Chapter One Flashcards
How was the Monarch dependent on Parliament?
Financially. Parliament granted the monarch funds via the yearly civil list. Therefore, although the monarch could veto legislation, he was unlikely to do so if it jeopardised his income.
What was the Bill of Rights?
- Restricted power of the monarchy.
What was the House of Lords?
Unelected hereditary peers. Could block measures suggested by the commons.
What was the House of Commons?
Elected assembly. Controlled taxation and checked on the Ministers, as the PM needed stability in the Commons to carry on in government.
Why did the Whigs monopolise political power for most of the eighteenth century?
The Monarch chose the most prominent member from whichever party had the majority in Commons. The Whigs had the majority because the Tories continued t suffer from their attempts to restore the Stuart Monarchy.
Why did Pitt becoming PM in 1784 result in the Commons assuming a greater importance?
Because he already had the Monarchs support and therefore depended heavily on the support of the Commons.
What political crisis occured before Pitt became PM?
Lord North resigned, was replaced by Lord Rockingham, who died and was replaced by Shelburne, who was brought down by Charles James Fox and Lord North, whom the King detested, and thus brought down and replaced with Pitt.
How did Industrialisation emphasise the need for political reform?
People moved to rapidly expanding towns and cities, and yet these towns and cities sent less representatives than the smaller boroughs.
What were pocket and rotten boroughs?
Pocket= controlled entirely by the landowner. Rotten= few qualified voters and yet still sent two mps.
Why was the electoral procedure corrupt?
Not all seats were contested, pocket borough’s landowner nominated the MP who ran unopposed, and voting was public, resulting in bribery and corruption.
How often were elections for the Commons held and what did this mean?
Every seven years. Many seats were not contested, the electorate often did not get the opportunity to use their votes since there were compromises between landowning families to agree to their nomination
What reform attempts did Pitt make?
1785 he proposed a bill to redistribute seats, the King disapproved, the same in 1792 and 1795 he was defeated in Commons and 1788 he called for the Abolition of Slavery.
What did the Whigs believe?
Political power should be with the people, the monarch should not interfere. They soon became associated with reform. Believed in religious toleration for Dissenters.
What did the Tories believe?
People were the monarch’s subjects and it was their duty to obey. Sovereignty belonged to the monarch. Hostile to Radicals, Dissenters and Catholics.
Who were the Radicals?
Politicians who argued for political and social change.
