18th Century European History

The Eighteenth Century

• The eighteenth century was marked by two unions and was a less turbulent century compared to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
• Two central themes of the century were the development of a stable political regime and commercial rivalry with France.

The Union of Parliaments (1707)

• The Union of Parliaments in 1707 was a union of kingdoms, or 'real' union, where a new state was forged: Great Britain.
• The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh voted to abolish itself, and in return, the Scots obtained representation in the English Parliament at Westminster.
• The union came into force on 1 May 1707.
• Unlike the Anglo-Welsh union of 1536, the Anglo-Scottish union of 1707 was a partnership between two formally equal kingdoms.
• The Scots retained key institutions, including:
  • The Scottish legal system
  • The Church of Scotland
  • The Electoral system
  • The Education system
  • The Scottish system of local government
  • The Scottish banks and banking system

A ‘Polite & Commercial People’

• The eighteenth century was a reaction to the extremism of the 17th century, focusing on politeness in manners and moderation in views.
• This was linked to the emerging Enlightenment philosophy and its emphasis on reason.
• Joint British interest in trade, commerce, and empire-building led to a series of wars with France, most of which were won by Britain.

A Century of Wars with France

• The 'Second Hundred Years War' was a series of conflicts between Britain and France, mainly over trade and colonies.
• The wars began with the Nine Years War (1689-1697) and reached a peak with the Seven Years War (1756-1763).
• The American Revolution (1776) and the American War of Independence (1776-1783) led to British defeat and the colonies in North America gaining independence.

The Hanoverian Succession and Parliamentary Government

• In 1714, George of Hanover succeeded to the throne upon the death of Queen Anne Stuart.
• The First Lord of the Treasury became a permanent post, and whoever held the post led the Cabinet when the King was away.
• Sir Robert Walpole, First Lord of the Treasury from 1715-1717 and 1721-1742, established himself as the first minister in an unprecedented manner.
• Walpole ensured that the government had the backing of a majority in Parliament, setting a standard for the British political system.

Jacobitism

• The Jacobites were supporters of the exiled Stuarts and sought their restoration to the throne.
• Three larger Jacobite rebellions were staged by James II and his direct descendants:
  • 1690: James II's invasion of Ireland, defeated by William III at the Battle of the Boyne River.
  • 1715: James Edward Stuart's rebellion, easily defeated.
  • 1745: Charles Edward Stuart's rebellion, brought to an end at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The Forging of a British Identity

• The 'Colley thesis' suggests that a new and genuinely British identity was 'forged' over the course of the 18th century, based on:
  • Protestantism
  • War against Catholic France
  • Empire
  • Monarchy
  • England vs Scotland
  • British ruling class
  • Patriotism

French Revolutionary & Napoleonic Wars

• The French Revolution in 1789 was initially welcomed in Britain, but attitudes turned negative following the 'radical turn' of events in France.
• Britain was drawn into the war against the French Republic in 1793, with the war going badly for the British.
• The Peace of Amiens (1802) was a brief respite, but the war resumed with Napoleon's rise to power.
• Britain eventually emerged victorious, with the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) and the Battle of Waterloo (1815).

The Union of 1801

• The Rebellion of 1798, instigated by the Society of United Irishmen, posed a serious threat to British rule in Ireland.
• The rebellion was defeated, and a proposal for the forming of a union between Great Britain and Ireland was set forward.
• On 1 January 1801, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was formed, but full emancipation for Catholics was resisted by George III.

Learn about the significant events and themes of the 18th century, including the Union of Parliaments in 1707 and commercial rivalry with France.