The 1784 General Election Flashcards
What was Britain’s debt in 1783?
£240 million
What was the interest being added to Britain’s debt per year in 1783?
£8 million
Who was PM from 1770-1782? Why did his government collapse?
- Lord North, Tory
- loss of 13 American colonies in American war of Independence
What were the successive governments after Lord North?
- Rockingham: March to July 1782
- Shelburne: 1782-1783
- both Whig
What was wrong with the successive Whig governments?
both failed to secure a majority
What government was formed in 1783? How did George III react?
- coalition government between Lord North & Charles James Fox (whig)
- wanted to get rid of Fox asap
Why did the King dislike Charles James Fox?
- he was unpredictable and outspoken and criticised the monarch’s powers
Why did George III have trouble choosing the right candidate for PM?
- two major factions: Rockingham Whigs and Shelburne Whigs
- Rockingham: critical of the monarch’s power
- Shelburne: did not have enough support
Who did George III chose to be PM? When?
- 24 Year Old ‘William Pitt the Younger’
- 1783
How did Pitt view himself?
- an ‘individual whig’ but his policies aligned with the later tory party
Why was Pitt a suitable candidate? (10)
- aptitude for politics
- matriculated into Cambridge at 13
- son of former PM - legacy
- good at speaking - made a large impact in debates
- stickler for independence
- loyal to the king
- ambitious for power
- experience: worked as a barrister
- apart of aristocratic whig family: Grenvilles
Why was Pitt’s administration called a ‘mince pie’
- no one believed it would survive beyond christmas
Why was Pitt’s ambition for power good?
- he was able to withstand hostile opposition
How did MPs react to Pitt being appointed as PM in 1783?
- shocked
Why was Pitt’s administration considered a mince pie?
- he had no following/ a large opposition
- his cabinet was made up of members of the HoL as no one in the commons wanted to support him = isolated in the commons
