Robert Walpole Review

In which year did the War of Jenkins' Ear start?

• 1731

• 1735

• 1739

• 1742

This man inspired which group of loyal followers?

• Jacobites

• Whigs

• Asiento

• Triads

What made the Black Act (1723) unfair?

• It was used as a weapon to punish the poor

• It ignored the legacy of the South Sea Bubble

• It was created to protect the rich and powerful

• It increased the number of people migrating abroad

Who is this man, Tory politician and founder of the South Sea Company?

• John Blunt

• Robert Harley

• George Canning

• Zander Flynn

• James Jenkins

What made George I vulnerable to manipulation by Robert Walpole?

• He was unfamiliar with English society and politics

• He spoke little English, having been raised in Germany

• He was disinterested in immersing himself in his role

• He had a disabled son who needed caring for

How did Robert Walpole help to strengthen the role of Parliament?

• He established the importance of the Cabinet

• He reduced royal influence over decision-making

• He focused on working with the House of Commons

• He stabilised politics by avoiding wars and rebellions

• He abolished the House of Lords and ruled in isolation

What did Robert Walpole use to defuse the Atterbury Plot (1722) and monitor political enemies?

• controlled newspapers

• intercepted and read private letters

• funded a spy network

• trade deals with friendly countries

What made the South Sea Company a risky investment?

• unrealistic promises, based on limited access to trade in South America

• its purpose was managing government debt, not production of goods

• share prices inflated to £1000 per share without any justification

• company directors and politicians were involved in insider trading

How did the Asiento Agreement (1713) with Spain make economic growth difficult for Britain?

• Britain could only send one trading ship to Spanish America each year

• "Only" 4,800 slaves could be supplied to Spanish America each year

• Investors lost heavily in the South Sea Bubble (centred on trade with Spanish America)

• Spanish America was suffering from a series of environmental catastrophes

Why did Robert Walpole's Excise Bill (1733) fail?

• Defeating the Jacobites was seen as the priority that year

• People feared the expansion of government (and Walpole's) power

• Riots and protests took place in London

• Businessmen - both Whigs and Tories - united against the bill