Year 8 - History
The Hanoverian Succession
The emergence of cabinet government: why did Walpole become Prime Minister?
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this short unit, pupils learn about the Hanoverian Succession and the emergence of Robert Walpole as Britain's first Prime Minister. They also develop an appreciation of how cabinet government was formed during this period.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how parliament became more powerful during the period of the Hanoverian Succession.
Key Notes
- The 1701 Act of Settlement forbade any Catholics from sitting upon the British throne.
- William III and Mary II did not have any children and so the throne passed to Mary's sister, Anne.
- Queen Anne did not have any surviving children by the end of her reign.
- Parliament intervened to ensure a Protestant succession; George I was made king.
- George I was less involved in the running of government.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Act of Settlement: law passed in 1701 stipulating only a Protestant could inherit the English throne
- Protestant: a Christian who is a member of the Church of England, whose religious leader is the monarch
- Catholic: a Christian who is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, whose religious leader is the Pope in Rome
- parliament: the group of representatives of the various peoples across the nation which advises the monarch and enacts laws
- Glorious Revolution: an event in 1688 that rid England of the Catholic king James II and replaced him with Protestant rulers
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The 1701 Act of Settlement meant that parliament no longer needed to worry about a Catholic taking the throne in the future.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The 1701 Act of Settlement forbade any Catholics from sitting upon the British throne. William III and Mary II did not have any children and so the throne passed to Mary's sister, Anne.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Act of Settlement'
law passed in 1701 stipulating only a Protestant could inherit the English throne.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: The 1701 Act of Settlement meant that parliament no longer needed to worry about a Catholic taking the throne in the future. Correction: Although the 1701 Act of Settlement stipulated a Catholic or the spouse of a Catholic could never succeed to the throne of England, parliament remained worried that a succession crisis could still ensue if a monarch died childless.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 8 History guide library.