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History > PITT TO PEEL- WELLS > Flashcards

PITT TO PEEL- WELLS Flashcards

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1
Q

When was William Pitt asked by George III to form a government?

A

19th december 1783

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2
Q

Why did many people think Pitt would not last?

A
  • He only had limited experience of political life
  • The rest of the cabinet sat in the house of Lords
  • In the house of commons the majority of MP’s supported the former ministry, a coalition of the whigs
  • Pitt had no real popular following and had only become MP as he had been nominated for the ‘pocket borough’ of Appleby
  • He lacked charm and seemed unable to win over MP’s
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3
Q

Who led the Whigs in 1783?

A

-Charles James Fox and the supporters of Lord North-an experienced national leader

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4
Q

How could at any time Pitts government have been ‘rendered powerless’?

A

By the votes of the opponents in the house of the commons

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5
Q

What were the main reasons George appointed Pitt?

A
  • he wanted an able and loyal prime minster in place of the Whig ministers who wanted to dominate him
  • he disliked the alliance between the Whigs and the previous prime minister, Lord North which he thought was unprincipled as they were former political enemies
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6
Q

What would happen to Pitt if he didn’t have the support of the house of commons?

A
  • He would not be able to carry out the normal business of government or pass any legislation
  • the King would then have to appoint Whig ministers he disliked and he would be shown to be powerless
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7
Q

What would happen if Pitt could not govern?

A

-It would show that the king really had no influence in his choice of ministers

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8
Q

What was meant by the ‘mince pie ministry’?

A

Pitts new government not lasting until Christmas ‘a kingdom trusted to a school boys care”

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9
Q

Why in January 1784 did the King write to Pitt urging him to call an election?

A

He was concerned that it was wrong for Pitt to remain prime minister with only royal backing and without a majority to support him in the house of commons

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10
Q

For three months, despite having no majority in the house of commons, Pitt delayed the election, what two things was he hoping for?

A
  • That the kings agents would be preparing to use royal influence effectively in coming elections
  • That he would establish a reputation in parliament as a statesman
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11
Q

Who did Pitt win over with his speeches int he house of commons?

A

The independent country MP’s- with a distinct group of ‘Pittite’ MP’s

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12
Q

When did Pitt pass the mutiny bill?

A

March 1784

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13
Q

What was the mutiny bill?

A

An annual measure to confirm the legality of military discipline

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14
Q

What would happen without the mutiny bill?

-what would happen if the opposition managed to defeat it?

A

It would not be possible to maintain the armed forces

–it would show that Pitt lacked the authority to govern

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15
Q

How had Pitt gained the advantage by March 1784?

A
  • He had set out ideas for reform
  • He seemed to be loyal and patriotic (supporting the king against selfish and powerful whigs)
  • He had won the respect of many of the independent MP’s in the commons
  • He gained respect for his integrity by refusing to accept royal sinecures
  • He had public recognition
  • He had support of one of the most influential political managers (John Robinson)
  • He had the confidence of the king
  • He was an expert in gaining the support of Rotten Bourough’s
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16
Q

How did the backing of the King contribute towards the success of the 1784 election?

A
  • In the house of Lords Pitt could count on a majority because of the influence of peers who were linked to or part of George III’s personal household
  • the king created new peers throughout Pitt’s time in office
  • The bishops in church of England who had the right to vote in the house of Lords tended to favour the crown
  • Peers who were loyal to the king were often influential in getting MP’s elected because they controlled many of the small boroughs
  • Pitt was able to use royal patronage to reward supporters
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17
Q

Although the support of George III was important in Pitts rise what other factors played a key role?

A
  • an obviously principled, reform minded and independent politician
  • Pitt had a distinguished farther who could win the respect of many independent MP’s
  • Dislike in the country of an obviously artificial coalition between Fox and Lord north and th influence of the Whigs
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18
Q

What was the significance of the 1784 election?

A

In some areas there was popular enthusiasm and the election campaign was well fought

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19
Q

Who managed the local influence and backstairs deals that supported Pitt’s supporters?

A

Robinson

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20
Q

Of the 558 MP’s elected in the 1784 election, how many were the ‘crown party’ (those who would support whoever the king favoured?

A

185

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21
Q

What factors can the outcome of the 1794 election be explained by?

A
  1. ) The use of influence of influence and patronage by royal agents was used to return MP’s to Pitt because he was the King’s chosen minister
  2. ) Pittie’s generally won in those contests which returned independent MP’s- who were impressed by the strong impression that Pitt had given himself and the reputation of his father
  3. )Pitt attracted those who favoured reform and a more moral and principled type of politics than practiced by the Foxites
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22
Q

Why did Pitt need to reform finance and administration?

