The Eighteenth Century

Liberty Gerorge III was the first Hanoverian king to be born in Britain and take an active interest in political matters. Key ministers chosen from aristocratic class, these ministers controlled government. Parliament still only represented a small number of people. Only home owners earning above a certain income were able to vote. Borughs/Counties returned Members of Parliament. Easy for rich to manipulate who went to Parliament Parliament was in no way democratic.

John Wilkes Wilkes was a Whig M.P. He believed politics should be open to free speech, which was the right of every individual. When George III made peace with France (1763) without telling his ally Frederick of Prussia Wilkes had the perfect oportunity to strike. He attacked George’s behaviour in his newspaper ´North Briton’ He was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower.- free speech was not tolerated. Wilkes, however, fooght back and won his case in court. His victory established that the freedom of the individual is more important than the state and that no one could be arrested without a proper reason. Wilkes had become the most popular man in London

The Rise of Newspapers The ruling class was not used to considering the opinions of ordinary people. Between 1750 and 1770 the number of newspapers increased greatly. These were read by an incresingly literate but disenfranchised population. Road improvement meant papers could be redistributed all over the country relatively quickly. More newspapers meant more political discussion. Converstaion clubs sprung up all over the country Ordinary people who had no part to play in politics asked and discussed questions unheard of years previously. Wilkes showed that Parliament did not represent the ordinary people. His victory led to people organising political activity outside Parliament. Politics was no longer the preserve of the landed Gentry.

The Loss Of America English government saw colonists as British subjects. In 1700 there had been 200,000 of them but by 1770 there were 2.5 million. Careful governance needed. In 1773/4 a serious dispute over taxation broke out. Some colonists felt that it was unfair that the British tax them without their agreement. British public opinion was divided – on one side was Wilkles et al. and on the other, those who felt that colonists should pay for their protection against the French. Boston Tea Party – ultimately led to the Amercian War of Independence ( ). British felt that it would be a walkover. Yet, they were defeated and left with only Canada. Many British politicans supported the colonists became known as the ´Radicals’. For the first time British politicians supported the rights of the King’s subjects abroad to govern themselves and to fight for their rights against the King. New ideas of democracy and independence stregthened by the war in America. Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine two of the more imporatant radicals.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Ireland Defeat of James II in 1690 had severe and long term effects on the Irish people. The 'Penal Laws’ By 1770’s life, though, had become somewhat easier for the Catholics and some of the worst laws had been removed. Ulster protestants, however, not happy and formed the first 'Orange Orders’ In order to increase British control, Ireland was united with Britain in 1801 and the Dublin Parliament closed. United Kingdom of Great Britian and Ireland lasted for 120 years. Politicians promised Ireland that when they became part of Britain the Catholics would get equal voting oportunities. However, George II and most Tories were unwilling to let this happen.

Protestant mural celebrating victory of King William III at the Battle of the Boyne.

Scotland Scotland also suffered from the efforts of the Stuarts to ragin the British throne Jacobite rebellion. Led by 'Bonny Prince Charlie’. Landed in Scotland, persuaded some clan chiefs to join him. Rebellion more successful than anyone imagined....initially. Panic spread throughout England as the British army was fighting in Europe against the French. However, the rebelllion, when it crossed into England, depended on English Jacobites joining it. They did not, and the army retreated back into Scotland where it was defeated at the Battle of Culloden (1746) English army punished those responsible (and those who were not) harshly. Ethnic cleansing