The Hanoverians1714 - 1837

Succession to the Crown Reasons: William was ill and childless; Anne, the sister of

William’s wife (Mary) had no living child; the supporters of James II were getting stronger the Parliament wanted to ensure the succession of Protestant sovereigns

Legitimate descendants of Charles I either childless (William and Anne) or Roman Catholic

Choice limited to descendants of Elizabeth of Bohemia, the only other child of James I

Act of Settlement 1701 - Sophia

Act of Settlement 1701 The crown should pass to Sophia, (Electress of

Hanover, granddaughter of James I) and to her Protestant heirs (She died before Queen Anne)

An act of Parliament that has regulated succession to the throne since 1701

Act of Settlement 1701 If the monarch is not a native of England, England

cannot be engaged in war for territories not belonging to the crown of England

No Roman Catholic or anyone married to a Roman Catholic could hold the English crown

The king needed the Parliament’s consent for starting a war or leaving the country

Judges were independent of the king

Act of Union 1707 The Parliament of Scotland was not happy – Act of Security

1704: right to choose their own successor to Queen Anne Result: the Parliament of England believed that a union of

the two Parliaments (Scottish and English) was required to ensure stability of Great Britain before Queen Anne’s death

Act of Union 1707 (Queen Anne) Advantages: Scotland – economic stability

England – political support against England and a Jacobite restoration

House of Hanover – George I

Sophia’s son, George I was crowned king in 1714 (even though he was 52nd in line)

He spoke no English Was focused more on

Hanover than on ruling Britain

Opposition to the House of Hanover

George I was not popular with many Main opposition: Jacobites – supported restoration of

Stuarts to the throne Two Jacobite rebellions (1715; 1745) poor military organization and leadership – Jacobite

rebellions crushed Battle of Culloden (1746) – final battle

The Hanoverian Period Quite stable period due to the long reigns of

Hanoverian monarchs – only 5 between 1714 and 1837

Political stability Development of constitutional monarchy 18th century: Whig dominance Early 19th century: Tory domination Income tax introduced British Empire expanded

Hanoverian Monarchs – George II

Also born in Hanover Reigned 1727-1760 Second Jacobite rebellion –

Battle of Culloden Seven Years’ War (1756-1763)

– gained a lot of territories at the treaty of Paris

Industrial Revolution – coal; shipbuilding

Rapid rise in population Expanding empire (India,

Canada)

Hanoverian Monarchs – George III

Grandson of George II Reigned 1760-1820 First Hanoverian monarch to be

born in England and to speak English as his first language

Lost the American colonies (1776) Great Britain + Ireland = United

Kingdom (1800) Suffered from mental illness –

George IV Princess Regent from 1811

Science, arts (Royal Academy of Arts), library

Hanoverian Monarchs – George IV

Reigned 1820-1830 Victory in the Napoleonic

Wars Reconstruction of

Buckingham Palace as known today (architecture, arts)

Developed the ceremonies of the monarchy

Reduced religious discrimination (pressure by his ministers)

Hanoverian Monarchs – William IV

Reigned 1830-1837 Brother of George IV Child labor restricted

and slavery abolished throughout the British Empire

Reform Act of 1832After the death of George IV in 1830, Parliament was dissolved by law – general elections were held. In 1831, pro-reform Whigs won majority in the House of Commons. Changed the electoral system of England and Wales New industrial towns obtained representation in House

of Commons Increased number of people entitled to vote Introduced a system of voter registration Women still could not vote

The newly reformed House of Commons