Билет 24. The growth of British political system in the 18th century.

The Revolution Settlement of 1689 was too conservative. In the election of Cromwell’s Parliaments the “rotten boroughs” were liquidated and the county representation had been proportionally increased. But the parliamentary seats were not redistributed according to population, and the unreformed representation was left to grow even more corrupt, bringing many evils to the country. The main merit of the revolution was in being a settlement by consent, and this could be done only without disturbance of vested interests. The Whigs were popular because they encouraged trade and commerce and defended interests of bourgeoisie, while Tories were unpopular with their attempts to restore the Stuarts. In 1714 Queen Anne died without any heir and Parliament offered the crown to a Protestant German Prince, George of Hanover (the great-grandson of James I). George I and his three successors Georges ruled Britain from 1714 till 1820. The period is called Georgian Age.

During the reign of William and Anne the two parties shared the power equally. But during the reigns of George I(1714-1727) and George II(1727-1760) there was a “Whig oligarchy”: the formation of Ministries, the dissolution (роспуск) of parliament, the patronage (право назначать на должности) of the Crown in Church and State passed from the monarch to the Whig chiefs. The power of House of Commons increased, while its connection with the people decreased. 1716 – Septennial Act prolonged the life of a Parliament till 7 years. The act was passed to secure the House of Hanover and the Whigs’ power. George III (1760-1820) tried to take back the patronage of the Crown and aroused great public interest in politics, but no control of the Parliament was increased.

The aristocrats developed the Cabinet system and the office of Prime Minister, by which the legislature could control the executive without disturbing its efficiency. The cabinet system in England is a group of Ministers dependent on the House of Commons, having seats in Parliament, they must agree on a common policy and are responsible for one another’s action and for the government on the whole. (The first PM – Robert Walpole)

Билет 25. The colonial wars: the League of Augsburg and of the Spanish Succession.

The wars with France were fought because of 2 factors: - the rising power of France; - the rapid decomposition of the Spanish Empire. The ruling class in Britain was interested in these wars because they hoped that the victory of France would destroy the power of Whigs and may lead to the restoration of Stuarts. The technical character of the war changed very much – the artillery and other arms were greatly improved. The warfare was so expensive that only rich countries could afford it with the hope of success. This was the advantage of England and Holland and disadvantage of France.

War of the League of Augsburg (1689-1697) (The Nine Years’ War) This war is notable only for the penetration of the Mediterranian by the British navy which secured a permanent superiority of the French. The war ended with the Treaty of Ryswick that left all the major issues in the conflict undecided.

The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713) The Spanish king died without a direct heir. A grandson of Louis XIV succeeded him. Holland, England and Austria didn’t want France to control the Spanish Empire and declared war. French armies conquered Italy and Spanish Netherlands and with Bavarian army threatened Vienna. 1704 – the march of Marlborough at the head of Anglo-Dutch armies into Bavaria. The French defeat at Blenheim battle. The Spanish Netherlands were liberated. Both sides were exhausted by the war by 1710. 1713 – the war was ended by the Treaty of Utrecht. Britain kept Gibraltar and Minorca (the keys to Mediterranian) and got French possessions in America (Nova Scotia and Hudson Bay Territory).