Chapter 2 - Pitt and his successors

Question 1

When was the national debt first set up?

Answer 1

1696

Question 2

Why was the National debt first set up?

Answer 2

To meet the cost of the Continental Wars

Question 3

Why did the national debt increase?

Answer 3

The government kept seeking further loans from the bank of England

Question 4

What was the sinking fund?

Answer 4

A saving scheme used to pay off the National Debt, which had money from taxation paid into it

Question 5

When was the Sinking Fund first introduced?

Answer 5

1716

Question 6

When did William Pitt enter Parliament and at what age?

Answer 6

1781 aged 21

Question 7

Who had been Prime Minister before 1782 (and was a favourite of King George III?)

Answer 7

Lord North

Question 8

Who replaced Lord North?

Answer 8

Lord Rockingham

Question 9

Who took over when Rockingham died unexpectedly?

Answer 9

Lord Shelburne

Question 10

What coalition took power from Lord Shelburne?

Answer 10

One made up of Lord North and Charles Fox

Question 11

What was Fox’s India Bill?

Answer 11

Introduced in November 1783, it was a serious attempt to solve the problem of British rule in India, but one which contained parts which would increase Fox’s influence

Question 12

What happened with Fox’s India Bill?

Answer 12

It passed through Commons where he had support, but when the King threatened to make an enemy of any peer who voted for it it failed in Lords, leading to Fox and North’s dismissal

Question 13

Why did George choose Pitt to be the Prime Minister?

Answer 13

Whilst he didn’t like him particularly, he wanted a Whig and he preferred him to the Rockingham & Shelburne Whigs

Question 14

When was the Fox-North coalition defeated?

Answer 14

17th December 1783

Question 15

When was Pitt appointed Prime Minister?

Answer 15

19th December 1783

Question 16

Why was Pitt’s government weak at first?

Answer 16

He had no following in the Commons and a large majority opposition, meaning he had to fill his cabinet with members of the Lords, leaving him isolated

Question 17

Why was Pitt’s government nicknamed the ‘Mince Pie Administration?’

Answer 17

Because it was not expected to survive past Christmas

Question 18

Why was Fox furious with the King?

Answer 18

He had a majority, but the King refused the convention of inviting him to take office

Question 19

When did Pitt ask King George to call an election?

Answer 19

March 1784

Question 20

How did the King help Pitt win the 1784 election?

Answer 20

He called it 4 years early, provided Pitt with an election fund, and used influence in government-controlled boroughs

Question 21

How many supporters of Fox lost their seats in 1784?

Answer 21

About 160

Question 22

How did the King help Pitt in the House of Lords?

Answer 22

By creating new peers from the wealthy merchant classes of London, overwhelming the old Whig aristocracy

Question 23

What was the national debt in 1783?

Answer 23

£240 million, an all time high and 16 times higher than annual government revenue

Question 24

What were interest payments on the national debt in 1783?

Answer 24

£8 million per year

Question 25

How did Pitt intend to deal with the national Debt?

Answer 25

He set up a reformed Sinking Fund, into which he paid £1m from taxes annually

Question 26

Was the sinking fund a success?

Answer 26

Yes in peacetime, where it cut the national debt by £10 million, but not in wartime

Question 27

What did the Consolidation Act of 1787 do?

Answer 27

Simplified the customs system, reduced tariffs

Question 28

Other than the Sinking Fund, what economic reforms did Pitt introduce to Britain?

Answer 28

Trade and Customs reforms to benefit Free Trade, new taxes, commercial treaties

Question 29

When did Pitt sign a Free Trade Treaty with France?

Answer 29

1786

Question 30

What are some examples of new taxes Pitt introduced?

Answer 30

Indirect taxes such as taxes on ribbons, windows, coaches etc.

Question 31

What was the Hovering Act?

Answer 31

Introduced by Pitt to deter smugglers, enabled authorities to confiscate ships found to be carrying smuggled goods within four miles of land

Question 32

What was the general effect of Pitt’s trade reforms?

Answer 32

Discouraged smuggling, lowered tariffs and encouraged Free Trade

Question 33

How much had government revenue increased by in 1793?

Answer 33

£4 million per year

Question 34

How much had the value of imports and exports increased by in 1793?

Answer 34

The value had doubled

Question 35

What was a sinecure office?

Answer 35

A position with salary which required very little work, given to MPs to get their support

Question 36

What were some administrative changes Pitt made?

Answer 36

Abolished many sinecure offices, set up an Audit Office to reduce corruption, abolished free post for MPs, Government loans raised by public tenders and competitive, reorganised Cabinet

Question 37

When did Pitt resign and why?

Answer 37

1801 because George III refused to accept Catholic Emancipation

Question 38

When did Pitt die?

Answer 38

23rd January 1806

Question 39

Who were the 5 prime ministers after Pitt?

Answer 39

Addington, Pitt again, Grenville, Portland, Perceval