The early parties and politics in Britain, 1688-1832

"In this accessible and original study, Dr. Brian Hill describes the lengthy survival of an older political system alongside the rise of the early Tory and Whig parties. This twofold approach brings out those features which undoubtedly gave rise to the present-day party system as well as the differences between the early political scene and that of today." "An introductory survey describes the nature of Parliament, its constituencies, the electoral system, the voters, the press, and the citizens without a vote who were nevertheless deeply interested in politics. Five further chapters, each with its own shorter introduction, describe successive periods, pre-1715, 1715-45, 1745-70, 1770-1801 and 1801-32. Three substantial appendices give supplementary information on many of the leading political figures, their offices and achievements, on foreign affairs, and on leading governmental developments."--BOOK JACKET.