How stable was Pitt's peacetime government?

Britain – Politics, 1783-1806

In this course, Professor Jeremy Black (University of Exeter) looks at British politics from 1783 to 1806 and the political career of William Pitt the Younger. In the first module, we look at the question "how stable was Pitt's peacetime government?". After this, we explore the question "how successful was Pitt's economic and foreign policy?". Then, we answer the question "how did Pitt react to the French Revolution and the war in Europe?". In the fourth module, we focus on the question "how did Pitt prevent a revolution in Britain?". Then, we look at the question "how did the course of the war affect Pitt's government?". Finally, we explore the question "what was Pitt's legacy?".

How stable was Pitt's peacetime government?

In this lecture, we look at the question "how stable was Pitt's peacetime government?". In particular, we look at: (i) the background of Pitt the Younger, and the advantages and disadvantages he had when he came to power; (ii) how Pitt the Younger came to power in 1783, the significance of George III, and the election of 1784; (iii) whether Pitt held the confidence of the King throughout his first ministry; and (iv) the priorities for Pitt in the 1780s.