Party Ideology and Popular Politics at the Accession of George III

by John Brewer

This book is a reappraisal of English politics in the first decade of George III's reign. It sets out to explain how party politics changed, and what problems that created for the parliamentary elite. The issues of party, of patriotism as it manifested itself in the elder Pitt's political career, and of the relations between the notions of ministerial responsibility and the powers of the Crown are all used to illuminate the nature of political conflict. Special emphasis is placed on Burke's notions of party. The schisms created by this reconfiguration of party politics, Dr Brewer argues, had effects beyond Westminster. He discusses extra-parliamentary forms of political expression, notably the press, and goes on to show how the career of John Wilkes and the critique of British politics developed by American radicals gave focus to a variety of political discontents, and produced new arguments in favour of parliamentary reform. Throughout his study he emphasises the interplay between popular and parliamentary politics. His work is designed to show that the 'political nation' included many other than the parliamentary classes, and that the political conflicts of the period cannot be properly understood without a full examination of political ideology.

396 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 1976

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex book on a complex topic. Some of the chapters seem more standalone essays--many, case studies that demonstrate some of Brewer's argument. An example is the chapter on Pitt in which Brewer shows how one's own propaganda can end up controlling you (and be used against you). Some of the topics he covers:

1. Why and how did politics change from George I & II to George III?
2. What was the role of the press? How extensively read was it? How did the government and opposition make use of it?
3. How did American revolutionary ideology effect British politics?

He covers a lot more. It is not easy reading but I do feel like I learned a lot more about the intricacies of 18th century politics.