Pitt 1783-1801

Pitt 1783-1801

Dominated Politics 1783-1793
1. Royal Support
  1. Former ministries such as North's, Rockingham, Shelbourne, and Portland all failed.
  2. Charles Fox made many mistakes and was hated by King Geroge
  3. Pitt had proven from a young age that he was capable.
2. The 1784 Election
  1. Pitt asked the King to dissolve the government as some had asked for his dismissal.
  2. Pitt was re-elected and proved he wasn't a cipher for the King.
3. National Revival 1783-1793
  1. In 1783 Britain was £238 Million in debt
  2. Admin Reforms
    1. Hovering Act 1784 - Allowed forces to search ships up to 12 miles out to sea. Helped reduce smuggling.
    2. Sinking Fund - This was a device to accumulate money in order to pay off national debt.
    3. Navy Comptroller Improvements were made to naval administrations and tightened naval spending.
    4. Treasury Commission of Audit 1785 - This was set up to oversee public expenditure.
    5. Sinecures and Placemen - Pitt allowed these posts to lapse over time. When occupants of the patronage posts died, they were not replaced, hence saving money.
    6. Commutation Act 1784 - Reduced import duty on tea from 119% to 25% to increase revenues on legitimate sales of tea.
    7. Consolidated Fund Act 1787 - Introduced in 1787. Simplified tax collection procedures and did away with 103 Exchequer revenue accounts.
  3. Trade Reforms
    1. Hovering Act 1784 Allowed forces to search ships up to four leagues out to sea to help reduce smuggling
    2. Commutation Act 1784 Reduced import duty on items which attracted smuggling
    3. East India Act Set up a Board of Control to monitor the company and this meant that their taxes would be paid to Britain.
    4. American Trading Rules Imported and exported goods between Britain and America had to be transported in British ships.
    5. Eden Treaty 1786 Signed with France and established freedom of trade and navigation between Britain and France.
  4. Financial Reforms
    1. Window Tax - A new scale introduced meaning that larger properties would have to pay more as they had more windows
    2. Bleachers, Printers and Dryers tax 1784 - £2 a year tax for licenses to trade. Was abandoned in the face of opposition
    3. Candle Tax - Halfpenny tax introduced on this common item
    4. Treasury Commission of Audit 1785 - Set up to oversee public expenditure
    5. Taxes of Luxury Items Horses used for pleasure, women's ribbons, men's hats
    6. Coal Tax Withdrawn due to opposition
Challenge Of The French Revolution 1789-1801
1. Impact Of The French Revolution
  1. Time of Enlightenment and upheaval. Demands for reform and anti-monarchy escalated.
  2. Declared war on France after the monarchy was executed. Caused an vast amount of debt.
2. Radical Threats
  1. The Society For Consitutional Information
    1. Supported French Revolution. Sent supplies to France. Active campaigning society. Tried to educated the less informed.
  2. Edmund Burke
    1. Against the French Revolution. Wrote books and confronted Fox on numerous occasions.
  3. Thomas Paine
    1. Wrote a response to Burke's attack of the revolution. Against the execution of the King. Was arrested and imprisoned in 1793.
  4. Friends of the People
    1. Wanted Democratic reform. Would not engage in activities that promoted public disturbances. Caused divisions in Whig party. Wanted to obtain parliamentary reform.
  5. The London Corresponding Society
    1. Held meetings and corresponded with France. Held meetings, distributed petitions and handbills. Members were arrested and trialed for treason, some were transported.
  6. Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin
    1. Wollstonecraft supported the revolution but wanted equality. Godwin supported revolution and wanted reform. He published work with a positive vision, was the middle ground between Paine and Burke.
  7. The London Revolution Society
    1. Celebrated the revolution, wanted to help. Were very vocal. However the treason trials crippled them.
3. Anti-Radical Legislation 1794-1801
  1. 2 Royal proclamations against seditious writings.
  2. 'Reign of Terror'
  3. Suspended Habeas Corpus from 1794-1795
  4. The Treasonable Practices Act 1795
  5. Seditious Meetings Act 1795
  6. Charged 41 radicals with treason
  7. Banned leading radical societies in 1799
4. Whig Splits 1790-1794
  1. Radical vs Conservative
  2. Fox supported parliamentary reform. Portland opposed it.
  3. Fox opposed war with France. Portland supported it.
Ireland
1. Problems Facing The Irish
  1. Protestant minority ruled the Catholic majority, with a lack of rights.
2. How Did The Government Treat Ireland
  1. Wanted to prevent Ireland becoming independent alike to America.
  2. Ireland would have greater access to British markets.
    1. Faced with negative response from British manufacturers that it had to be withdrawn.
  3. Gave Dublin legislative independence.
    1. Didn't prevent government passing laws that affected Ireland.
3. What Was Pitt's Policy Towards Ireland
  1. Control over Irish politics was very limited.

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