Why did Britain avoid revolution in the 1790's? Flashcards
Economic
- Relative success of the economy
- Public not angered by high bread prices and unemployment
- Industrial revolution ensured general standard of living was improving over the period.
Social
- Bulk of British population was loyal to the King and his regime
- King’s popularity increased following his illness
- Riots in Birmingham(1791)+ Manchester(1792) by Church and King Clubs against radicals
- Church and King Clubs
- Loyalist Associations set up e.g. John Reeves 1792
- Groups of volunteers
- War with France = radicalism associated with being unpatriotic
Political
- King promoted as Britain’s resistance to the French
- Loyalist propaganda was spread
- Corresponding Societies were not able to coordinate themselves sufficiently
- Aims of radicals + Government opponents were very diverse.
- Moderate Whigs joined the Government in 1794
- Broad based aristocratic Government created
- Radicals were divided regionally and ideologically
- Pitt’s Reign of Terrorr
The Effect of the French Revolution and Radicalism in the 1790’s on Parliamentary Reform (part one)
Support for Parliamentary Reform plummeted after the start of the French Revolution and the war with France prevented any further progress.. Even a proposal by Charles Grey merely for an inquiry into possible improvements to the system was rejected in 1793. A second attempt in 1797 was also rejected.
The Effect of the French Revolution and Radicalism in the 1790’s on Parliamentary Reform (part two)
Pitt’s previous attempts t Parliamentary Reform had stalled and he made no further movement in this direction. There was an understandable decline in enthusiasm for making changes to the political system while there were threats at home and abroad. Parliamentary Reform became associated with radicalism, revolution and being unpatriotic.
Pitt and Catholic Emancipation (part one)
Tensions over rights for Catholics ran high in this period. In June 1780, a mob of 50,000 Protestants led by Lord George Gordon marched to Parliament to protest against the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1778. The Act came from the need to encourage large numbers of Catholics in Scotland to support the state and hopefully, sign up to fight.
Pitt and Catholic Emancipation (part two)
The so-called Gordon Riots were very serious. Initially, the mob targeted Catholic houses, but the situations worsened and for 5 days the capital was subject to rioting that left 300 dead. Over £180,000 of property was destroyed, and order was only restored when the militia and army were called for, even then it took 2 days. Gordon was charged with high treason, but was acquitted. The incident indicated the tremendous danger politicians faced when attempting to tackle the Catholic and Irish questions.
Pitt and Catholic Emancipation (part three)
By 1800, Pitt embarked on a change of policy in relation to Ireland. The 1798 uprising in Ireland against British rule, led by Irishman Wolfe Tone with French support, had highlighted the combustible nature of the Irish situation. The British army conducted savage reprisals against the Irish, but Pitt could see that this type of policy was unlikely to produce a long-term solution. The Act of Union in 1800 brought Ireland and Britain into a new constitutional arrangement - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This meant Irish people lost privileges and rights previously enjoyed
Pitt and Catholic Emancipation (part four)
Pitt decided that the Irish needed to be brought into a more positive arrangement with the British state. Therefore he supported the right of Catholics to become MPs and take up their seats in the Westminster Parliament. George III did not support Catholic Emancipation, as he wished to remain true to his coronation oath to uphold the Church of England as the state religion. In 1801 Pitt, who had previously enjoyed a good relationship with the King, felt compelled to resign over the issue. Pitt did return as Prime Minister in 1804, but his new ministry was cut short by ill health. He died in 1806.
