Exam 6: The Eighteenth Century: European States, International Wars, and Social Change

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The Hanoverians, also known as the Georges, refer to a succession of British monarchs from the House of Hanover who ruled over Great Britain and, later, the United Kingdom, from 1714 to 1901. This period is marked by the reigns of the first four British monarchs named George, hence the term "the Georges."

The Hanoverian dynasty began with the accession of George I, who became king after the death of Queen Anne, the last monarch of the House of Stuart. The Act of Settlement 1701 had established that the British crown would pass to the Protestant heirs of Sophia of Hanover, a granddaughter of James I of England, in the event that Queen Anne died without any surviving children. This was part of a broader effort to ensure a Protestant succession, thereby preventing a Catholic monarch from ascending to the throne.

Here is a brief overview of the Hanoverian monarchs referred to as "the Georges":

1. George I (reigned 1714–1727): The first Hanoverian king of Great Britain, George I was also the Elector of Hanover in the Holy Roman Empire. His reign marked the beginning of the shift towards a modern system of parliamentary government, with the king having less direct involvement in government affairs, partly due to his lack of fluency in English and frequent absences in Hanover.

2. George II (reigned 1727–1760): The son of George I, he was the last British monarch to lead his troops into battle, notably at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743. During his reign, the powers of the monarchy continued to diminish as the modern system of Cabinet government took shape.

3. George III (reigned 1760–1820): Perhaps one of the most well-known Hanoverian monarchs, George III's reign was marked by several military conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War, in which the American colonies won their independence. His later years were overshadowed by his recurrent and eventually permanent mental illness, which led to the establishment of a regency from 1811 until his death.

4. George IV (reigned 1820–1830): Initially serving as Prince Regent during his father's illness, George IV's reign was characterized by extravagance and a taste for the arts, but also by political unpopularity. His period saw the formalization of the Regency era's cultural achievements in architecture, fashion, and the arts.

The Hanoverian period continued with the reigns of William IV and Queen Victoria, but the term "the Georges" specifically refers to the first four Hanoverian kings named George. The legacy of the Hanoverians is significant in British history, as they presided over the establishment of constitutional monarchy, the expansion of the British Empire, and the industrial and cultural changes that transformed Britain and its empire during the 18th and 19th centuries.