Concetti Chiave
- The Hanoverians succeeded the Stuarts as sovereigns of Great Britain, with George I being the first from the Hanover family to rule.
- George I, a German who couldn't speak English, was detached from English political and religious matters, delegating them to his Whig ministers.
- Sir Robert Walpole, a Whig Minister, was pivotal in establishing the concept of Cabinet responsibility and the Prime Minister's dominance.
- Walpole maintained a close working relationship with George I, communicating in Latin, which both understood.
- Under Walpole's leadership, England enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, with his tenure marking the beginning of the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street.
The Rise of the Hanoverians
After the Stuarts, the Hanoverians became sovereigns of Great Britain.
The first member of the Hanover family to sit on the throne of England was George I (1714-1727).
As he was German, he was unable to speak English and for this fact he never had a good appeal or admiration with his subjects.
He always behaved as a stranger in his country, never really caring about policy or the problems about Church and State. For this reason he left to his ministers the duty to handle everything in his place. He just insisted that his ministers had to be Whigs, and also had the good idea to name Sir Robert Walpole as leader, thus promoting English constitutional liberties.
The Influence of Sir Robert Walpole
Sir Robert Walpole was Whig Minister from 1721 to 1742 and he did a lot to evolve the principal of the Common responsibility of the Cabinet, and the supremacy of the Prime Minister as the leading man both in the Cabinet and in the Commons.
Walpole was on good terms with George I, with whom he was used to discuss in Latin (the only language they both could understand) and drink a cup of Punch.
After George I’s death, his successor was George II (1727-1760), who was greatly superior to his father as a king.
The Peace Under Walpole
In those years, however, Walpole’s rule gave England a period of peace and prosperity. He was a right man and a loyal Whig. His mind and character were particularly adapted to the work of pacification at home and abroad.
The common habit of the Prime Minister to have his famous residence at number 10 Downing Street started with him, when George II presented it to Walpole, and Walpole said that he would only accept it as an official gift to be passed to his successors.
But the real gift Sir Robert made to his country was a long period of peace after three generations of strife. In fact the fear of a dynastic counter revolution inspired Walpole’s moderation at home and the peace policy he adopted at home.
Domande da interrogazione
- Who was the first Hanoverian king of Great Britain and what challenges did he face?
- How did Sir Robert Walpole influence the British government during his tenure?
- What was the significance of 10 Downing Street during Walpole's time?
The first Hanoverian king of Great Britain was George I, who reigned from 1714 to 1727. He faced challenges due to his inability to speak English and his lack of interest in domestic policies, which led him to rely heavily on his ministers.
Sir Robert Walpole, serving as Whig Minister from 1721 to 1742, significantly influenced the British government by evolving the principle of the Common responsibility of the Cabinet and establishing the supremacy of the Prime Minister. He maintained good relations with George I and contributed to a period of peace and prosperity in England.
The significance of 10 Downing Street began with Sir Robert Walpole, who accepted it as an official residence from George II, establishing it as the residence for future Prime Ministers. This tradition started with Walpole's tenure, marking it as a symbol of the Prime Minister's office.
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