A
  1. ) Pitt was influenced by his time as chancellor of the exchequer under Shelburne, the previous prime minister who had ideas about modernising and improving finance and the government
  2. )Pressure from the country- saw the defeat of the American war as Britain being ineffective
  3. )The 18th century had seen many overseas wars and payment which necessitated heavy spending and increased levels of taxation-in consequence the role of the state grew-it was thought that it was the role of the government to introduce financial and administrative reforms
  4. ) National debt eating up government income (more and more tax revenue was being paid straight out to those that had invested in government bonds, one of the main means for raising revenue.
  5. )Pitts reputation was built on a desire for cheaper and more efficient government
  6. )Strong feeling that Britain should be more moral and pure- this should be reflected in a more honest, less corrupt and less expensive administration
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23
Q

Describe the term ‘fiscal-military state’ which Britain had reached by 1783

A

Britains wars led to a considerable increase in taxation (fiscal) as well as a large navy and armed forces (military). This led to an association with corruption and the power of a few men

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24
Q

Why were the administrative reform measures described as being ‘piecemeal’ rather than a great plan?

A
  • Because Pitt did not want radical change
  • He thought that moderate change would preserve the old order
  • He offered reform to avoid the more radical changes demanded by the Whig opposition and by groups outside of Parliament
25
Q

What was the financial situation in 1784?

A
  • National debt increased by 91% during the war years

- In 1784 it stood at £243 million

26
Q

How did war reverse the debt experienced by Pitt?

A
  • Britain had fought an expensive but unsuccessful campaign to prevent the colonies in America breaking away
  • It also involved conflict with France, which had supported the Americans
27
Q

Pitt managed to avoid adding to the debt until…..?when war with France broke out again

A

1793

28
Q

Why did the size of the debt Pitt experienced benefit some?

A
  • those who lent often received high interest rates of up to 6%
  • benefitted the privileged few who were able to secure government jobs or contracts in the administration
29
Q

Why did the size of the debt Pitt experienced concern many?

A
  • corruption

- ‘debt funding’ believed to take money away from investment in trade, business and agriculture

30
Q

What was the sinking fund of 1786?

A
  • 1 million pounds a year was to be set aside from taxation, which special commissioners would use to buy government shares
  • the prices of the shares on the stock market were often lower than their face value so they got a value, interest rates were then used to buy more stock
31
Q

What impact did the sinking fund have?

A

The public debt had been reduced by £10 million by 1973

32
Q

When was a new sinking fund set up alongside the old one?

-how was this financed?

A

1792

-by a levy on all new loans made by the state

33
Q

What were the problems of the sinking fund?

A
  • It dealt only with long term debt
  • When war broke out in 1793 government borrowing had to rise so debt reduction became more difficult
  • The sinking fund continued until 1829 but during the war (1793-1815) money was borrowed at a high rate and paid into the sinking the fund, this reduced the debt but the interest paid on the existing debt was being paid at a lower rate
34
Q

How much did short term debt increase by between 1783 and 1793?

A

£7 million

35
Q

How did Pitt raise money and reduce government debt?

A
  1. ) Increase on indirect items e.g wig powder
  2. )A tax on retail shops introduced in 1785 based on annual sales values, but it caused rioting and was repealed in 1789
  3. )Attacks on smuggling trade. Pitt reduced also the high import duty of tea from 119% to 25% This encouraged more to avoid the heavy penalties for smuggling and pay the duty
  4. )Tax policies related to ability to pay- luxuries of the rich taxed more heavily
  5. )’consolidated fund’-all customs duties paid, measures to combat fraud put in place
  6. )Number of government jobs reduced
  7. )Reduction in the number of sinecures-these were reserved for Pitt supporters to ensure loyalty to his government
  8. ) Higher pay for officials-incentive for them to collect all taxes due
36
Q

How much did Pitt lower the import duty on tea?

A

From 119% to 25%

37
Q

How successful were Pitt’s financial reforms?

A

Gap between government income and expenditure had turned into a narrow surplus by 1792

38
Q

When had the situation reached ‘crisis point’ in 1799 for Pitt and why?

A
  • war had created large imbalances and an ever increasing demand for ships and weapons
  • Pitt was the very first British prime minister to introduce an income tax, in this instance on all incomes over £60 a year
39
Q

What does the term ‘virtuous economics’ used in the assessment of Pitt’s financial policies mean?

A

-the changes made to the financial system encouraged ‘good housekeeping’ via a reduction in levels of debt, a fairer tax burden since many taxes affected only the rich.

40
Q

Why were Pitts financial reforms not successful?

A
  1. ) Pitts policies were not original. Walpole had used the sinking fund previously and Lord Shelburne had advocated for reform when in office (1782-83)
  2. )The biggest financial achievements owed a lot of peace between 1783 and 1793 as well as to increasing trade and economic activity in Britain
  3. )Pitt gave generous pensions to former office holders. He was reluctant to dismiss those who held sinecures and waited for them to die before abolishing their posts
  4. )the sinking fund was not entirely successful
41
Q

How did the administration that Pitt inherited have a number of defects?

