed radicalism.
        • These events divided the Whig party and this disintegration meant the ascendance of the Tories Party for this period
    • Social Developments
      • Changing Class Structure
        • The emerging middle class was made up of well off merchants, tradesmen and professionals.This new wealth meant people aspired through hard work to reach these goals.
        • There was now a difference between groups of laborers depending on their employment.  Urban workers were more likely to be laid off but they got better wages and some skilled workers had Friendly Societies.
          • However Rural workers had higher rents and other payments but had more security in their jobs as well as poor relief if needed.
        • Social divisions between rural and urban was based around political rights.  so the ruling classes were being questioned by the new emerging classes.
        • The landed classes hadn't seen much change because they were not involve in the changing urban areas but they had gained wealth through enclosure.
      • Working and Living Conditions
        • Working conditions were seen as worse in the factories. it was a dangerous place with frequent incidents and the tasks meant children having to go under and around unguarded machines.
        • There was little comfort in the factories and the humid temperature meant disease spend easily and respiratory problems.
        • There was more food and goods available to buy but the variability in wages and conditions meant the actual value of a wage changed.
        • Some machine put skilled worker out of a job, like the Cartwright's power loom.
        • The war with France and ill planned building of towns meant a decline of living standards.
      • Combination Acts of 1799 and 1800
        • The Combination Act of 1799 banned strike Act from trade societies and clubs, the predecessors to trade unions.
        • This took away the right to persuade owners to change wages or conditions.
        • There was later a combination act in 1800 for masters, that stopped them combining against their workforces.
    • Wartime Pressures on Government
      • The Impact of the War 1802-1812
        • the Treaty of Amiens was signed in 1802 but war resumed with France in 1803.
        • There were some successful PMs but none were able to bring the war to an end.
        • Britain had to form coalitions with lots of other countries trying to fight Napoleon leading to large subsides only leading to it breaking down.
        • From 1806,Britain and France were using economic warfare because they were in deadlock. The continental system was damaging to the British Economy.
        • There were errors in the system so Britain would retain trade while maintaining naval dominance.
        • Britain did suffer a huge economic collapse in 1810. Britain was able to recover partly because of the industrial growth and the economic system's strength. But this led to starvation and distress for the working classes.
        • There was not enough of a voice for the working classes and the radical groups were not active enough to get any reform.
          • The condition of Britain in 1812
            • Government Policy was still repressive so people had no political voice.
            • The war had been going on for 20 years that the economy hadn't recovered and the war wasn't over yet.
            • Poverty was evident in towns and the countryside.due to distress and starvation.
            • However the war had not effected Britain's production in monopolized goods so Britain still had a good income.
            • Radicalism was on the rise due to this hardships and because of it's importance the landed classes are now starting commercial and manufacturing interests.
            • There was now a politicised working class and this would mean lots of political, social and economic changes after the war.
      • The condition of Britain in 1812
        • Government Policy was still repressive so people had no political voice.
        • The war had been going on for 20 years that the economy hadn't recovered and the war wasn't over yet.
        • Poverty was evident in towns and the countryside.due to distress and starvation.
        • However the war had not effected Britain's production in monopolized goods so Britain still had a good income.
        • Radicalism was on the rise due to this hardships and because of it's importance the landed classes are now starting commercial and manufacturing interests.
        • There was now a politicised working class and this would mean lots of political, social and economic changes after the war.
    • Economic Development
      • Industrialisation
        • The Industrial Revolution was defined from the around 1780 to late 18 hundreds. the start is given as 1780 because of the sharp increase of imports and exports but developments were being made before this point.
        • These changes in industry had far reaching effects on the whole of the British economy and society.
        • There were lots of pre-existing industries in Britain that were small and varied which grow during this period.
        • Population growth was a huge factor in change was there was now a huge domestic market and a large work force.
        • Shipbuilding and working with overseas markets meant there were lots of trade opportunity in noncompetitive markets as well as bringing in it's own income.
        • There were other factors for growth like; development of trade, availability of Capital, access to raw materials, improvements in agriculture, political stability, scientific and technological invention and the free movement of people.
      • Growth of Cotton and other Industries
        • Wool and linen had be a cottage industry but was mechanised to cotton due the high demand as the population grew. This was done by the Spinning Jenny which meant the rise of cotton factories.
        • The Spinning Jenny was later crossed a water frame to make the Mule. This with the abundance of raw cotton this mechanisation a great success.
        • Because of the water mills, the demand for Iron rose. so Iron production rose and industrialised to make it better quality and efficient.
        • Coal also had to increase production so the iron smelting could take place. so both industries were depend on this fuel.
        • As these industries developed, the modes of transport were not sufficient to keep up with trade, so the canals were made to transport raw materials to the factories and take the manufactured goods to market.
      • Change in Power
        • Water was used at the start of textile development but this meant the factories had to be build near a source, rivers and streams.
        • The Steam Engine was created by James Watt and this replaced water for mills.
        • Steam was also used in the mines and forges so coal and iron was cheaper and meant more industries could develop. Steam was also used on the canals too.
      • Agriculture
        • The proportion of workers on the land had decreased as industry expanded.
        • Farming had to become more efficient due to the workforce and the population growth.
        • Enclosure and crop rotation were introduced, it was expensive but made improvements as to the quality of farming and food.
        • Mechanical improvement like the seed drill, horse-drawn *** and the lighter-weight plough.

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