Chapter 1: Pitt the Younger
dates events
1783 Appointed as Prime Minister
1784 Passes the Mutiny Bill
May 1784 Won General election
Oct 1784 India Act
1785 Taxes on retail shops
1786 Eden Treaty, Civil List, and Sinking Fund
1787 Hoover Act
1788 Regency Crisis
1789 French Revolution
1790 Henry Flood’s reform bill rejected by the majority of the Parliament
1792 London Corresponding Society, Pitt not wanting the king to make a royal
proclamation on ‘seditious publications’, September Massacre
March 1793 Declared war on Revolutionary war
1794 Temporarily suspended Habeas Corpus → led to leading Whigs support Pitt
1795 Passing of the Gagging Acts
1797 Naval Mutinies → Seduction against Duty and Allegiance Acts and Acts against
unlawful oaths
1798 Combinations Act
Dec 1799 Introduction of Income tax
1799 Newspaper Act
1801 Pitt resigns
1804 Returns as Prime Minister
1806 Dies
,Chapter 1 summary/takeaway:
● Pitt was able to maintain and improve his position as PM through a mixture of strength of
purpose and royal support.
○ Election of 1784 proved to a turning point leading to fiscal and administrative reform
● Achievements in finance and administration, his strengths, had him winning the support of
independent MPs
○ He had backing from King George III because the King did not like the opposition
and the friendship that the Prince of Wales had with him (Charles James Fox)
● The effects of Pitt’s economic policies were:
○ A substantial increase in Britain’s trade and upturn in the economy. Confidence was
restored in the £
○ Worries, especially over the National Debt, ended and more people were prepared
and able to lend to Government at guaranteed rates of interest
○ Anglo-American trade quadrupled, providing an example of the effectiveness of free
trade
○ Pitt rebuilt the finical foundations of Britain, which later enabled him to subsidise
European armies to fight France in the French (Napoleonic) Wars
○ He had also other means of collecting money
■ Such as taxing luxury goods – servants, windows, carriages, wig powder
○ He was able to cut down import duty on tea from 119% to 25%
○ By cutting down duty on things that are imported such as tea and tobacco, he was
able to cut down smuggling, which helped the
● Had considerable political skills
○ Did not clash with any vested interests
○ Did not press for reform - he knew it would create divisions within Parliament
○ Used peerage to maintain support in the Lords
○ Despite addiction to alcohol, he still should a continuing command of political topics
and policies and was respected by Parliament
○ A greater orator that also helped him gain peers/support
■ He was rarely emotive and instead he was cool, incisive and a master of
reasoned argument.
● However, he was dependent on favourable circumstances.
○ Regency Crisis - fortunately, for him, the King recovered
○ Success in the Eden Treaty
○ Lucky that the opposition was divided
○ The war with France allowed for his ministry to be associated with patriotism
● The French Revolution divided opinion in Britain → radical activity was threatening the
stability of the country and this was all due to the growth of radicalism in France and the
outbreak of war
● Main form of Radicalism - the formation clubs and societies
○ The only direct confrontation was the naval mutinies in 1797, however, more
interested in the conditions on board ship rather than ideologies and theories
● Government response brought about an unusual amount of counter-revolutionary activity
○ The most significant political ideas thrown up by the French Revolution’s impact in
Britain came from Thomas Paine, in favour of revolution and Edmund Burke against
it.
, Passing the Mutiny Bill
Shows his growing support, which he needed if he were to succeed in winning the election
India Act
It established the dual system of control by the British Government and the East India Company, by which the
company retained control of commerce and day-to-day administration, but important political matters were
reserved to a secret committee of three directors in direct touch with the British Government --> to have better
control over India
Sinking Fund
Setting aside £1 million p.a. which accumulated at compound interest. This fund needed a constant surplus of
revenue but despite deficits in 1785 and 1787, the system appeared secure by 1793 when Britain became involved
in the French Wars.
Regency Crisis
Seemed like Prince George would take over and Pitt be dismissed so Pitt played for time in
order to prevent establishment of a Regency
However, the King recovered quickly and therefore this situation was averted
Hoover Act
To cut down on smuggling --> one of his policies to increase revenue in the country
ESSAY PLANS:
“The most important reason for Pitt’s political dominance in the period 1783-1801 was the
weakness of the opposition.”
1. Yes - Whigs were weak and internally divided and could not provide meaningful opposition
2. No, it was Pitt’s personal reputation, his reforms which led to an economic recovery that were
responsible for Pitt’s dominance
3. No, King’s continual support for Pitt, attracting independent MPs whilst further reducing the
strength of the Whigs
4. Political circumstances aligned to galvanise support behind Pitt and Crown, namely the war
with France and the growth of radicalism
How serious was the threat of revolution in Britain 1789-97?
1. Political
2. Economic conditions
3. Support from the elite
4. War
How well did Pitt’s Government respond to the radical threat in the 1790s?
1. Took great measures against unrest
2. Limited
3.
How successful was Pitt’s reform of government administration and finance, 1784-93?
