I. Development of the Cabinet System of government in England
A. Parliament extended and cemented its power over the monarchy in the Glorious Revolution: monarch reigned and ruled but Parliament
held final authority
B. The English throne was occupied for many years by unfamiliar or uncaring monarchs [George I (reigned 1714-1727) and George II(reigned
1727-1760)] allowing Parliament to increase its power further
C. Monarchs following the Glorious Revolution (William III, Anne, George I, George II) recognized the need for royal ministers to
communicate and work with Parliament
1. William III realized Parliamentary relations were best when his ministers were chosen from the majority party in the House of
Commons
2. Whigs and Tories, the original political parties, had come into existence during the Popish Plot under Charles II
a. Whigs reflected the strong pro-Parliament, anti-Stuart monarchy views
b. Tories reflected pro-royalist views
c.
Whigs received their strongest support from the old, landed aristocracy
d. Tories received their strongest support from the new mercantile interests of the rich merchants
e. Tories developed into the modern Conservative Party; Whigs into the modern Liberal Party: the two parties that dominated
English politics until the end of World War I
f.
Glorious Revolution was led by the Whigs who were therefore favored by the monarchs that immediately followed:
William and Mary, Anne, and the Hanovers owed the throne to Parliament
II. Cabinet power increased during reigns of George I (reigned 1714-1727) and George II (reigned 1727-1760)
A. George I spoke little English; he and George II took little interest in domestic affairs and had little understanding of the
Parliamentary system
1. George I and George II only rarely attended cabinet meetings
2. They placed their greatest interest in continental affairs and foreign policy since they continued to hold their position as Elector of
Hanover
3. Not until George III (reigned 1760-1820) did an English monarch attempt to regain power for the crown in domestic affairs
B. Power in Parliament and the ultimate say in most affairs fell to the cabinet ministers
1. Ministers formulated policy usually with the monarch’s approval
2. To ensure good relations with Parliament, ministers were usually selected from the political party that controlled Parliament
3. Ministers settled their differences in cabinet conferences and presented a unified policy to the monarch
4. Leader of the discussions within the cabinet developed into the "Prime Minister" and became the leading figure in the
formulation of policies
5. George I and George II rarely challenged the decisions of the Cabinet
III. Robert Walpole rose to become the first Prime Minister, 1721-1742
A. Walpole was the most influential Whig of the time and also First Lord of the Treasury
B. Walpole promoted a political system where Parliament ruled while the monarch reigned
C. Walpole promoted the cabinet system where ministers were usually selected because they held good standing in Parliament usually in
the majority party
D. Walpole promoted domestic prosperity through trade and tried to avoid war
E. War of Jenkins' Ear with Spain (1739) and War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) caused his resignation
IV. William Pitt, "the Elder", later the Earl of Chatham, was the next outstanding Prime Minister, 1757-1762
A. Walpole's policies left Britain unprepared for the Seven Years' War (1756-1763)
B. Pitt carried out his strategy of increasing British power in world empire during the Seven Years' War
C. Pitt devised the strategy and policies enabling Britain to gain control of North America and the control of India from the French
D. George III wanted more control over his choice of cabinet ministers not merely choosing them from the majority party in
Parliament
E. George III dismissed Pitt as Prime Minister in 1762 as the Seven Years’ War was about to end
V. George III worked to increase the power of the Tory Party in Parliament and the power of the crown
A. George III favored a strong cabinet as an extension of the power of the monarchy, not as a power of Parliament over the monarchy
B. Under George III, his ministers were responsible directly to the king not to Parliament
C. John Wilkes began to challenge the underrepresentation of various “boroughs” in Parliament, as new cities in England, after 1688 gained
no representation –
a. It should be noted that the colonists in the Americas had little in the way of representation in Parliament
b. Supporters of the Bill of Rights founded in 1769- fought to publicize the meetings and affairs of Parliament
D. Edmund Burke fought for the complete independence of the Parliament, owing loyalty to neither the king, nor their constituents
E. Lord North, Prime Minister 1770-1782, worked to implement George's fiscal policy to lower the national debt and strengthen
mercantilist regulation of the Empire following the Seven Years’ War
F. Disaster of the American Revolution, 1775-1781, discredited this system and led to the resurgence of the Whig Party
G. The king was primarily blamed for the disaster, though the Parliament had never opposed any of his decisions
H. William Pitt, "the Younger", was appointed Prime Minister, 1783; the choice was forced on George III by Parliament
I.
Strong ministers responsible to Parliament, not the monarchy, and a stronger Parliament resulted