George I became King of England in 1714 at age 54, though he did not speak English and spent much of his time in Germany. He relied heavily on his chief minister Robert Walpole, as George took little interest in governing and did not attend cabinet meetings. While politically unstable due to Jacobite rebellions seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy, this period established the dominance of the Whig party and a system where politicians could pursue lucrative careers through party loyalty rather than bribery, giving stability to Parliament.
7. • The direct bribery of
members of Parliament was
rare.
• The political system
produce many statemen.
• The system gave the House
a stability and
independence.
