Robert Walpole and 'Cabinet' government | History | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

When did parliament pass the Act of Settlement?
- 1601
- 1701 ✓
- 1801
- 1901
- 2001
Which monarchs did not rule England jointly after the Glorious Revolution in 1688?
- William III
- James I ✓
- Sophia of Hanover ✓
- Mary II
According to the Act of Settlement, what type of Christian would always inherit the English throne?
- 'Protestant' ✓
Put the following events into chronological order, starting with the earliest.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  The Glorious Revolution
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Coronation of William III and Mary II
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  The Act of Settlement
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Death of William III and Mary II
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Coronation of Queen Anne
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Death of Queen Anne
- 7
  
  ⇔
  
  Coronation of George I
Put these monarchs in reverse order in which they reigned, starting with the most recent.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  George I
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Queen Anne
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  William III and Mary II
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  James II
Match the keywords with the correct definitions.
- Parliament
  
  ⇔
  
  representatives of the people who advise the monarch and enact laws ✓
- Catholic
  
  ⇔
  
  a Christian whose leader is the Pope in Rome ✓
- Protestant
  
  ⇔
  
  representatives of the people who advise the monarch and enact laws ✓

Exit quiz

Which statement is correct?
- High demand for shares leads to shares going up in value. ✓
- High demand for shares leads to shares going down in value.
- High demand for shares leads to share prices remaining the same.
Put the following events into chronological order, starting with the earliest:
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  The South Sea Company was formed.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  The South Sea Company was granted a monopoly on trade in the South Seas.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  The monopoly excited Britons who rushed to invest in the South Sea Company.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  The rush to invest saw share prices rise quickly in what is known as a 'bubble'.
What measures did Walpole take to stabilise the country during the South Sea Bubble crisis?
- paid small amounts each year to South Sea Company shareholders ✓
- investigated the causes and passed laws to prevent it happening again ✓
- took advice from King George I due to his own inexperience
- supported banks on the verge of bankruptcy as they had loaned out too much ✓
Which continent is closest to the South Seas?
- 'South America' ✓
Which features of British government emerged thanks to Walpole’s leadership after the collapse of the South Sea Company?
- the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer
- the role of Prime Minister ✓
- the governance of Britain by Cabinet government ✓
- the role of the House of Lords
Match the key features of this period with their correct definitions:
- Robert Walpole
  
  ⇔
  
  Chancellor of the Exchequer during the South Sea crisis ✓
- Cabinet
  
  ⇔
  
  team of politicians who run the governing of Britain ✓
- George I
  
  ⇔
  
  King of Great Britain ✓

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

The South Sea Company was a prominent joint-stock company in the early 18th century.
Many British people had been persuaded to invest their money in the Company.
The Company collapsed, provoking a major political crisis.
Robert Walpole managed the crisis and emerged as the nation's first Prime Minister.
Walpole formalised the system of cabinet governance.

Common misconception

Walpole created the role of Prime Minister and the idea of Cabinet.

Walpole's leadership saw him become de-facto Prime Minister and he formalised the idea of Cabinet which already existed in a loose, unofficial form.

Keywords

Shares - issued upon investment in a company, ensuring a ‘share’ of future profits
Bubble - in this context it refers to the effect of over-confidence in a company, resulting in over-investment and a false high share price
Bankruptcy - a bank running out of money, due to lending more than they should and people withdrawing what is left
Chancellor of the exchequer - politician and Member of Parliament in Britain who is in charge of the economy and spending tax money
Cabinet - team of politicians in Britain who work together to run the country in the form of a government