Changes

===American Revolution===

===American Revolution===

George controlled the policies to reassert imperial control over the restive colonies that caused the [[American Revolution]] in 1775; most Britons supported the king, though a vocal minority warned they had strong claims to the rights of Englishmen.  The war became a personal issue for him, fueled by his growing belief that British leniency would be taken as weakness by the Americans. The king also sincerely believed he was defending Britain's constitution against usurpers, rather than opposing patriots fighting for their natural rights.<ref> Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, "'If Others Will Not Be Active, I must Drive': George III and the American Revolution." ''Early American Studies''  2004 2(1): I, 1-46. Issn: 1543-4273 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]; by contrast P. D. G. Thomas, "George III and the American Revolution." ''History''  1985 70(228): 16-31, says the king played a minor role and did not harass the colonists before 1775. </ref>  

George controlled the policies to reassert imperial control over the restive colonies that caused the [[American Revolution]] in 1775; most Britons supported the king, though a vocal minority protested that the Americans had strong claims to the rights of Englishmen.  The war became a personal issue for the king, fueled by his growing belief that British leniency would be taken as weakness and would undercut his authority at home. The king also sincerely believed he was defending Britain's constitution against usurpers, rather than opposing patriots fighting for their natural rights.<ref> Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, "'If Others Will Not Be Active, I must Drive': George III and the American Revolution." ''Early American Studies''  2004 2(1): I, 1-46. Issn: 1543-4273 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]; by contrast P. D. G. Thomas, "George III and the American Revolution." ''History''  1985 70(228): 16-31, says the king played a minor role and did not harass the colonists before 1775. </ref>  

Americans were slow to appreciate the king was not their ally; they had hailed him in 1766 as the 'Patriot King' when the Stamp Act was repealed by the Rockingham ministry, unaware he had privately opposed its lifting. The king was delighted by the series of tough acts of Parliament passed in 1774 collectively known as the Coercive Acts, which were the immediate cause of revolt. He pressed for the royal proclamation of August 1775 that announced that his American subjects were "engaged in open and avowed rebellion."

Americans were slow to appreciate the king was not their ally; they had hailed him in 1766 as the 'Patriot King' when the [[Stamp Act of 1765]] was repealed by the Rockingham ministry, unaware he had privately opposed its lifting. The king was delighted by the series of tough acts of Parliament passed in 1774 collectively known as the Coercive Acts, which were the immediate cause of revolt. He pressed for the royal proclamation of August 1775 that announced that his American subjects were "engaged in open and avowed rebellion."

During the war the king refused to compromise and selected inept ministers who caused disaster aster disaster, including the formation of a powerful coalition in support of the Americans, the loss of traditional British allies, and the surrender of two main armies at Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781). George wanted to send more soldiers but he lost control of Parliament and his Prime Minister [[Lord North]] was forced to resign. Negotiations that led to the Treaty of Paris in 1783 proved highly favorable to the Americans.

During the war the king refused to compromise and selected inept ministers who caused disaster aster disaster, including the formation of a powerful coalition in support of the Americans, the loss of traditional allies in Euurope, and the surrender of two main invasion armies at Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781). George wanted to send more soldiers but he lost control of Parliament and his Prime Minister [[Lord North]] was forced to resign. Negotiations that led to the Treaty of Paris in 1783 proved highly favorable to the Americans.

A constitutional crisis erupted in 1783-4 when the king dismissed the coalition government of [[Charles James Fox]] and [[Lord North]] and supplanted it by one led by [[Chatham|William Pitt the Younger]]. Pitt was faced by a hostile majority in Parliament but within months stabilized his position. Many historians argue that Pitt's success was inevitable given the decisive importance of monarchical power in British politics during the period. Kelly (1981) disputes this view, maintaining that the king gambled on Pitt and that both would have failed but for a run of good fortune.<ref>Paul Kelly, "British Politics, 1783-4: the Emergence and Triumph of the Younger Pitt's Administration." ''Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research'' 1981 54(129): 62-78. Issn: 0020-2894 </ref> Although the king exercised considerable influence in politics from 1783 onward, the emergence of the [[Chatham|younger Pitt]], who had secured his majority in 1784 through royal support, meant that the king's power of interference was curtailed. Yet, in 1801 the king blocked Catholic emancipation and in 1804 refused to approve [[Charles James Fox]] as a minister.

A constitutional crisis erupted in 1783-4 when the king dismissed the coalition government of [[Charles James Fox]] and [[Lord North]] and supplanted it by one led by [[Chatham|William Pitt the Younger]]. Pitt was faced by a hostile majority in Parliament but within months stabilized his position. Many historians argue that Pitt's success was inevitable given the decisive importance of monarchical power in British politics during the period. Kelly (1981) disputes this view, maintaining that the king gambled on Pitt and that both would have failed but for a run of good fortune.<ref>Paul Kelly, "British Politics, 1783-4: the Emergence and Triumph of the Younger Pitt's Administration." ''Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research'' 1981 54(129): 62-78. Issn: 0020-2894 </ref> Although the king exercised considerable influence in politics from 1783 onward, the emergence of the [[Chatham|younger Pitt]], who had secured his majority in 1784 through royal support, meant that the king's power of interference was curtailed. Yet, in 1801 the king blocked Catholic emancipation and in 1804 refused to approve [[Charles James Fox]] as a minister.