It dealt with Parliament. In 1720, the number of peers in
the House of Lords was fixed, so that the Crown could create no
more. About 1720, Robert Walpole, son of a country squire, who
came to be first minister of the Crown and the leader of the
Whigs, organized the cabinet so that it was of one view. He led it
for twenty years and thus became the first prime minister. He was
brilliant at finance and lessened taxation. He restored trust in
the government after the South Sea bubble scandal. He was
successful in preserving the peace with other nations and
providing stability in England that led to prosperity. The Whigs
opposed a standing army and over-reaching influence of the Crown.
They espoused the liberty of individual subjects. Their slogan was
"liberty and property". They generally favored foreign wars.
Members of the Parliament felt responsible for the good of the
whole country instead of accounting to their electors, but self-
interest also played a part. Leading commercial magnates of the
realm sought to be members of Parliament or governors of the Bank
of England to be able to take up government loans at advantageous
rates, snap up contracts to supply government departments at
exorbitant prices, and play an important part in deciding what
duties should be charged on what goods. About 5% of the population
could vote. Voting was open, rather than by secret ballot.
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