5: Political Pressures on Government

Question 1

When was the Bastille stormed, triggering the start of the French Revolution?

Answer 1

14th July 1789

Question 2

What was he initial response of Pitt to the outbreak of the French Revolution?

Answer 2

He thought that it would preoccupy the French so they wouldn’t disturb Britain or European peace

Question 3

Tue/False: The Whig party were pleased about the outbreak of revolution in France

Answer 3

True: They saw it as a victory for democracy and freedom

Question 4

Who was pleased about the revolution?

Answer 4

The Whig party

Dissenters

Question 5

True/False: Edmund Burke and Tom Paine agreed on the subject of the French Revolution

Answer 5

False: Burke was skeptical, despite being a Whig, but Paine, a dissenter, saw it as a triumph for the ordinary man

Question 6

When were King Louis XVI and Queen Mary Antoinette executed?

Answer 6

January 1793

Question 7

When did Britain declare war on France?

Answer 7

1793

Question 8

What was habeas corpus?

Answer 8

It preserves the right of the individual not to be detained illegally

Question 9

Name 3 methods of government repression used after the outbreak of revolution?

Answer 9

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)

Question 10

Why was 1997 a particularly bad year for Britain?

Answer 10

Poor harvests
Suspension of cash payments because of financial crisis
Naval mutiny

Question 11

Was Pitt’s reaction justified? Give both sides

Answer 11

Yes: …
No:…

Question 12

Who owned the majority of Irish land?

Answer 12

English, Protestant settlers

Question 13

When was the Society of United Irishmen formed?

Answer 13

October 1791

Question 14

What was the name of the group Wolfe Tone worked with and who were they?

Answer 14

Presbyterians: They were part of the Dissenter group who wanted political rights for Catholics

Question 15

What did and didn’t the Catholic Relief Act (1793) do?

Answer 15

Allowed Catholics to vote but not to be MPs

Question 16

When was the first attempt at full Catholic Emancipation dropped?

Answer 16

1795

Question 17

What did event Wolfe Tone plot and what happened as a result?

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

When was the Act of Union?

Answer 18

1800

Question 19

How did Pitt persuade the Dublin Parliament and Catholics to accept union?

Answer 19

Dublin Parliament: He used honours, appointments and pensions
Catholics: He promised them full Catholic emancipation

Question 20

Why did Pitt resign from office?

Answer 20

George III refused the full Catholic Emancipation that Pitt had promised

Question 21

True/False: Reform in Britain was put on hold during the French Revolution

Answer 21

True: The government was wary of reform so repression was used