1- The British Political System c1783

Question 1

What parliamentary system did the British use?

Answer 1

Constitutional monarchy

Question 2

What did politcal power rely on?

Answer 2

Patronage between King and Parliament

Question 3

Who was the King in 1783?

Answer 3

King George III

Question 4

What bill restricted the interference of the King in politics?

Answer 4

1689- Bill of rights

Question 5

Could the King still interfere with poltics?

Answer 5

Power to dismiss and choose ministers
summon and disolve parliament
veto legislation

Question 6

What were MPs like?

Answer 6

belonged to the gentry.
represented the interests of the landowners and gentry in their constituencies

Question 7

What was the purpose of the House of Commons?

Answer 7

control taxation
check on the executive

Question 8

Was there a stable majority?

Answer 8

no- lots of interest groups and factions

Question 9

What was the Privy council?

Answer 9

group of advisers who acted as a bridge between king and parliament
appointed for life
became too large to manage

Question 10

What happened to the Privy council?

Answer 10

Turned into the cabinet

Question 11

Why was King George III weakened in 1782?

Answer 11

Loss of the American colonies

Question 12

Who was appointed PM in 1783?

Answer 12

William Pitt aged 24

Question 13

What was the electorate based on?

Answer 13

ownership of property

Question 14

How peers where in the House of Lords in 1783?

Answer 14

220

Question 15

How many people could vote in 1783?

Answer 15

250,000. there was no uniform system of a franchise.

Question 16

What was a 40 shilling freeholder?

Answer 16

Someone who could vote on the basis of owning freehold land that costed 40 shillings a year

Question 17

What was a potwalloper borough?

Answer 17

Ownership of your own hearth gave you the right to vote

Question 18

what was a ‘scot and lot’ borough?

Answer 18

right to vote based on who payed local tax

Question 19

What did a ‘pocket borough’ mean

Answer 19

it was controlled by the entirely by the landowner

Question 20

What was a rotten borough?

Answer 20

places like Banbury- small amount of voters but returned two MPs

Question 21

Was Scotland equally represented?

Answer 21

No- 45 Mps for a population of 1.6 million

Question 22

How often where general elections held?

Answer 22

every 7 years

Question 23

What was the role of the Lord Lieutenant?

Answer 23

responisble for local law and order and defence.

Question 24

What was the role of justices of the peace?

Answer 24

symbolise authority
administer justice - often harsh punishments for petty crimes