The British won all the wars except for the American Revolution, where the combined weight of the United States, France, Spain and the Netherlands overwhelmed Britain, which stood alone without allies.
Mercantilism was the basic policy imposed by Britain on its colonies. Mercantilism meant that the government and the merchants became partners with the goal of increasing political power and private wealth, to the exclusion of other empires. The government protected its merchants—and kept others out—by trade barriers, regulations, and subsidies to domestic industries in order to maximise exports from and minimise imports to the realm.
The government had to fight smuggling, which became a favourite American technique in the 18th century to circumvent the restrictions on trading with the French, Spanish or Dutch.
The goal of mercantilism was to run trade surpluses, so that gold and silver would pour into London. The government took its share through duties and taxes, with the remainder going to merchants in Britain. The government spent much of its revenue on a large and powerful Royal Navy, which not only protected the British colonies but threatened the colonies of the other empires, and sometimes seized them.
The colonies were captive markets for British industry, and the goal was to enrich the mother country. The loss of some of the American Colonies in the American War of Independence was regarded as a national disaster and was seen by some foreign observers as heralding the end of Britain as a great power.
In Europe, the wars with France dragged on for nearly a quarter of a century, — Victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Waterloo under Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington brought a sense of triumphalism and political reaction.
George I inherits the throne and the Georgian Era begins. Following the death of his cousin Queen Anne in , George, Elector of Hanover, inherits the throne. While there are around 50 Roman Catholic relatives with stronger claims to the throne, George inherits under the Act of Settlement, which is designed to protect Protestant royals.
Robert Walpole takes over the administration. George I depends on his ministers throughout his reign, and after he rarely attends any Cabinet meetings. When the South Sea Company, in which the government and monarchy have heavily invested, crashes, George's most able minister, Robert Walpole, takes over in Walpole becomes known as Britain's first "Prime Minister" and holds the longest administration in British history - George II inherits the throne.
At first George II is unpopular due to his preference for staying in Hanover, but he gradually becomes respected due to Britain's prosperity under his rule. Charles Edward Stuart is defeated and the Jacobite threat ends. Charles lands in Scotland in , thus increasing the threat, but he is defeated at the Battle of Culloden on April 16, Political Mozart wrote his first symphony he was just eight years old Music William Blackstone publishes his first volume of 'Commentaries on the Laws of England'.
Ordinary people could for the first time consult a clear and authoratative guide to the law. The British are besieged in Boston. Exploration Gordon riots, an anti Catholic riot in London. Lord George Gordon called for the repeal of the Catholic Relief Act of and a return to the repression of Catholics. The Act had repealed harsh anti-Catholic legislation from the 17th century and excused Roman Catholics from swearing the oath of allegiance with its implicit recognition of the Church of England on joining the army.
Many Protestants were outraged and riots ensued. Political William Pitt the younger is Britain's youngest ever prime minister Political Prime Ministers People William Herschel begins to build what will become the world's largest telescope Science People Society for the abolition of the slave trade is founded Reform Political Final year of Mozart's life.
He composed a great deal, including some of his most admired works, the opera The Magic Flute, the final piano concerto, the Clarinet Concerto, the last in his great series of string quintets, the motet Ave verum corpus and the unfinished Requiem. Music The Oberver newspaper is published Printing Business William Wilberforce introduces his first anti slavery bill in Parliament Political Prime Ministers People The Society of United Irishmen is founded and sectarian violence follows Political France declares war on Britain Military Charter granted to the board of agriculture to promote best modern farming practice Agriculture Famine in the mid 's causes unrest amongst the population Social Political Smallpox vaccine is introduced Medicine Mutiny by sailors at Spithead Military Vinegar Hill.
Pitt introduced a tax on incomes. Further battles took place. Military Battle Architect John Nash transformed London by conceiving, designing and developing Regent's Street and Regent's Park from Architecture With the war in Europe mostly over, Britain used it's ships and forces to place a naval blockade on America.
The economy suffered and the British marched on Washington burning down the public buildings. They fix a minimum price below which grain may not be imported. These laws have a major impact upon society and are the root cause of much suffering.
The Massacre occurred during a period of immense political tension and mass protests. Troops were sent in and over people were badly wounded and 17 died. The newly industrialised world produced inflation, food shortages and difficult factory conditions, there stemmed from this a climate of discontent and radicalism.
A series of riots and industrial unrest occurred. The government responded with a series of repressive measures, including the Combination Acts of , which forbade the gathering of working men with a common purpose. A conspiracy was plotted to murder the British cabinet but it was foiled. Political A great famine begins in Ireland as the potato harvest fails again. The failure of the potato crop is a recurring event.
They become the Toll Puddle Martyrs. Political Victoria accedes to the throne Royalty Treaty of Paris The treaty ended the 7 year war and re-shuffled the colonial position of the great powers.
Between 60 British were taken prisoner and placed in a guard room 18 ft by 14ft they suffocated to death. Numerous newspapers and pamphlets hit the streets in the coming years. Whigs in power and they pass the Septennial Act which said that general elections needed to be called only every 7 years.
The triple alliance between England, France and Holland kept England at peace with France for 25 years. Shares in the South Sea Company reach their peak price, the company was established in it received the monopoly of the trade with Spanish America but it was never very profitable. The Georgian period was an era of great change, where trade expanded, industrialisation was born, and popular culture came to the forefront.
However, there was a darker side to the Georgians. Huge crowds would gather to see elaborate executions that were held in public and, although some crowds came in mourning to see these punishments, other prisoners were followed to the gallows by jeering crowds.
If you managed to escape such a fate then you might have been subject to slightly less severe punishments; sent to American colonies or branded by hot iron.
The Georgians viewed many criminals as heroic and their activities were often celebrated through songs and stories. A particularly famous street robber, Jack Sheppard, was hung in after making four escapes from prison and over , people attended his execution. This craze, which started in s, was also blamed for other social crises of the time. Gin was extremely popular with the poor as it was cheap, strong and was seen as a quick release from the grind of daily life, but often leading to over-consumption.
What followed was an epidemic of extreme drunkenness which created a legislative backlash that has been compared to the modern drug war. The Georgians knew how to have a good time and the 18th Century was a great age for theatre.
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