Britain in 1783

An Introduction
 A Level History
• 2 taught units:
• Industrialisation and the People, Britain, 1783-1885 (Unit 1F
Breadth Study) = 40%.
• The Transformation of China, 1936-97 (Unit 2P Depth Study) =
40%.

• 1 Coursework Assignment
• NEA (Non Examined Assessment or Coursework) = 20%
(3500/4500 words).
 Expectations
• You are now studying for an Advanced Level.
• Therefore you will need to be independent in your approach.
• Set aside time to read - we will provide a reading list and downloaded
articles for you.
• Your notes are especially important. Take a pride in your work,
whether it is an independent task or in preparation for a lesson.
• It is good practice to review your work at the end of each week.
• Keep your folders sorted.
• Discussion and debate is essential to good learning.
• Take a real interest in your learning. You have chosen this! There is an
abundance of resources out there, engage with them.
• If in any doubt, or have a question then please ask!
 How can I enhance my learning outside of
lessons?
• Extra reading – see the reading list.
• Listen to podcasts e.g. BBC, Historical
Association, History Extra etc.
• Watch documentaries and dramas.
• Stay interested, stay on top of your notes.
• Get organized!
 Britain, 1783-1885

● How was Britain governed and how did democracy and political organisations change
and develop?
● What pressures did governments face and how did they respond to these?
● How and with what results did the economy develop and change?
● How and with what results did society and social policy develop?
● How important were ideas and ideology?
● How important was the role of individuals and groups and how were they affected by
developments?
 Starter Questions

1.How will A-level History differ from GCSE?

2.Why study history? What is history?

3.Why study Britain in the 19th century?

4. What do you already know about Britain in the late 18th

century?
Britain in 1783 - initial ideas/notes:

● Population: 9m
● Monarch: George III
● Prime Minister: William Pitt the Younger
● Main industry: Farming, coal, wool.
● Foreign Affairs: Loss of America, India, revolution in
France
George III 1760-1820
George III and his wife Charlotte of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz with some of
their 15 children!
Political System in the 1780s
1. Aristocratic oligarchy. Role of the king-in-parliament. See Asa Briggs’
interpretation page 1 AQA textbook.
2. Dominated by ‘propertied’ men.
3. Patronage played a crucial role.
4. Hierarchical but with room for ‘talent’ to emerge.
5. Political parties - Whig and Tory.
6. Dominated by great political families - Pelhams, Bedfords, Grenvilles,
Rockinghams etc.
7. HOWEVER: House of Commons controlled finance - so stable government
depended on a good working relationship between monarch and Commons.
8. No uniform franchise and little evidence of contested elections, many seats
had few voters e.g. 19 in Helston (Cornwall) in 1796. New urban areas NOT
represented.
The Political System, compared: 1780 vs today.

Late 18th/Early 19th Century Today

● Very small electorate (voters). Approx 1 in
24 adult males aged over 21 could vote.
● Elections every 7 years.
● Open ballot (allowed bribery, corruption
and intimidation).
● Parties are factions of one small group
(the upper class).
● Towns under-represented.
● Monarch possessed significant political
power.
● Adults aged over 18 can vote.
● Elections every 5 years.
● Secret ballot.
● Party competition.
● Even distribution of seats.
● Monarch acts as a figurehead.
Population Statistics

➔ 1700 - 5.4m (England and Wales)

➔ 1801 - 8.9m (England and Wales)
➔ 1811 - 10.1m (England and Wales) - 17.9m (Great Britain)
➔ 1821 - 12m (England and Wales) - 20.8m (GB)
➔ 1831 - 13.9m (England and Wales) - 24m (GB)

N.B. 1911 - 36m (England and Wales) - 45.2m (GB)

William Pitt the Younger: PM in 1783 (1759-1806)
● Born 1759.
● Son of William Pitt (b.1708 - d.1778 and PM 1756-61
and again 1766-68), later Earl of Chatham. Decisive
role in the Seven Years’ War.
● His mother, Hestor, was sister of George Grenville
PM 1763-65
● Home educated then aged 14 went to Cambridge
university.
● Huge Intellectual ability.
● Elected MP 1780 (Appleby in Westmorland)
● Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1782.
● PM in 1783 aged 24!
● Won the 1784 election and remained PM until 1801.
Economic and social developments in the 1780s
➔ New technologies in steam and textiles = IR.
➔ Traditional urban areas (London, Bristol, Liverpool and Norwich) challenged
by new urban development e.g Manchester 40,000 in 1780 to 70,000 by
1801.
➔ In 1750 15% of GB population town dwellers, by 1800 this reached 25% and
by 1880 it was 80%.
➔ What do you think were the consequences of this?
➔ Other changes? Banking and communications.
➔ Power and wealth linked to the land.
➔ Approx. 400 noble families in 1780.
➔ Class structure/stratified society: nobility, gentry, yeomanry, labourer.
➔ MPs required a property/wealth.
➔ https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter/
Locate key industrial
areas and main
cities.
Britain in the 1780s - International Context

● Seven Years’ War 1756-63 - ended French power in North America.

● American War of Independence 1776-83 - ended Britain’s power in
the American Colonies, but not Canada.
● https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000k90q : ‘The Long View’ on the loss of the
Americas.
● French revolution 1789 - end of the monarchy and ancien regime, political
and social upheaval.

https://www.coursera.org/lecture/french-revolution/2-1-an-atlantic-crisis-TfBQA
The Long View - loss of the Americas
➢ The loss of America was seen as a massive blow to Britain’s prestige = ‘blame
game’.
➢ But doom mongers proved wrong, it was NOT a disaster.
➢ Impact on the slave trade?
○ Did it weaken or strengthen the abolition movement?
○ Yet 1790s saw significant growth in slave trade.
➢ Impact on slavery?
○ Consolidated slavery in the deep south of the USA.
○ Yet provided impetus for abolition in the northern states.
➢ Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776 - Mercantilism of the 18th C. replaced
by Free Trade of 19th C.
➢ British empire consolidated after loss of Americas e.g. India, Australia (Cook,
1770s), South Africa.
➢ 1789 French Revolution - the cataclysmic event for Britain?
 The Plum Pudding in Danger, 1805
by James Gillray

Dave Brown, The Independent

10 December 2020
Britain’s strengths and weaknesses in 1783
Strengths Weaknesses