Chap. 5 Imperial Breakdown 1763-1774

9Confusion inParliamentWilliam Pitt the Elder PrimeMinister 1757-61 Under Pitt, theBritish national debt climbedfrom 72 million pounds before thewar to 132 millionIn the critical 12 years from 1763to 1775, seven prime ministersdirected a confused Parliamentdenying it coherent leadership.• 1762 26 May–16 Apr 1763 JohnStuart, Earl of Bute• 1763-5. George Grenville• 1765-6. Charles Wentworth• 1766-67. Pitt’s exchequer, CharlesTownshend took charge and imposedharsh tax measures on the colonieswhich mostly failed but greatly raisedtensions then suddenly died 4 Sept1767 at the height of the crisis.• 1767-70. Augustus Henry Fitzroy,Duke of Grafton.• 1770-82. Frederick Lord North• North aggressively pushed Englandtoward a war against the“ungrateful” and “crybaby”Americans.Ch 5 Impl Breakdown 1763-74(24)