Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Eighteenth-century Britain was a monarchical state, with an aristocratic legislature and an established state church, but it was still widely regarded as one of the freest societies in the world. The ruling aristocratic elite dominated the royal court, the cabinet, both houses of parliament and the law courts, and expected the state church to teach the common people to obey those in positions of authority. The elite were convinced that they had the right to govern their social inferiors and they believed that democracy was inherently unstable and would inevitably degenerate into anarchy. This did not mean, however, that this elite believed that they could act in an arbitrary, oppressive or tyrannical fashion. They were expected to maintain public order, to deliver justice to all, and to uphold the rule of law and the lives, liberty and property of all British subjects. Whilst they believed that only a propertied minority should play an active role in the government of the British state, they did concede that all men possessed certain civil liberties and were free men living in a free state.The political life of eighteenth-century Britain was dominated by the aristocratic elite, but it was not controlled by them in every respect. Many men outside the ranks of the elite played an active role in parliamentary elections or engaged in political campaigns to influence the decisions taken ... log in or subscribe to read full text