2: Government: Pitt the Younger as PM and His Successsors

Question 1

How old was Pitt when he first entered government as an MP?

Answer 1

21

Question 2

Who, out of Fox and North, had the King trusted and who did he detest?

Answer 2

Detested: Fox

Had trusted: North

Question 3

Put these events in chronological order:
A. New government dubbed the ‘Mince Pie Administration’
B. The King dismisses the Fox-North coalition
C. Pitt gets elected for Cambridge and solidifies his role as PM
D. King appoints Pitt
E. King calls an election once only 1 vote remains between Fox and Pitt

Answer 3

1. (B) The King dismisses the Fox-North coalition
2. (D) King appoints Pitt
3. (A) New government dubbed the ‘Mince Pie Administration’
4. (E) King calls an election once only 1 vote remains between Fox and Pitt
5. (C) Pitt gets elected for Cambridge and solidifies his role as PM

Question 4

How did Pitt deal with National Debt?

Answer 4

He introduced the sinking fund into which he paid £1 million a year
It cut the debt by £10 million and helped with national confidence but wasn’t practical during wartime

Question 5

What trade reforms did Pitt make?

Answer 5

Interested in adopting Free Trade
Amalgamated customs and excise duties
Goods now qualified for one tax not several
Smuggling then became less profitable

Question 6

What changes to taxes did Pitt make?

Answer 6

Pitt tried to recuperate the losses from reduced customs charges through indirect taxes
Taxed goods bought by the wealthy eg. windows, horses, coaches, servants, hats, playing cards, ribbons and candles

Question 7

What treaties did Pitt make?

Answer 7

Attempted to make a trade treaty with Ireland

Made a treaty with France that lasted until the outbreak of the French Revolution

Question 8

What were Pitt’s solutions to the following administrative problems:

Sinecure Offices?

Exploitation of Free Post?

Loans?

The checking of government accounts?

Answer 8

Sinecure offices: Abolished hundreds of offices by allowing them to lapse

Exploitation of free post: Abolished free post

Loans: Government loans were were raised by public tender and were now genuinely competitive

Checking of government accounts: Introduced a new budgeting system where estimates were taken of expenditure and parallel tax proposals drawn up; he also created the Consolidated Fund so taxes could be paid in and out; established the Audit office to oversee expenditure and curb corruption

Question 9

Why did Pitt resign?

Answer 9

George III refused to accept the Catholic emancipation that Pitt had promised

Question 10

Who succeeded Pitt?

Answer 10

Henry Addington (1801-04)
Pitt again (1804-06)
Lord Grenville (1806-07)
Duke of Portland (1807-09)
Spencer Perceval (1809-12)