5: Political Pressures on Government Flashcards
When was the Bastille stormed, triggering the start of the French Revolution?
14th July 1789
What was he initial response of Pitt to the outbreak of the French Revolution?
He thought that it would preoccupy the French so they wouldn’t disturb Britain or European peace
Tue/False: The Whig party were pleased about the outbreak of revolution in France
True: They saw it as a victory for democracy and freedom
Who was pleased about the revolution?
The Whig party
Dissenters
True/False: Edmund Burke and Tom Paine agreed on the subject of the French Revolution
False: Burke was skeptical, despite being a Whig, but Paine, a dissenter, saw it as a triumph for the ordinary man
When were King Louis XVI and Queen Mary Antoinette executed?
January 1793
When did Britain declare war on France?
1793
What was habeas corpus?
It preserves the right of the individual not to be detained illegally
Name 3 methods of government repression used after the outbreak of revolution?
Order against seditious writings Extension of magistrates powers Suspended hapeas corpus (1794) Treasonable Practices Act (1795) Seditious Meetings Act (1795) Aliens Act Agents Provocateurs Censoring of the press Banning of Corresponding Societies and the Society of United Irishmen (1790's) Banning trade associations and union Hanging the leaders of the Naval mutiny (1797)
Why was 1997 a particularly bad year for Britain?
Poor harvests
Suspension of cash payments because of financial crisis
Naval mutiny
Was Pitt’s reaction justified? Give both sides
Yes: …
No:…
Who owned the majority of Irish land?
English, Protestant settlers
When was the Society of United Irishmen formed?
October 1791
What was the name of the group Wolfe Tone worked with and who were they?
Presbyterians: They were part of the Dissenter group who wanted political rights for Catholics
What did and didn’t the Catholic Relief Act (1793) do?
Allowed Catholics to vote but not to be MPs
When was the first attempt at full Catholic Emancipation dropped?
1795
What did event Wolfe Tone plot and what happened as a result?
He plotted French landings in Ireland to overthrow the government but their forces were quickly overpowered and it ultimately failed.
Tone committed suicide in prison before his trial.
When was the Act of Union?
1800
How did Pitt persuade the Dublin Parliament and Catholics to accept union?
Dublin Parliament: He used honours, appointments and pensions
Catholics: He promised them full Catholic emancipation
Why did Pitt resign from office?
George III refused the full Catholic Emancipation that Pitt had promised
True/False: Reform in Britain was put on hold during the French Revolution
True: The government was wary of reform so repression was used
