Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Section Section

Britain at Mid-Century Britain at Mid-Century

Britain builds an Empire Britain builds an Empire

• Colonial and CommercialColonial and Commercial

• Developed a Constitutional Developed a Constitutional Monarchy: A political system Monarchy: A political system somewhere between absolute somewhere between absolute monarchies of the past and the later monarchies of the past and the later democratic governments democratic governments

English Trade Routes English Trade Routes

Global ExpansionGlobal Expansion““Why is England able to become so Why is England able to become so

strong”strong” • Geography played a key role because Geography played a key role because

it made it easier for the to tradeit made it easier for the to trade

• Successes in war helped their economySuccesses in war helped their economy – Slave trade in Spanish America (Brought Slave trade in Spanish America (Brought

enormous wealth to England) enormous wealth to England) – Victory in the 7 Years war gave Britain all of Victory in the 7 Years war gave Britain all of

French Canada French Canada – The British East India Company pushed the The British East India Company pushed the

French out of India (Great for Trade) French out of India (Great for Trade)

Global ExpansionGlobal Expansion““Why is England able to become so Why is England able to become so strong”strong”• They offered a more favorable business They offered a more favorable business

climate then the other European climate then the other European nationsnations– Fewer restrictions on trade Fewer restrictions on trade

• Union with Scotland Union with Scotland – The Act of the Union united England and The Act of the Union united England and

Scotland Scotland – Allowed free trade between the countries Allowed free trade between the countries – Created a larger marked for Farmers and Created a larger marked for Farmers and

Manufactures Manufactures

IrelandIreland

• England controlled Ireland from England controlled Ireland from about the 1100’s about the 1100’s

• Protestant England tried to subdue Protestant England tried to subdue Catholic Ireland Catholic Ireland

• The Irish resisted and were defeated The Irish resisted and were defeated

Growth of Constitutional Growth of Constitutional Government Government

• 3 new political institutions arose after the 3 new political institutions arose after the Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution– Political Parties Political Parties – The Cabinet The Cabinet – The Prime Minister The Prime Minister

• These 3 helped define what is a These 3 helped define what is a Constitutional Government: A government Constitutional Government: A government that is defined and limited by law that is defined and limited by law

• Not as formal as the US constitution Not as formal as the US constitution

Gordon Brown prime minister of England

Political Parties Political Parties

• The Tories and the Whigs are the 2 The Tories and the Whigs are the 2 parties that emerge parties that emerge

• Kind of like our Democrats and Kind of like our Democrats and Republicans Republicans

• Tories: Conservative, Aristocrats who Tories: Conservative, Aristocrats who sought to preserve traditions sought to preserve traditions

The Tories The Tories

• ConservativeConservative

• Aristocrats who sought to preserve Aristocrats who sought to preserve traditionstraditions

• Broad Royal power and a dominant Broad Royal power and a dominant Anglican Church Anglican Church

The Whigs The Whigs

• Backed more liberal policies Backed more liberal policies

• More likely to reflect urban business More likely to reflect urban business interests interests

• Supported religious toleration Supported religious toleration

• Favored parliament over the crown Favored parliament over the crown

• For mush of the 1700’s the Whigs For mush of the 1700’s the Whigs dominated Parliament dominated Parliament

Political parties Political parties

• Not like what we know today Not like what we know today

• More like cliques of rich powerful More like cliques of rich powerful men men

• Linked by family ties Linked by family ties

• Pooled votes to advance common Pooled votes to advance common interests interests

The Cabinet System The Cabinet System

• Started because an heir to the throne Started because an heir to the throne (George I from Germany) spoke no (George I from Germany) spoke no English English

• A handful of parliamentary advisers A handful of parliamentary advisers set policies set policies

• Called the cabinet because they met Called the cabinet because they met in small rooms in small rooms

• Made up mostly of leaders from the Made up mostly of leaders from the majority party majority party

The Prime Minister The Prime Minister

• Head of the Cabinet Head of the Cabinet

• Leader of the Majority PartyLeader of the Majority Party

• Chief official in England Chief official in England

Politics and Society Politics and Society

• The British government was far from The British government was far from democratic it was more of an democratic it was more of an Oligarchy: a government in which a Oligarchy: a government in which a ruling power belongs to a few people ruling power belongs to a few people

• The ruling elite controlled the The ruling elite controlled the government for some time through government for some time through many poor tacticsmany poor tactics

George III reasserts Royal George III reasserts Royal Power Power

• Wanted to Wanted to – End Whig domination End Whig domination – Choose his own Prime Minister Choose his own Prime Minister – Dissolve the Cabinet System Dissolve the Cabinet System – Make the house of commons follow his Make the house of commons follow his

willwill

• Was successful at gaining all he Was successful at gaining all he wanted wanted

George IIIGeorge III

Problems for George Problems for George

• After the 7 Years war George adopted a After the 7 Years war George adopted a new policy new policy – All British colonies in America must pay for All British colonies in America must pay for

their own defenses their own defenses – Colonists protests and George passed harsh Colonists protests and George passed harsh

laws that Americans were forced to obey laws that Americans were forced to obey – Some of these laws led to the American Some of these laws led to the American

revolution revolution – George will not have strong rule for long George will not have strong rule for long