Origins & Basics
What country did the Hanoverian Dynasty come from?
Germany
In what year was the Bill of Rights approved?
1689
Who came after William III and Mary II?
Queen Anne
Who was the first Hanoverian king?
George I
Who is considered the first Prime Minister?
Robert Walpole
Between what years did the Hanoverian Dynasty rule Great Britain?
1714–1901
Who signed the Bill of Rights?
William III and Mary II
Why was Queen Anne important to the succession?
She had no surviving children, creating a succession problem
Why did George I rely on ministers?
He didn’t speak English well and was unfamiliar with British politics
Which political party did Robert Walpolw strengthen?
The Whig Party
What document limited the monarch’s power at the beginning of this period?
The Bill of Rights
What was the main objective of the Act of Settlement?
To ensure a Protestant succession to the throne
What condition determined who would rule after Anne?
If Anne died without heirs, the crown would go to Sophia of Hanover
What made George II the last of something important?
He was the last British monarch born outside Britain and the last to lead troops in battle
What made William Pitt the Younger unique as Prime Minister?
He became Prime Minister at age 24 and strengthened the role during war and reforms
What political shift happened from monarchy to Parliament?
Power moved from the monarch to Parliament
Who was designated as heir in the Act of Settlement?
Sophia of Hanover
Why did Sophia of Hanover never become queen?
She died before Queen Anne
Name two major events during George III’s reign.
The American Revolution and the Union with Ireland
Explain how Prime Ministers became more powerful than the monarch
Monarchs depended on ministers, and Prime Ministers controlled government decisions, becoming the main political authority
Explain why the Hanoverian Dynasty marked a turning point in British political history.
It reduced royal power and strengthened Parliament, leading to a constitutional and more democratic system
Explain two key restrictions the Bill of Rights placed on the monarch
The monarch could not suspend laws or tax without Parliament, and could not interfere with elections or free speech in Parliament
Explain what started the Hanoverian Dynasty.
Since Sophia died before Anne, her descendant (George I)inherited the throne, starting the Hanoverian Dynasty
Compare how George I and George III influenced political power.
George I increased reliance on ministers, while George III struggled with authority during crises, showing the decline of royal power
Who held more power during the Hanoverian period?
Parliament