1780s Flashcards
What was the population of Britain in 1780?
8.7 million
What was the average work week in 1780?
59 hours
Name four significant pieces of legislation passed in the 1780s
1782 - Repeal of the 1746 Highland Dress Act, 1784 East India Act, 1788 Chimney Sweepers Act, and the 1788 Slave Trade Act
What did the 1788 Slave Trade Act do?
Regulated how many people could be shipped by tonnage in British slave ships
What did the 1784 East India Act do?
Asserted ultimate authority of the government of Britain in India and created Board of Control
Who took power in 1770?
Lord North, Tories
Who took power on July 1, 1782, then died four days later?
The Marquess of Rockingham, Whigs
Who was the second prime minister of 1782?
The Earl of Shelburne, Whigs
Who took power in April, 1783?
The Duke of Portland, Whigs (though real power was wielded by Fox-North Coalition)
Who was the second Prime Minister of 1783?
William Pitt the younger, Tory
When did the Gordon Riots occur?
1780
What were the Gordon Riots?
Five-day anti-Catholic riots, the most destructive in the history of London
How did the Gordon riots end?
Troops were called out, killing close to 300 people, with some led by John Wilkes
What happened in 1781?
The surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
What was the significance of Cornwallis’ surrender?
End of fighting in the American War of Independence
