The Addington ministry and the interaction of foreign policy and domestic politics, 1800-1804
Historians have generally dismissed the ministry of Henry Addington as an absurd interlude in the political career of William Pitt, the Younger, and the few attempts to rehabilitate Addington have been unable to overcome the weight of this negative historiography. The focus of contemporary and historical criticism has centred on the foreign and war policies of the ministry, but this has failed to take into account the serious and interrelated diplomatic, military, social, and political problems faced by the government. Social unrest caused largely by high prices of grain, political pressure from interests that had been hurt by the closure of European markets to British trade, and a poor diplomatic and strategic position meant that peace was highly desirable but that concessions were necessary to obtain it. While the end of the war helped to resolve the social pressures upon the government and enabled it to implement some useful reforms, continued French aggression created new diplomatic problems and led to the resumption of war. The disadvantageous terms of the peace treaty and the difficulties that the ministry faced preparing for a French invasion when the war resumed fostered political opposition to the
Fedorak, Charles John
History
The Addington ministry and the interaction of foreign policy and domestic politics, 1800-1804. Historians have generally dismissed the ministry of Henry Addington as an absurd interlude in the political career of William Pitt, the Younger, and the few attempts to rehabilitate Addington have been unable to overcome the weight of this negative historiography. The focus of contemporary and historical criticism has centred on the foreign and war policies of the ministry, but this has failed to take into account the serious and interrelated diplomatic, military, social, and political problems faced by the government. Social unrest caused largely by high prices of grain, political pressure from interests that had been hurt by the closure of European markets to British trade, and a poor diplomatic and strategic position meant that peace was highly desirable but that concessions were necessary to obtain it. While the end of the war helped to resolve the social pressures upon the government and enabled it to implement some useful reforms, continued French aggression created new diplomatic problems and led to the resumption of war. The disadvantageous terms of the peace treaty and the difficulties that the ministry faced preparing for a French invasion when the war resumed fostered political opposition to the
ministry interaction foreign_policy domestic_politics historians generally dismiss ministry henry absurd political_career william younger attempt rehabilitate unable overcome weight negative historiography focus contemporary historical_criticism centre foreign war policy ministry fail_take account serious interrelated diplomatic military social_political problem faced government social unrest cause largely high price grain political pressure interest closure european market british trade poor diplomatic strategic position mean peace highly desirable concession necessary obtain end_war help resolve social_pressure upon government enable implement useful reform continue french aggression create_new diplomatic problem lead resumption war term peace_treaty difficulty ministry face prepare french invasion war resume political_opposition