What was life like in 1783? Flashcards
Solutions to problems faced by Pitt?
Keeps subjects happy by using their ideas in policies
Expansion + invasion - more exploitation
Stay in power by gaining the king’s support and building a strong cabinet.
Tax the rich more and poor less
Solve famine by pushing for more farmers - supporting them.
Improve tradelinks of the British Empire.
What was the social structure?
Aristocracy - Privileged ruling elite who were great landowners,
Those with substantial property/influence
Gentry - lesser land owners
Yeomen - very small lamdowners
Tenent farmers
Peasants.
What was the population demographic like?
Population of Wales and England was 7.7 million.
10% of the population lived in London
Norwich was the largest town in Britain - main centre of arable farming
What was the economy like?
1780 Britain was almost a rural country - producing its own food
South and east was the main centre for arable farming and the north and west were heavily dependant upon sheep farming.
People were not always paid money. Tenant farmers sometimes lived on land. Some workers only earned a wage of 8 shillings.
Qualities of PM/Cabinet
Cabinet was a small group of minsters who met weekly and advised the monarch.
PM used patronage
Chose a member from both main politcal parties, Whigs and Tories
Qualities of the HOL and HOC
HOL were made up of hereditary peers
HOL could block measures made by the HOC.
Nobles were main members
New lords could be created if the Monarch awarded loyalty.
HOC were elected
MPs belonged to the Gentry.
Responsible for making laws and checking the work of the Government
Political qualities of the King
Desperately tried to influence policy decisions.
Held special right to appoint ministers. (chose ones to support his ideas)
Position weakened due to the loss of the American Colonies
During reign the position of PM became more important.
Appointed William Pitt in 183 after undermining the North-Fox coalition
What was representation like?
Members of the HOL had little interest in political reform as they didn’t want to lose their privileges.
Industrialisatation was changing the social and economic situations.
Parliament was dominated by wealthy landowners who believed the constitution was close to perfect.
Qualities of Franchise
In 1783 250,000/ 8 million could vote
Elections were corrupt
No uniform qualifications for rights for voting.
What was the impact of the Bill of rights 1689?
It established Britain as Aa democracy with a constitutional monarchy.
Why was representation unfair?
Very small electorate made up of the wealthy. Only around 500,000 could vote.
About 200 aristocracy members controlled the nation’s land and dominated political and social leadership.
The ‘Country seats’ were given to anyone who owned property worth 40 shillings (£2) could vote.
Great landowners had patronage as they could determine who could sat in Commons - many sons of those in the HOL - rich control the poor.
In many boroughs, the number of possible voters was fewer than 100 and sometimes even fewer than a dozen.
People used money and power to pursuade and bribe.
What was the problem with constituencies?
Places that qualified to be boroughs were based of history rather than current commercial significance.
Lacks of MPs caused underrepresentation. Cornwall sent 44 MPs to Parliament whereas Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, and Birmingham, with a combined population of over 120,000 in 1780 did not have a single MP between them.
Who were the main Political Parties?
The Whigs - against catholic emancipation, wanted to abolish the monarchy, wanted political reform.
The Tories- Supported catholic emancipation, Supported the monarchy.
