5. Political Pressures on the Government

Question 1

Define the term “established order”

Answer 1

the class that holds power, by which is strengthened by social links, and that generally holds conservative and conventional views

Question 2

What year was the French Revolution?

Answer 2

1789

Question 3

Who wrote “Reflections of the Revolution in France”

Answer 3

Edmund Burke- renowned Rockingham Whig

Question 4

What year was Thomas Paine’s “The Rights of Man” published?

Answer 4

1791

Question 5

What year was Habeas Corpus suspended?

Answer 5

1794

Question 6

When was the Seditious Meetings Act passed?

Answer 6

1795

Question 7

Why did Burke fall out with Fox over the Revolution in France?`

Answer 7

Burke condemned the Revolution in his publication “Reflections of the Revolution in France” whereas Fox supported the Revolution

Question 8

What was Pitt’s response to Revolution?

Answer 8

Calm- believed that internal strife would preoccupy the French Government- would not disturb peace in Britain

Question 9

Who, in Britain, supported the Revolution?

Answer 9

The opposition Whigs- Fox- “victory for democracy, curbing the power of an autocratic monarchy
Protestant Dissenters- more religious tolerance?

Question 10

What is a Corresponding society?

Answer 10

mostly working class political society- encourage discussion of politics by writing to members of similar associations and to advance the cause of democratic reform

Question 11

When was the London Corresponding Society set up, and by who?

Answer 11

1792, by Thomas Hardy

Question 12

Why is it suggested that the Government were moving towards repression before they passed any laws?

Answer 12

It is suggested that government agents were behind the mob that attacked a Corresponding Society in Birmingham

Question 13

In what year were the September Massacres?

Answer 13

1792

Question 14

What was the Edict of Fraternity and when was it issued?

Answer 14

November 1792- The promise of assistance to any nation rising against their sovereigns

Question 15

When was Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette executed?

Answer 15

January 1793

Question 16

In what year was British intervention in the French Revolutionary Wars?

Answer 16

1793 (fearing British interests)

Question 17

What was the Treasonable Practices Act, and when was it published?

Answer 17

1795- was made an offence to speak against the King

Question 18

What was the 1795 Seditious Meetings Act?

Answer 18

Outlawing large gatherings (to avoid a riot)

Question 19

What was the Aliens Act, and when was it issued?

Answer 19

1793- preventing any French Republican from coming to England

Question 20

What were the Combinations Acts, and when was it passed?

Answer 20

1799-1800- a ban on Trade Unions and the formation of societies or amalgamations with the aim to achieve political reform

Question 21

What two particular societies did the Combination Act affect, and forced to disband

Answer 21

London Corresponding Society and the Society of United Irish Men

Question 22

In what year was there a particularly bad harvest?

Answer 22

1797

Question 23

In what year did the Navy mutiny and why?

Answer 23

1797- the Spithead and Nore mutinies- due to the conditions for able seamen, the pay, and the excessive punishments for minor offences

Question 24

How did Pitt respond to the naval mutinies?

Answer 24

Severe punishments- hanging of ring leaders (shows how repression of the British government was increasing)

Question 25

Define the term Presbyterians

Answer 25

part of a broader group of Dissenters- widespread in Scotland and Ireland

Question 26

When was Ireland granted legislative independence?

Answer 26

1782

Question 27

Through who was the administration in Ireland still controlled?

Answer 27

The Lord Lieutenant

Question 28

When was the Order of St. Patrick created, and what was it?

Answer 28

1783 (created by George III at the request of the Lord Lieutenant the Earl of Temple)- to reward/ obtain political support in the Irish Parliament

Question 29

When was the formation of the Society of United Irishmen?

Answer 29

October 1791

Question 30

What were the beliefs of Wolfe Tone?

Answer 30

Political ascendancy would have to be ousted if the Presbyterians were to gain the freedom to properly pursue their interests

Question 31

When was the Catholic Relief Act passed, what did it do, and what was Pitt’s motivation for its issue?

Answer 31

1793- Allowed Catholics to vote (but not become MPs)- to try and dampen Catholic support for the Society of United Irishmen

Question 32

When was a half-thought attempt to pass full Catholic Emancipation, and why was it stopped?

Answer 32

1795- George III fiercely opposed it.

Question 33

What was nicknamed Grattan’s Parliament?

Answer 33

The Irish Parliament in the period after 1782 (the granting of Ireland’s legislative independence)

Question 34

What were the Society of United Irishmen’s aims?

Answer 34

The establishment of a democracy within Ireland, equal rights for all men (whatever religion), a complete separation from England

Question 35

During what year was Wolfe Tone involved in plotting French landings in Ireland? Describe the attempts of landing

Answer 35

1797- 35 ships and 1000 men to Bantry Bay- prevented by violent storms
Eventually able to land, but defeated by the British Navy

Question 36

How did Wolfe Tone die?

Answer 36

Captured by the British navy, after failed landings- he cut his throat in prison before his trial

Question 37

What two points would an Act of Union mean?

Answer 37

Persuade Dublin Parliament to accept fewer seats in Westminster (300 Dublin MPs would have to be reduced to 100)
Bribe the Catholics with full Catholic Emancipation to prevent a further uprising

Question 38

What is the quote from Williams and Ramsden on Pitt’s promise of Catholic Emancipation with the Act of Union?

Answer 38

“Leading Catholics thought they had received an assurance from Pitt that they would be able to sit in Westminster”

Question 39

When and why did Pitt resign after 17 years in office?

Answer 39

Failing to pass Catholic Emancipation (after being stopped by the King)- 1801

Question 40

Who was Richard Price?

Answer 40

A Dissenter who expressed criticism of the church, the political establishment and the influence and values of the aristocracy

Question 41

What is an example that shows the radical movement in Scotland was strong?

Answer 41

1793 trials in Edinburgh against a group of protestant reformers for writing seditious literature- Thomas Muir was among them. The leaders were transported to Australia (repressive and unnecessary punishment)

Question 42

Why did the French Revolution cause the Whig Party to split?

Answer 42

Pro-revolution Whigs such as Fox
Anti-revolution Whigs such as Edmund Burke (this group started to desert to Pitt)
Eh Whigs- led by the Duke of Portland

Question 43

Why did Pitt drop any notion for reform?

Answer 43

Tried and defeated by the King in 1785 to redistribute seats from several rotten boroughs

Question 44

What was the Society of the Friends of the People, and who formed it?

Answer 44

Charles Grey, to promote equal representation. Put forward a motion for parliamentary reform in 1793 but defeated 282 votes to 41

Question 45

When was Robert Emmet’s rebellion and what was it?

Answer 45

1803- An attempt in Dublin to seize strategic spots, and encourage others to join the rebellion. It ultimately failed and it’s orchestrators were executed