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WorksheetsRobert Walpole Review
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 7mins
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
