The 18th century was a time of profound change for Britain. The country became a constitutional monarchy, the nations of Britain were formally united, and ideas from the Enlightenment reshaped thinking about government, science, and individual rights.
Key facts
- The Act of Union in 1707 united the kingdoms of England and Scotland to create the Kingdom of Great Britain.
- A new Parliament of Great Britain met at Westminster in London.
- The Hanoverian dynasty began in 1714 when George I became king. He was from Germany and spoke little English.
- The first Prime Minister is generally considered to be Sir Robert Walpole, who held office from 1721 to 1742.
- The Scottish Enlightenment produced important thinkers including David Hume (philosophy) and Adam Smith (economics - 'The Wealth of Nations').
- The American colonies declared independence from Britain in 1776.
- The 18th century saw the growth of the British Empire through trade and colonisation.
- The Enlightenment promoted ideas of reason, liberty, and progress, influencing politics and society.
In depth
The Act of Union in 1707 was a landmark moment that merged the separate kingdoms of England and Scotland into one: the Kingdom of Great Britain. Scotland kept its own legal and education systems, but a single Parliament now sat at Westminster. In 1714, the crown passed to the German House of Hanover. George I spoke little English, which meant his chief minister had to take on more government responsibility. This led to the emergence of the role of Prime Minister, with Sir Robert Walpole widely regarded as the first to hold that office, serving from 1721 to 1742.
The 18th century was also the age of the Enlightenment - a movement that championed reason, science, and individual rights. Scotland played a particularly important role, with thinkers like the philosopher David Hume and the economist Adam Smith (author of The Wealth of Nations) making contributions that are still studied today. Meanwhile, Britain's empire was expanding through trade and colonisation. However, tensions with the American colonies over taxation without representation led to the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 - a significant loss for Britain but a pivotal moment in world history.
For the 18th and early 19th centuries, recall the Act of Union of 1707 that joined England and Scotland to form Great Britain, the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions, and the growth of trade and empire. The slave trade was abolished in 1807 and slavery across the British Empire in 1833.