Concetti Chiave
- The Hanoverian Dynasty began in 1714 with George I, who was unpopular due to his German roots and inability to speak English.
- Parliament gained power during the Restoration, but representation was limited and often influenced by noble families through non-secret votes.
- Walpole's Government marked the rise of the Whigs after overcoming the 1715 Jacobite rebellion, leading to government by Cabinet.
- Sir Robert Walpole became the first Prime Minister, promoting trade by reducing customs duties and maintaining low taxes despite corruption accusations.
- England experienced industrial growth, especially in cloth-making, coal mining, and iron-smelting, despite challenges like poor transport and lack of capital.
The Hanoverian Dynasty
The dynasty of Hanover followed the Stuart when Queen Anne died in 1714 and George (Hanover) I ascended to the throne of England. George I was Anne’s nearest protestant relative but was unpopular among the people as he didn’t speak English and had a preference for Germany. During the Restoration period the Parliament had gained more power but was not very representative of the country; for example many of its members were not chosen by the people but paid by the greatest noble families and less than 10% of them represented Scotland. Being the votes non secret people were induced by the landowners to give their vote to certain politicians who in return promised money and jobs.
Walpole's Government
When a Jacobite rebellion that had broken out in Scotland in 1715 was overpowered, the Tory party weakened and the Whigs took the lead. Their ministers started to assemble without the King beginning the kind of Government by Cabinet as it exists today. All Cabinet ministers were equal at first but slowly some gained more power and began to lead the others. The first leading minister, known as the Prime Minister, was Sir Robert Walpole who stayed in power for more than twenty years. Under his guidance, the international trade flourished thanks to the removal of customs duties on import-export of raw materials, and taxes were kept low. At the death of George I his son, George II, came to the throne and Walpole kept his position as Prime Minister although his government had been accused of corruption by the opposing newspaper “The Craftsman”. On the contrary, the new King relied deeply on Walpole and gave him a house in Westminster, house which was to become, and still is, the official residence of the Prime Minister of England. But the opposition was still strong and although Walpole won the elections, with difficulty, the Government and the Prime Minister’s abuse of legal power were the object of satirical attacks even in theatres, until they were censured in 1737.
Industrial Development in England
Meanwhile, England was characterized by a remarkable industrial development and progress was made in particular in cloth-making, coal mining and iron-smelting. But the lack of capital and the poor transport facilities delayed this progress and led to the first signs of the upcoming Agrarian and Industrial revolution.
Domande da interrogazione
- What were the circumstances that led to the Hanoverian Dynasty's rise to the English throne?
- What were the early signs of the Agrarian and Industrial Revolution in England during this period?
The Hanoverian Dynasty ascended to the English throne when Queen Anne died in 1714, and George I, her nearest Protestant relative, became king. Despite his unpopularity due to language barriers and a preference for Germany, he was chosen following the Stuart dynasty.
England experienced significant industrial development, particularly in cloth-making, coal mining, and iron-smelting. However, progress was hindered by a lack of capital and poor transport facilities, marking the initial stages of the Agrarian and Industrial Revolution.
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