Chapter 2

Question 1

How old was William Pitt when he was prime minister

Answer 1

24

Question 2

Who was William Pitt main opposition?

Answer 2

Charles James Fox

Question 3

Why was Pitt called a mince pie by his rival ?

Answer 3

They did not think his government would last beyond Christmas

Question 4

What seat was Pitt elected for?

Answer 4

Cambridge

Question 5

What was the national debt when Pitt came to office?

Answer 5

240 million

Question 6

Why did the sinking fund only work in peacetime?

Answer 6

It required a surplus in annual revenue - funds were redirected to wartime efforts

Question 7

Who stepped down in 1804 allowing Pitt to return to office

Answer 7

Henry Addington

Question 8

Whose ministry was dubbed ‘The Ministry of all Talent ‘ and why ?

Answer 8

William Greenville because it included MPs from a board swathe of political opinion e.g. Fox

Question 9

Why did the Duke of Portland resign in 1809?

Answer 9

His administration was accused of military ineptitude and corruption also he failed to direct wartime policy

Question 10

Which of William Pitt successors was assassinated?

Answer 10

Spencer Perceval

Question 11

Identify two pressing issues that Pitt needed to tackle in 1793 ?

Answer 11

1) radicalism
2) government finances

Question 12

Why did Pitt resign in 1801?

Answer 12

Over the Act of Union and issue of catholic emancipation

Question 13

Who succeed Pitt as PM in 1801 and why did he resign in 1804 ?

Answer 13

Henry Addington - resigned as war had begun again and he was facing criticism

Question 14

What happened to George III son in 1811 ?

Answer 14

He became Prince Regent due to his father begin mentally sick and unstable

Question 15

Who was assassinated in the House of Commons lobby in may 1812 ?

Answer 15

Spencer Perceval

Question 16

Who was William Pitt ?

Answer 16

-He was former prime minister in 1783
- he was chosen by the king
- precocious and clever with a fierce intellect who had a passion for politics and a deep ambition for power
-however was a reserved and distant character

Question 17

How was the relationship between William Pitt and king George III ?

Answer 17

There both had mutual politeness and respect but their relationship lacked any warmth of feeling and remained guarded throughout

Question 18

Political crisis of 1782

Answer 18

• due to the loss of the American colonies George III started to face the most serious political crisis of his reign
• his favourite lord north had resign and was forced to accept a Whig ministry led by Lord Rockingham who he detested but still managed a majority in the commons but later died unexpectedly
  -Lord Shelburne was appointed however his skills was question because of the close relationship he holds with the king
  -in 1782 the appointed William Pitt chancellor of exchequer many suggest the reason behind this was because the system was running out of talent material
  -Shelburne ministry was rapidly short lived .
• which led to a colation government between Lord north and Charles James fox who they were defeated in 1783 due to them not compatible plus king George detested their ministry and king manoeuvred to destroy their collation and they were dismissed at the earliest opportunity.

Question 19

Why was Pitt appointed as PM ?

Answer 19

-the king needed someone he could restore national confidence
- he refused the accept Lord Rockingham ministry who had a majority in the commons however they wanted to curb his power
- Shelburne Whig who supported the kings position did not have enough backing to hold together a government
-however Pitt in the spite of his youth he had made a strong impression in parliament as chancellor with his outstanding debating and logistical arguments
-by appointing him the king could keep the ambitious fox out of office

Question 20

Reasons for a mince pie administration

Answer 20

-Pitt had no following in the commons and was faced with a large majority opposition
-no member of the commons would serve his cabinet which he made up of members of the lords leaving him isolated
-it was almost impossible to pass any measures through parliament
-his position was very weak that many named his administration the mince pie was they were sure it would not survive beyond Christmas
-

Question 21

What led to Charles James fox to lose support?

Answer 21

His outspoken condemnation of the king action made him lost vital support

Question 22

Reasons against a mince pie administration?

Answer 22

-when votes went against Pitt in the House of Commons and calls where made for his resignation Pitt stood his ground
-his personal ambition made him determined to cling on power until he could gain the necessary majority

Question 23

why did William Pitt win the 1784 election?

Answer 23

-Fox majority was decreasing
-king used all influences possible in government controlled borough
-Pitt used the sizeable election fund at his disposal provided by the king
-Pitt was elected for Cambridge the seat he held for the rest of his life
-he held mostly support from the Whig’s who supported his dad and also moderate tories
- king used his patronage to create new peers in the lords from the wealthy merchant class city to overwhelm the old Whig aristocracy so Pitt could count support from the upper house

Question 24

How much was the national debt in 1784?

Answer 24

240 million