A
  1. )It was small (only 3,000 involved)
  2. )well paid and senior government posts were used as a means of political reward for members of parliament or their friends and supporters
  3. )Resources often inefficiently deployed (same gov. departments over-manned while some did not have enough personnel)
  4. )Leadership with the different departments was often poor and the work of the administration fragmented
42
Q

When did Pitt tackle the independence of the East India company?

A

1784

43
Q

What was the East India company?

A

A private company which by 1784 had gained control of large areas of northern India and virtually ran its own army, its own diplomatic relations with the Indian princes and its own revenue collection.Vast profits had been made by its officials, many of them dishonestly.

44
Q

What did the India act of 1784 do?

A

Secured greater involvement by establishing a board of control, on which two cabinet ministers sat

  • it scrutinised the company’s activities
  • new board was to ‘superintend, direct and control’ the company’s property and activities
45
Q

Give reasons to why Pitts administrative reforms were successful

A
  • the state acquired more control over office holders within the UK
  • it reduced the bribery and corruption which was common in all parts of the administration
  • it increased procedures to ensure that revenue was collected
  • it reduced the number of costly useless posts and increased numbers in key areas such as revenue collection and the navy
  • it asserted the states right to oversee the leading British company, the East India company
  • the standards and morality of life improved
46
Q

Give reasons to why Pitts administrative reforms unsuccessful

A
  • things were done slowly
  • the government did not challenge directly the idea of office holding property, offices were simply abolished when office holders died
  • it was still thought appropriate to reward supporters by granting them a salaried office paid for by the state
  • the administration still remained relatively small
  • patronage was not abolished until much later
  • the East India company continued to run India until 1858
  • proposed administrative changes in the navy were not fully implemented
47
Q

Give an example of how Pitt did not push the principle of promotion and simply appointed individuals of high ability

A
  • when Pitt initially backed the of the post master General John Palmer for high speed mail coaches, which would be able to charge more for delivery
  • this conflicted with his colleague, Anthony Todd who opposed the scheme
  • Palmer complained and he was not paid the money for his scheme and faced frustrations in extending it
  • Palmer was pensioned off after years of claims and lawsuits with the then huge sum of £3000 a year
  • there were limits to a desire for change
48
Q

What is mercantilism?

A

The view that total wealth to be derived from trading was mostly stable . Commercial power therefore depended on a nations ability to maintain and if possible increase, its share of world trade.

49
Q

Why was it positive that trading policy was less influenced by the ideas of mercantilism?

A
  • mercantilism believed that maintaining trade could only be done through ‘protection’
    e. g in the 17th century Britain had introduced the Navigation acts to ensure that only British ships carried the products of Britain and its overseas empires
  • policies grounded in protection and the restriction of trade between nations were increasingly attacked
  • new ideas suggested that trade should not be restricted since greater benefits would flow if trade were freed from restriction on tariffs, taxes and other duties
50
Q

How was the idea of mercantilism further developed by Adam Smith?

A
  • Pitt needed to generate wealth to reduce debt and put his finances on a secure footing
  • he also needed an outlet for a growing number products being produced in Britain as a result of the growth of industry, supported by the expansions of roads and canals and the greater amount of agricultural produce/
51
Q

When was the Eden treaty signed?

A

26th September 1786

52
Q

What was the Eden treaty?

A

A treaty that offered low duties on the import of wines and there were reductions by both countries on duties like textiles and leather goods like saddles.
-the treaty favoured the British who were producing more and more manufactured goods than France

53
Q

Between 1783 and 1792 how much did the value of trade to Europe increase by?

A

-It almost doubled, and a deficit of £2.5 million was turned into a surplus of £2 million

54
Q

Although free trade was important 1783-1792, what also contributed to an extended period of peace?

A

Changes in manufacturing which allowed British products to be produced more quickly and in greater volume therefore undercutting the continental rivals

55
Q

What were the main reasons to the rise of radical societies facing Pitt?

A
  • there were clear political ideas which called for the people to have more power
  • opposition to a corrupt, unreformed political system had been voiced since the 1960’s
  • political organisations with broad popular membership were growing
  • unrest had been caused by economic conditions
  • support for revolution had been given by members of the political elite
  • war had brought about strains and had stopped the progress of reform
  • the royal family was unpopular
56
Q

What were many early radical societies inspired by? (Pitt)

A

The French revolution

57
Q

What were the typical radical societies that threatened Pitt?

A

They were mainly discussion groups with small memberships and often high annual descriptions, led and dominated by educated middle class professionals or radical aristocrats

58
Q

What was the Revolutionary society?

  • what were they inspired by?
  • what did they do?
A
  • A group dedicated to the ideas of the British Glorious revolution of 1688, and inspired by the events of 1789
  • The society sent a message to the states General urging that Britain and France should co-operate to promote freedom

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