Pitt the Younger
3.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
- Created by: lydiax
- Created on: 11-06-17 16:43
Support from George III
- The King disliked the Whig coalition between Fox and North
- Surprising because Pitt was only 24, had only been an MP for 4 years/Chancellor for 9 months
- Pitt was the son of one of the most famous statesmen of the 18th century
- Pitt had no real popular following or the support of MP's
- Pitt lacked charm and persusion
- King wanted an able and loyal PM - unlike Whigs who wanted to dominate him
- Pitt was young and inexperienced
- "A kingdom trusted to a schoolboys care."
- King had confidence in him though people believed he would have a 'mince pie ministry'
- King was concerned Pitt only had royal backing so urged an election in 1784
- Pitt was a good speaker so MP's warmed to him
- Pitt gained public recognition
- King created new peers to support Pitt
- Pitt rewarded supporters with royal patronage
1 of 7
1784 election
- Election campaign was hard fought
- Patronage from East India Company - the company disliked Fox's attempts to regulate it and so supported Pitt
- Influence of royal agents in Parliament support Pitt
- Pitt attracted those who favoured reform - known for his reform objectives
- Pitt was careful to keep the King's confidence
- By 1784, Pitt had support from the Commons, Lords and King which he needed to govern
2 of 7
Finance and Administration reforms
- Income tax rose sharply from 1783-1800 than at any other time in the 18th century
- Pitt became first British PM to introduce income tax on all yearly incomes over £60
- Majority of wartime expenditure during conflict with France was raised from tax
- 'Virtuous economics' - Boyd Hilton
- Many taxes only affected the rich
- Pitt's policies were not original
- Trade and economic activity in Britain resulted in more income
- Sinking fund only worked with long-term debt and in peacetime
- Standards and morality of public life improved
- Reforms were done slowly
- Limits to the desire for change
- Patronage not abolished until much later
3 of 7
Trade Policies
- One of the most innovative elements of his administration
- Recognised that Britain needed to expand its overseas trade
- Trade deals could build alliances and prevent costly conflicts
- Overseas trade - crucial importance for Britain
- Trade was profitable an had earned Britain great fortunes
- It was deemed that if nations traded without restriction then economic activity would grow
- Pitt aimed to reduce trade duties with the US and Ireland
- Pitt wanted commercial treaties with European powers such as Spain, Portugal, France and Russia
- Most successful trade treaty was with France in 1786 - Britain offered low duties on imports of wines
- Between 1783 and 1792, the value of British trade to Europe nearly doubled
- Period of peace between 1783 and 1793 and British products were produced more cheaply
4 of 7
Impact of French Revolution
- British reactions in the early stages of the Revolution were mixed
- French King - unpopular with George III, not much sympathy for him
- Pitt was more concerned with domestic reforms - hoped a new French gov't might co-operate with Britain over trade
- Opinion among the British political elite hardened against the French Revolution
- Those organisations sympathetic to events in France began organising themselves
- The Society of the Friends of the People - 1792, set up by Whig politicians who favoured reform
- Reform organisations spread to many towns though there was much division and many had different aims
- More property owners favoured Pitt over Fox
- British politics had become extremely divided
5 of 7
Radical threat & Pitt's response
- In the 18th century there was popular unrest and armed threats
- London - mob activity and rioting
- There was opposition to a corrupt, unreformed political system
- Political organisations were growing
- Economic conditions caused unrest
- There was support of revolution by political elite
- The royal family was unpopular
- Landed gentlemen pressured for the reform of parliament
- Whig reformers (Fox and Sheridan) wanted to increase influence of the people/reduce influence of the King
- Pitt favoured some reform of parliament
- Early radicals inspired by events of French Revolution
- Organisations led by educated middle-class aristocrats
- London Corresponding Society campaigned for: restoration of common land, shorter factory hours, lower tax, better healthcare and education
- Naval mutinies at Nottingham and Spithead
- No united group so gov't repressive measures could weaken them more easily
- The government did not have a professional police force to enforce its powers
- Radicalism was much stronger during economic hardship rather than in peacetime
6 of 7
Whig Opposition
- Whig opposition was divided
- French Revolution divided the Whigs even more
- Whig aristocrats became more worried as the revolution became more radical
- Fox had a bad reputation
- The French Revolution revealed the gaps between the Whigs (particularly Fox and the aristocrats)
7 of 7
Related discussions on The Student Room
- aqa english lit - paper 1/2 confusion »
- For modern history, is Oxford or Cambridge better? »
- Can someone give me feedback on my essay please? »
- English Literature Papers »
- HELP! GCSE English Literature — essay types »
- Free things to do in London - Art Galleries and Exhibitions »
- OCR English Lit A Level Contextual Comparative Study 2021/2022 »
- History dissertation »
- hey, I am new »
- Just Chatting »
Similar History resources:
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
3.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
4.5 / 5 based on 6 ratings
Comments
Report