UNITED KINGDOM

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

• Educational system maintains the hierarchy of society

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

THEMES• Collective Identity – how

individuals define who they are politically

• Decolonization of British empire has helped to create a multiracial society but British have adjusted poorly

• Nationality & Immigration – hot button issues