1st Edition

British Politics and Foreign Policy, 1744-57 Mid-Century Crisis

By Jeremy Black Copyright 2015

    The years between 1744 and 1757 were a testing time for the British government as political unrest at home exploded into armed rebellion, whilst on the continent French armies were repeatedly victorious. Providing an analytical narrative, supported by thematic chapters, this book examines the relationship between Britain’s politics and foreign policy in a period not hitherto treated as a unit. Building upon methods employed in the preceding two books (’Politics and Foreign Policy in the Age of George I, 1714-1727’ and ’Politics and Foreign Policy, 1727-44’), this volume charts the significant political changes of 1744-57. It shows how ministerial change and political fortunes were closely linked to foreign policy, with foreign policy affecting, and being affected by, political developments. In particular, it asks important questions about the politics and foreign policy of these years and thus reconsiders the context of imperial growth, economic development and political stability. Far from being simply a study of individual episodes, the book outlines the structural aspects of the relationship between foreign policy and politics, examining issues of political stability, motivation and effectiveness. In particular, the role of monarch, Court and ministers are considered alongside those of Parliament, parliamentary politics, and the public sphere of discussion, notably, but not only, the press. The book therefore offers a guided narrative that both uses and builds on the analysis offered by contemporary commentators, and provides an informed assessment of the significance of the ideas, terms and language employed in eighteenth-century Britain to discuss foreign policy and politics.

    Preface; Introduction: mid-century crisis; The means of policy; The themes of policy; The crisis of 1744-6; A failing alliance system, 1747-8; Responding to the peace, 1749-51; The new order under strain, 1752-3; Towards war with France, 1754-5; The diplomatic revolution and the crisis of 1756; A struggle for survival, 1757; Conclusions; Selected further reading; Index.

    Biography

    Jeremy Black is Professor of History at the University of Exeter. He is the author of over 100 books, especially on eighteenth-century British politics and international relations, and is or has been on a number of editorial boards including the Journal of Military History, the journal of the Royal United Services Institute, Media History, the International History Review, and History Today, and was editor of Archives.

    "...Black has produced a thorough treatment of a littleresearched period in British history, one that clearly needs more in-depth analyses such as this."

    Derek Ryan W haley, University of Canterbury, Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies