The 18th and 19th century- through the lense of the monarchy

There was no monarchy for 11 years. The stewards were weak monarchs.
When Charles II came back from exile/hospitality of Louis the 14, the monarchy continued
getting weaker and weaker.
One reason was the monarchs were incompitant, thought of themselves as divine (Stewards).
Queen Ann died without an heir, the end of their time on the throne. Her sister Mary came
from the Netherlands with her husband William. William got his interest elsewhere, needed
money to lead wars with France.
Time of foreigners on throne/18th century/Hanovarians on the throne:
The Hanovarians had the right to come to the throne. They were Georges. 1-4th, succession
of Georges from Hanover. Spent their lives there.
George the first; had his interests elsewhere. George the third was first George born in
England, went mad in his last years of his reign. Hug trees, bow to them, “ambassador”.
The Stewards were in conflict with the Parliament, the Georges didn't care. Their period on
the throne marks the presence of powerful prime ministers.
Weak Monarchy, and powerful prime ministers.
Age of reason and industrial revolution
Agriculture:
For the first time, to increase food production, used crop rotation and fertilizer and selective
breeding for domestic animals.
Factories
Spinning wheel
First conflicts between factory workers and factory owners: workers didn't like it. Man
against the machine. Fewer were needed to operate the wheel. There was a movement of
luditights from the leader “Lewdittites”. He was the one that stopped the wheeling.
James Watts invented the steam engine/locomotive
Slave Industry:
in british colonies slavery was legal 1833. Slade trade was called triangle trade. Poor quality
goods were shipped from Britain to Africa and traded for slaves. Then, slaves were packed in
slave ships and were sent from africa to the west indies. Then the slaves were sold and the
money was used to buy sugar and shipped to England.
When Queen Ann died in 1714 without an heir, George the II, James II, thought he had rights
to the throne but he was asked to leave. He left but only for a moment, and then he collected
some Scotts and the Irish supported him and there was an uprising. The Stewards wanted to
come back to the throne but failed. The Torreys supported the ones who wanted the Stewards
back. When George I defeated James, in order to spite the Torrists. He inherited the same
prime minister from Queen Ann, Sir Robert Wilpol. Queen Ann was busy making an heir. He
was a black character. He closed down the theaters. Maybe a good Prime Minister. He
imposed taxes on tea, coffee. Though he found a good way to pay off National Debt. South
Sea Company pays off debt, has a monopoly to trade in the south seas. Turned out to be a
dramatic failure. Called the “South Sea Bubble” because people invested a lot of money, but
they lost their fortunes. George I trusted him. There was an opposition against Walpol.
William Pitt the Elder
He created the British empire. He was in opposition to Walpole. England had to define her
enemies; France and Spain. He understood that Britain had to win the race for an overseas
trade power with France. It was not easy to beat France because France was allied with Spain
and there were many wars on the continent. For example in Austria about Austrian
succession. That war with France took place in Canada because this was the strengthening of
the colonies. The British in 1756 could pride themselves in great success because they took
Quebec and Montreal. They were important because of fish, fur and wood. The beginning of
great British colonization. Got Bengal in India. India soon would be called the jewel in the
English crown.
George I:
Defeated James the Steward, but never learned English.
George II:
Was not a great King, but at least he was a good soldier. The last who led his people in the
battle. Great lover of the theater. He and his wife had seen every performance and ballet and
orchestra and choir.
George III:
He came to the throne in 1760. Three years later, he made peace with France. During his
reign, England lost her colonies in America. He is blamed for the loss of colonies. His Prime
Minister was William Pitt the Younger. He was a boy of wonder, genius, and great ideas.
George blindly believed and trusted him. Had great ideas but didn't have experience. George
went mad in 1810. He was closed in the Windsor Castle and George IIII ruled for him.
War of Independence/American Revolution:
The war lasted from 1775-1783. Began with the Boston Tea Party (2 years). This was when
the colonists refused to pay high taxes imposed on tea. “No taxation without representation”,
which we heard in the Magna Carta. Means that the Prime minister or monarch cannot
impose taxes as they please, and need approval of the Parliament.
In consequence of the war, England lost everything but Canada. England had no business
fighting those wars.
In 1793 England led another war. Went after France, to defend Belgium and Netherlands (low
countries).
Towards end of the century, a great figure: Napoleon
Challenged the world and Britain.
Two great Generals/Marshals who had the courage to oppose and win with Napoleon Sir
On the sea: Horatio Nelson, the one who destroyed the French and Spanish Fleet in 1805.
His last words were “England expects everyone to do their duty”.
On the land: Duke Wellington; a famous commander. Contributed to Napoleon's defeat in
Waterloo in 1815.
Two Jacobite uprisings.
1715
1745
Exam question: The growth of the Empire in the 18th century. Must mention slave trade,
William Pitt the Elder, wars with France and in consequence India and Canada, interest in
lowcountries, defeat of Napoleon.
19th century:
1815 Waterloo. England had 13 million people. When the Great War broke out in 1814, it
was 40 million. It was growing in colonies. England feared Russia. There was a fear of
Russia expunging to the South. They decided to support Turkey against the Russians.
England got involved in the Crimean War in 1854.
Even more powerful prime ministers 1837-1901 Queen Victoria

Victorias Prime Ministers:

Lord Melbourne: a wig. Against Sir Robert Peel. When the wigs lost in the elections,
Victoria didn't want to let him go because she loved him, father-like figure and because when
a certain party was in power, the ladies of the bedchamber had to be the wives of the wigs.
When Sir Robert Peel won, tories, Victoria didn't want to exchange her ladies of the
bedchamber, and so they didn't.
Victoria was difficult to be with. When she married Albert, she was happy, had her fits, but
Albert had his ways with her. 1861 he died at 42 years of age. He died because when he
complained that he was feeling ill, she called the doctors but it was too late. After her
husband died, she refused to sign documents. Locked herself in rooms. People got concerned
then indignant. She hated tories, did not like liberals. She was lucky with Prime Ministers.
Sir Robert Peel: England had modern police force and income tax.
Lord Palmerstone: Great diplomat. International diplomacy. Especially his foreign policy in
Egypt, China.She didn't like him.
Sir William Gladstone: Wanted autonomy for Ireland, spokesman for Ireland. Free
education for all.
Benjamin Disraily: was a man of letters, wrote good literature. Peace in Ireland. Not a great
Prime Minister but he had a way with the Queen. Coaxed her back to public life. Started
making public appearances and signing documents.

Victorias book “Our Life in the Highlands” published in 1868

Diary with drawings, life of Royal Family presented as people.
Won the hearts of her subjects.

1851 the Great Exhibition

Even more powerful prime ministers 1837-1901 Queen Victoria