England and Europe in the Sixteenth Century (British History in Perspective, 73)

"This book provides a thematic survey of English foreign policy in the sixteenth century, focusing on the influence of the concept of honour, security concerns, religious ideology and commercial interests on the making of policy. It draws attention to aspects of continuity with the late-medieval past but argues, too, that the European Reformation brought new challenges which forced a rethinking of policy. Far from treating the sixteenth century as the period when England began its rise as a Great Power, the author emphasises the structural weaknesses of the English armed forces and demonstrates that dangers and insecurities did more to mould foreign policy than the energy and confidence of the Tudor rulers."-- Provided by publisher For Many People The Late Eighteenth Century Was A Period Of Political Corruption, With The Political World Waiting For The Triumph Of Reform. In This Study, Now In A Revised Edition, John Derry Shows That The Traditional Political System Was More Remarkable For Its Resilience Than For Its Defects, And That It Succeeded To An Astonishing Extent In Meeting The Challenges Of War, The Threat From The French Revolution, And The Problems Caused By Unprecedented Social And Economic Change. A Narrative Is Combined With Analysis Of The Assumptions On Which The Practice Of Politics Was Based And The Fashion In Which Politicians Responded To The Demands Made Of Them. Due Weight Is Given To The Element Of Continuity. The King Continued To Play A Significant Role In Politics, And No Ministry Could Survive Without The Confidence Of The Crown And The Support Of The Country Gentlemen, And Pitt And Liverpool Owed Their Success To Their Ability To Appeal To These Two Powerful Political Forces. The Importance Of The French Revolution Is Not Underplayed, But War Is Seen As Of Greater Significance Than Ideology In Bringing About A Polarisation Of Opinion And The Dominance Of A Conservation Which Rested Squarely Upon Traditional Values. But Transformation Was Also Part Of The Story, And This Study Is Fascinating In The Manner In Which It Demonstrates The Subtle Blend Of The Old And The New Which Gave Politics Their Unique Flavour. The Personalities Of George Iii, Fox, Pitt And Liverpool Are Brought To Life In A Style Which Will Entertain As Well As Inform.--jacket. 1. The Pittite Restoration -- The Political Background -- The Wilkes Affair -- The American Dispute -- North And His Opponents -- The Second Rockingham Ministry -- The Fox-north Coalition -- Fox's India Bill -- Pitt In Office -- The Foxite Opposition -- The Regency Crisis -- 2. The Challenge Of War -- The Impact Of The French Revolution -- The Intervention Of Burke -- Reform Movements -- Problems For Pitt -- Paine And Radicalism -- Britain At War -- Ireland And Union -- Catholic Emancipation And The Fall Of Pitt -- 3. The Search For A Ministry -- The Addington Ministry -- Pitt Returns -- The Ministry Of All The Talents -- Portland Struggles On -- Iberian Opportunities -- Walcheren And Disaster -- Perceval Rallies The Nation -- 4. The Pittite Tradition Renewed And Extended -- Liverpool And His Ministry -- Final Victory -- Castlereagh And Foreign Policy -- Domestic Problems -- A Ministry In Transition. John W. Derry. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 157-160) And Index. "In the course of the 1920s the Liberal Party disappeared as a serious party of government, though its demise followed hard upon one of its greatest periods of success. For many years historians have struggled to make sense of this strange story, and this second edition of a classic text brings the debate right up to date. Some see the Party's collapse as a consequence of a deep moral or ideological crisis, a loss of belief in Liberalism as a creed; the impact of the Great War, in particular, is said to have done irreparable damage to its adherents' self-confidence. Other historians think that the Liberals were replaced by Labour as a direct consequence of the growing importance of class divisions, though there is no clear agreement about when this important transition took place. Yet another approach is to emphasise matters of accident and individual personality. Would the Liberal Party, for example, have floundered so badly in the 1890s but for Gladstone's sudden adoption of Home Rule? The Liberals seem also to have inflicted deep injury on their own party by the quarrels which rent the leadership in the 1890s and still more by the implacable vendetta waged between the followers of Asquith and Lloyd George after 1916." "This book provides a balanced survey of the rich literature which has grown up around this important topic. It introduces readers to the major lines of interpretation and suggests ways in which seemingly divergent accounts might be reconciled. This new edition includes extended coverage of the Liberal Party and women's suffrage."--BOOK JACKET "For many people the late eighteenth century was a period of political corruption, with the political world waiting for the triumph of reform. In this study, now in a revised edition, John Derry shows that the traditional political system was more remarkable for its resilience than for its defects, and that it succeeded to an astonishing extent in meeting the challenges of war, the threat from the French Revolution, and the problems caused by unprecedented social and economic change. A narrative is combined with analysis of the assumptions on which the practice of politics was based and the fashion in which politicians responded to the demands made of them.". "Due weight is given to the element of continuity. The king continued to play a significant role in politics, and no ministry could survive without the confidence of the crown and the support of the country gentlemen, and Pitt and Liverpool owed their success to their ability to appeal to these two powerful political forces. The importance of the French Revolution is not underplayed, but war is seen as of greater significance than ideology in bringing about a polarisation of opinion and the dominance of a conservation which rested squarely upon traditional values. But transformation was also part of the story, and this study is fascinating in the manner in which it demonstrates the subtle blend of the old and the new which gave politics their unique flavour. The personalities of George III, Fox, Pitt and Liverpool are brought to life in a style which will entertain as well as inform."--BOOK JACKET.

This thematic survey of English foreign policy in the sixteenth century focuses on the influence of the concept of honor, security concerns, religious ideology and commercial interests on the making of policy. It draws attention to aspects of continuity with the late-medieval past but argues as well that the European Reformation brought new challenges which forced a rethinking of policy. Far from treating the sixteenth century as the period when England began its rise as a great power, the author emphasizes the structural weaknesses of the English armed forces and demonstrates that dangers and insecurities did more to shape foreign policy than the energy and confidence of the Tudor rulers.

Wars Against France, 1509-50 -- Peace-time Competition -- The Scottish Wars, 1509-50 -- A New Emphasis -- Border Defence -- Dynastic Security -- The Counter-reformation Threat --- Anglo-papal Relations -- Reformation Diplomacy: Germany And The Baltic -- The 'godly Cause' -- Antwerp Trade -- Diversification Of Trade Within Europe -- Overseas Exploration, Plunder And Trade. Susan Doran. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 134-140) And Index. This book provides a thematic survey of England's international relations during the sixteenth century and explores the various influences on policy-making, including the concept of honour, security concerns, religious ideology and commercial interests. This book is ideal for undergraduates as it provides an extensive and coherent synthesis of recent scholarship as well as a fresh insight into Tudor foreign policy Gregory Claeys explores the reception of the French Revolution in Britain through the medium of its leading interpreters. Claeys argues that the major figures--Thomas Paine, Edmund Burke, Mary Wollstonecraft, William Godwin and John Thelwall--collectively laid the foundations for political debate for the following century, and longer In order to reach a balanced assessment of the evidence, historians must engage with all of the debate. This text introduces the reader to economic and quantitative analysis. Roger Middleton makes an assessment of the questions that dominate both the historical and the political debate.