Foreign policy

Question 1

Why was conflict between Britain and France always seen as likely?

Answer 1

• France had always been willing to support revolutionaries for its own purpose
• it had supported the rebels in American colonies and hopes to use unrest in the united provinces (the modern Netherlands) and the Austrian Netherlands (Belgium) to gain control of low countries

Question 2

What was Pitts initial response to the news of the French revolution?

Answer 2

Initially Pitt did not see the events of 1789 in France to be threatening. the French King Louis was seen as a poor ruler, Louis had taken advantage of British problems with its colonies and threatened the independence of the united provinces

Question 3

How did Pitt initially see the French revolution as positive?

Answer 3

1. ) If the revolution produced a constitutional monarchy it would bring a regime more influenced by middle class and might encourage more trading agreements along the lines of the Eden treaty and with them better hopes for long term peace
2. ) Initial unrest would weaken France and allow Britain to focus on another potential enemy-Russia

Question 4

Give 5 reasons why Britain remained aloof and avoided being drawn into the war with France

Answer 4

1. ) First it had concerns about Russia who had taken the lead in a coalition against Britain in 1780
2. )The Russians had very large forces, mostly recruited from the peasantry. The control of the Eastern Mediterranian was threatened as well as the overland routes to British India. Russian expansion to the black sea would allow it to trade its timber and naval supplies with France more easily because it would give Russia more water ports e.g the construction of Russian ports in Kherson at the newly gained Crimean peninsula which worried England
3. )Pitt was concerned about the costs of war and the repeat of the poor performance shown in the American war. A costly war would undo a lot of achievements in the 1780’s, the reduction of debt by the sinking fund, the benefits of improved trade in the Eden treaty, the reduction of costs of Government
4. )Internal security-when British radical support for support for ideas of French rev. growing. War would mean inc. taxation and less trade, leading to economic hardship and the possibility of growing discontent
5. )France had not broken any treaty obligations. the French exiles were extreme in their threats and if they restored the Kings power backed by foreign armies it could create an even more dangerous instability in France

Question 5

Why was Russia seen as greater 1789-93?

Answer 5

As Russia was expanding

Question 6

What events eventually did bring Britain to war with France in 1793?

Answer 6

• Frances invasion and occupation of Belgium together with its November 1792 declaration for support for any revolutionary activity throughout Europe
• The execution of Louis XV1 was the trigger
• Pitt then ordered the expulsion of the French ambassador which caused outcry in Paris
• The French then ordered a ban on Dutch and British shipping

Question 7

Why has Pitt been criticised for his response to the French revolution?

Answer 7

• there should have been a call for stronger action “whilst France burnt and beheaded Britain slept”
• It was said that British intervention might have led to Austrian and Prussian victories in 1792, thus preventing the long period of war on which Britain embarked from 1793
• However Britain did respond to the execution of Louis XV1
• British response was too slow, Pitt did not anticipate that Britain would play a key part in a long war

Question 8

How successful was Pitt as a war minister, 1793-1806? Pitt made good use of Britain’s naval power

Answer 8

• Britain had developed the worlds most powerful Navy
• In 1793 Britain had 661 naval vessels compared to Frances 291
• Britain kept links with its overseas possessions and kept control of the channel
• In 1795 Britain passed the Quota acts requiring English countries and London to provide recruits
• Considerable investment was made in dockyards especially Portsmouth after 1795
• Admiral Lorde Howe destroyed 22 French Naval ships at the battle of the Glorious first of June weakening the French Navy early in the war
• The destruction of the French fleet by Nelson in Egypt in 1798 prevented France from interfering with the British colonial war in India or establishing power in the Eastern mediterranean to cut off British routes to Asia

Question 9

How successful was Pitt as a war minister, 1793-1806? The limited deployment of force in Europe

Answer 9

• rather than to use Britain’s small armed forces in Europe, Pitts policy was to add to Britain’s overseas possessions and use its navy profitably
• enemy ships captures led to serious financial gains
• the seizure of valuable French colonies in the West Indies meant that naval power was used to Increase British wealth and power which was shared between the government and the crews
• Pitt subsidised Austria and Prussia by £9 million.
• The naval and colonial war was effective and profitable

Question 10

How successful was Pitt as a war minister, 1793-1806? Pitt showed determination as a war leader

Answer 10

• Pitts speeches were not made to mass audiences and not intended to appeal to the public at large
• They were solidly argued and stated a clear position, but contemporaries argued them lacking in fire and inspiration. He argues that there would be no real security in any peace made with a French republic. War meant sacrifice

Question 11

How successful was Pitt as a war minister, 1793-1806? Pitt used Britain’s wealth and its financial system effectively

Answer 11

• Pitts earlier financial successes allowed him to subsidise allies and avoid committing the small British army in Europe
• He was fortunate that a sound system had been developed in the 1960’s with a national bank and a national debt, which encouraged widespread lending to the state
• Pitt raised taxes to meet the large wartime expenditures rather than letting debt out of hand
• Pitt was forced to treble indirect taxation
• Pitt had to introduce more paper money and end the free exchange of paper money for gold at the bank of England
• His greatest contribution was the introduction of income tax in 1798 which meant that the burden was shared more equally. It was levied on all incomes over £200 at a rate of 10%. It was expected to riase £10m but only raised £6

Question 12

How successful was Pitt as a war minister, 1793-1806? What were the limitations of Pitt as a war leader?

Answer 12

• Britian’s allies were divided, often poorly led and despite ‘Pitts gold’ they had never been able to defeat France
• The Naval victories brought Britain nowhere near defeat, without a major land campaign which could destroy the French armies, the war would last indefinitely. The French achieved their greatest victories in 1805-07 after the battle of Trafalgar and Britain was powerless to stop them. Subsidies given to continental allies were of little use unless they helped commanders to defeat Napoleon which during Pitt’s time they were unable to do

Question 13

How successful was Pitt as a war minister, 1793-1806? Despite Pitts efforts many things were left unachieved

Answer 13

• Frances domination of continental Europe
• The low countries were under French domination. France ruled Belgium directly and Napoleon had installed his own brother, Louis as king in Holland
• Three coalitions had broken down since 1793
• Russia made an agreement in 1807 to dominate the world with France-Russians share would include India
• Trade was interrupted by war and further restricted by Napoleons continental system in 1806 which forbade European ports from accepting British goods