Pitt and the Retreat from Isolation

• The Situation in 1783:

  • in 1783 BriTain had no alliances
  • the war with the American Colonists led to a war with France and a defeat for Britain also against Spain And the Dutch
  • colonies were lost and France gained prestige
  • League of Armed Neutrality (1780) -> formed against Britain with countries such as the Baltic, Russia, Denmark and Sweden
  • Prussia, Austria, the Netherlands, Naples and the Ottoman Empire had joined by 1782
  • dangerous as Britain faced hostile powers in certain areas
  • depended on trade
• Problems and solutions: 1780-1789

  • the united provinces
  • the triple alliance
  • Nootka sound
• The United Provinces: (modern day Netherlands)

  • the situation was particulary bad in the United Provinces
  • Was an alliance of 7 provinces —> larges of which was Holland
  • their ruler was stadtholder William V (grandson of King George III) -> member of the royal house of Orange
  • William had difficulties with the political group called he ‘Patriots’ who were funded by the French, anti-English and opposed his leadership -> William lost control over the different provinces
  • strong links -> 1688 William of Orange was overthrown in a ‘Glorious Revolution’ -> he was also William III
• The United Provinces: continued

  • there were fears in Britain that the Patriots would overthrow William and the provinces would be dominated by the French -> but the merchant classes in the Netherlands disliked Britain as Britain dominated trade
  • France would dominate Belgium and prevent Britain from using the river Scheldt
  • River Scheldt —> vital trade route for Britain, if France took over then they would control the English channel, pose a national security threat to Britain
• Why was Pitt eager to stay at peace:

  • Pitt didn’t want to start another war against France -> last war had given them huge debt
  • eager to establish more trading links with Europe -> Fance (1786) and the United Provinces (1785)
  • Pitt thought it was childish to assume that the French were always going to be enemies
• Triple Alliance:

  • Prussia sided with the monarch William V (his wife was the sister of the King of Prussia) asked for Prussian troops to help
  • France would back the Patriots —> May 1787 they appealed to France
  • fear of civil war Pitt gave money to the Orange supporters
  • August 1788 -> defence alliance was signed with Prussia and the United Provinces and Britain
  • Britain was no longeer isolated, and allied with a strong military power, French expansion was halted and British trade + security was no longer threatened
  • 20 000 troops entered the United Provinces in September 1787
• Nootka Sound:

  • Alaska was a Russian territory
  • Nootka sound was used by America, British and Russian traders
  • Spanish naval force came and clamed the whole area for spain and sent her navy to back this up in 1790
  • Pitt objected and claimed the right to trade in any Spanish claimed area -> the Dutch backed Britain by sending ships in support
  • France didn’t back spain
  • Settlement was reached in 1790
• By 1790, Pitt could be pleased with the results of his policies:

  • Holy Roman Emperor (Leopold II) offered friendship due to fear of France
  • Pitt had built Up Britain navy
  • death of anti-British French Foreign minister Vergeness in 1787 improved relations
  • triple alliance brought Britain out of isolation
  • trade treaty with France meant they could negotiate
  • France didn’t take advantage of the unrest in the Netherlands
• By 1790, Pitt could NOT be pleased with the results of policies:

  • Pitt was not prepared to support Prussia in its quest in Poland, and Prussia didn’t understand Britains fear in the Netherlands
  • Russian expansion remained a possible threat
  • the Patriots still remained
  • French still had ambitions in the Netherlands
  • French Revolution —> more uncertainty
• Nootka Sound -> Pacific coast