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Jacobite Rebellion
Following the death of Queen Anne, the crown passed to George in accordance with the Act of Settlement. Less than a year after his coronation, a Jacobite rising in Scotland of up to 20,000 Scotsmen supported the claim of James Francis Edward Stuart. A smaller English Jacobite rebellion was defeated at Preston, and after an inconclusive battle with government forces at Sheriffmuir the main Jacobite army slowly deserted. The rebellion had collapsed and Stuart fled Scotland. Crucial to the rebellion's failure was Stuart's refusal to convert from Catholicism to Anglicanism, which denied him wider support.

Whigs gain control
The Tories had been hesitant to support the exclusion of the Stuarts, and became tainted by association with the Jacobites. Politically George I favoured the Whigs, and his support was a key factor in their domination throughout his reign and beyond, known as the Whig Supremacy. Between 1694 and 1715 there had been no fewer than ten general elections, but the Septennial Act of 1716 increased the length of parliaments to a maximum of seven years - a change which was intended to create political stability, but favoured the Whig party who had won the 1715 election because it gave them several years in which to cement their position. The Whigs used impeachment and other methods to strip away Tory influence at both the national and local government levels.

War of the Quadruple Alliance
In 1717 Britain formed a triple Alliance with France and the Dutch Republic and in 1718 the Holy Roman Empire joined as the four nations entered into a brief war against Spain. Shortly before this the Royal Navy had destroyed the Spanish fleet, which severely disrupted Spain's ability to be a long term naval rival.

The first Prime Minister
The South Sea Bubble allowed Robert Walpole to become the most powerful politician in Britain due to his role in easing the financial crisis. Monarchs had employed ministers to run the country for centuries, but Walpole is recognised as the first de facto Prime Minister and his appointment by George I is traditionally dated to 1721. The cabinet started to meet regularly for the first time without the monarch during this period, partly due to George's inability to speak English.

War of the Austrian Succession
Anger at Spanish interference with British merchant ships led to war with Spain in 1739, which later brought Britain into the wider conflict in Europe as France allied with Spain. Walpole had tried to keep Britain at peace which lead to his downfall in 1742 after more than twenty years in power, as parliament lacked confidence in him to conduct the war. Naval victories against the French in May and October of 1747 were the only real successes of the war

Architecture
The Adam brothers developed the Adam Style of architecture and interior design in the later 18th century, which was favoured by the artistocracy and in France during a period of Anglomania. The Adam Style was neo-classical, influenced not just by Greek and Roman architecture, but also by Etruscan architecture.