united kingdom. geography & people capital: london area: 244,820 km 2 (94,000 mi 2 - slightly...
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Geography & People• Capital: London
• Area: 244,820 km2 (94,000 mi2-slightly smaller than Oregon)
• Population: 62.7 million (2011) (#22)
• Major ethnic groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian
• Major languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic
U.K., Great Brit., or England?• The United Kingdom - created in
1801 at climax of British expansion (includes all 4 regions)
• Great Britain, the main area of the U.K., is divided into 3 parts: England, Scotland, and Wales
• The 4th part is Northern Ireland, made up of 6 counties of Ulster
U.K., Great Brit., or England?• The U.K. is a MULTINATIONAL
state – in England they think of themselves as English, in Wales Welsh, and in Scotland as Scots
• England is multiracial – small # from other parts of Europe (Queen herself is of German descent) but majority come from West Indies and South Asia (Ind., Pak., Bangladesh)
• Used to be homogeneous – majority Protestant, English-speaking, and white
• Social mobility is not very easy – education is based on class-State schools (our equivalent to public school)-Public schools (our private school) – so called because they prepare a person for public service
Island Nation
• Its location as an island – makes Britons feel like they are a part of and separated from the rest of Europe
• This factor has complicated relations with the EU
British Political History• William the Conqueror invaded in
1066 and divided England into 200 fiefs
• During the medieval era, the Crown was established as the central political authority (Feudalism)
• Henry I replaced inherited offices with hirees
• He also allowed knights to pay him so they wouldn’t have to fight
British Political History• Money was used to hire
mercenaries
• Henry also created office of ex chequer (A.K.A. treasurer)
• Henry II created royal courts, where people were tried by jury
• Also circuit and church courts, which charged fees
British Political History• John I made England into a papal
fief & agreed to pay annual tax to Rome
• This upset the nobles and they made him sign the MAGNA CARTA (1215), or Great Charter, ending absolute rule in England
British Political History• Magna Carta – king must obey
laws, prisoners are guaranteed trial by jury, and no taxes could be made without the permission of the Great Council (made up of nobility and clergy)
• 1295 – model parliament formed, expanding Great Council to middle class
British Political History• Next major event was 100 Years’
War w/France (1337-1453)
• Caused many English nobles to lose land they had in France
• Helped unify England more – now more centralized
British Political History• Then came the War of the Roses
(1455-1485), a civil war in which 2 families fought over the throne (Tudors v. Lancasters)
• Tudors won – Henry VII became king
• Strengthened both the monarchy & the Parliament
• Noble died land went back to king
British Political History• King could only tax with
Parliament’s permission
• Henry VIII settled the supremacy of the state’s secular power over the church in 16th c. when he established Church of England
• Tudor rule ended with the death of Elizabeth I in 1603
British Political History• Stuart rule began (cousins of
Tudors)
• Stuarts claimed divine right to rule
• Taxed the middle class heavily & ignored trade
• Anglican Church made official church of England
British Political History• 1628, Charles I signed Petition of
Right to get funds from Parliament to wage war against Scotland
• Parliament refused so he had them all arrested but was run out of town
• English Civil War began (1642-1651)• Oliver Cromwell established military
republic w/freedom of religion except for Catholics
British Political History• Restoration occurs in 1660 with
King Charles II back on throne
• Charles II & James II were both Catholic but failed to change religion of Britain
• James’s attempt caused the Glorious Revolution, a bloodless change in power in 1688
British Political History• Bill of Rights is established along
with parliamentary supremacy
• England was almost constitutional democracy at this point
• By the later 18th century, political power was divided between Crown and Parliament in a system of representative government
British Political History• Both Wales & Scotland were
independent kingdoms that resisted English rule
• Wales was joined with England in 16th cent. – industrialization drew most Welsh people close to Eng.
• 1964 – separate Welsh office was established for administrative purposes & its head was made a Cabinet minister
British Political History• 1707 – England & Scotland
unified as Great Britain in Act of Union
• Common Parliament was for all of Great Britain was established
• 1801 – legislative union of Ireland & G.B. under the name of United Kingdom
British Political History• 1921 – Irish Free State
established while 6 northern counties (predominantly Protestant ) remained part of UK
British Political History• COLLECTIVIST CONSENSUS
(1945-1979)
• After WWII, reconstruction and dreams of new prosperity & security took priority over ideological conflict
• COLLECTIVISM – Significant majority of Brits and all major political parties agreed that state should take expanded responsibility for economic governance and provide for the social welfare
British Political History• Accepted as a matter of faith that gov’t
should work to narrow gap b/t rich and poor through public education, national health care, and other policies of the WELFARE STATE,
• Public accepted state responsibility for economic growth and full employment
• Collectivism brought class-based actors (labor & management) inside politics & forged broad consensus about expanded role of gov’t
British Expansion & Empire• Foreign Trade• Sea power protected English trade
& opened up new routes• British Empire = roughly 1/5 to ¼ of
the world’s area & population• Colonies contributed to UK’s econ.
growth & strengthened its voice in world affairs as well as developed & broadened its democratic institutions at home
AP Comparative Government AP Comparative Government --WatkinsWatkins
British Empire 1719British Empire 1719
AP Comparative Government AP Comparative Government --WatkinsWatkins
The Sun Never SetsThe Sun Never Sets
British Political History
• Reform Act of 1832 – gave men not in the aristocracy (working class) suffrage
• 1918 – Most women get suffrage
• 1928 – all women get suffrage
THEMES
• Is the U.K. a world power or just a middle-of-the-pack country in Western Europe?
• Has a historical legacy but plays second fiddle in “special relationship” the U.S.
THEMES
• What strategies have been employed in governing the economy?
• Historically, the U.K. has relied on superior competitiveness abroad since the Industrial Revolution
• How well will the U.K. do since it lost its power?
THEMES
• Issues about democratic governance, citizen participation, and constitutional reform
• Monarchy, unelected House of Lords, interests of Wales, Scotland, & Northern Ireland