GGreat reat

BBritainritainThe Impact of the Past The Impact of the Past

on theon the Development Development

of of the Britishthe British

Political SystemPolitical System

The The British IslesBritish Isles is a group of islands off is a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe.the northwest coast of continental Europe.

They are bounded on the west They are bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, the by the Atlantic Ocean, the Celtic Sea, St. George’s Celtic Sea, St. George’s Channel, the Irish Sea and Channel, the Irish Sea and Ireland.Ireland.

to the north . . . the North Sea, to the north . . . the North Sea, to the south, the English to the south, the English ChannelChannel

CONSTITUENT COUNTRIES CONSTITUENT COUNTRIES OF THE OF THE BRITISH ISLESBRITISH ISLES

The The British IslesBritish Isles comprise comprise Great Britain, Ireland, and Great Britain, Ireland, and

a number of smaller islandsa number of smaller islands (Isle of Man & Channel Islands). (Isle of Man & Channel Islands).

Two sovereign states located in Two sovereign states located in the islands:the islands:

The The United KingdomUnited Kingdom of Great Britain of Great Britain andand Northern Northern IrelandIreland

++ TheThe

Republic of Republic of IrelandIreland

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELANDGREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

The The United Kingdom United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy is a constitutional monarchy composed of 4 constituent composed of 4 constituent countriescountries

EnglandEngland

ScotlandScotland

Wales &Wales &

Northern Northern Ireland.Ireland.

British IslesBritish Isles / / UKUK / / BritainBritain / / EnglandEngland

THE UNION JACK

The The Union FlagUnion Flag (also known as (also known as

the the Union JackUnion Jack)) is the national is the national flag of the United Kingdom of flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Great Britain and Northern IrelandIreland.

Its design includes the flags

of England Scotland

Ireland

ENGLANDENGLAND

EnglandEngland the largest and most the largest and most

populous constituent populous constituent country of the United country of the United Kingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. and Northern Ireland.

CapitalCapital: London.: London.FlagFlag: St. George’s cross.: St. George’s cross.

SSCOTLANDCOTLAND

ScotlandScotland is one of the is one of the four constituent countries of four constituent countries of the United Kingdom of Great the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain and Northern Ireland.

CapitalCapital: Edinburgh.: Edinburgh.

FlagFlag: Cross of Saint Andrew.: Cross of Saint Andrew.

WALESWALES

WalesWales is one of four is one of four constituent countries of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom of Great Britain United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. and Northern Ireland.

CapitalCapital: Cardiff.: Cardiff.FlagFlag: the red dragon of Prince : the red dragon of Prince Cadwalader plus the Cadwalader plus the

Tudor colours .Tudor colours .

TTHEHE RREPUBLIC EPUBLIC OFOF IIRELANDRELAND

The Republic of The Republic of IrelandIreland is a member of is a member of the European Union. the European Union.

CapitalCapital: Dublin.: Dublin.

FlagFlag: Green, white, : Green, white, orange.orange.

NORTHERN IRELANDNORTHERN IRELAND

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland – –

The Irish province of The Irish province of UlsterUlster remains occupied as remains occupied as Northern Northern IrelandIreland, still a part of the United , still a part of the United Kingdom and 1 of 4 constituent Kingdom and 1 of 4 constituent countries of countries of the United Kingdom the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ireland.

CapitalCapital: Belfast.: Belfast.FlagFlag: the : the Union FlagUnion Flag is the is the

officialofficial flag. . . Wanna fight flag. . . Wanna fight about it?about it?

BritannBritanniaia

Insulae Insulae EstEst

From From Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s Richard IIIRichard III : :

This other Eden, demi-paradise, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for This fortress built by Nature for herself herself Against infection and the hand of Against infection and the hand of war, war, This happy breed of men, this This happy breed of men, this little world, little world, This precious stone set in the This precious stone set in the silver sea, silver sea, Which serves it in the office of a Which serves it in the office of a wall, wall, Or as a moat defensive to a house, Or as a moat defensive to a house, Against the envy of less happier Against the envy of less happier lands, lands, This blessed plot, this earth, this This blessed plot, this earth, this realm,realm,

this this EnglandEngland,,

Geographic ProvidenceGeographic Providence - - England England is anis an island island

InsularityInsularity

Relative peace & Relative peace & securitysecurity Ethnic, linguistic, religious . . . Cultural Ethnic, linguistic, religious . . . Cultural HomogeneityHomogeneity

Less Less need forneed for a standing army a standing army Navy . . . Navigation . . . Navy . . . Navigation . . . Necessity of Necessity of TradeTrade FarFar distant from papal authority distant from papal authority

Greater independence and self governanceGreater independence and self governance

We’ll return to these points laterWe’ll return to these points later

TTRADITIONRADITION PPERMEATES ERMEATES BBRITISH RITISH

POLITICSPOLITICS

The Opening of The Opening of Parliament – Parliament –

Black RodBlack Rod& the Slammed Door& the Slammed Door

Pageantry, history, & Pageantry, history, & legitimacylegitimacy

Members of House of Members of House of Commons Commons are each are each

yearyear summoned to summoned to Lord’s Chamber Lord’s Chamber to to

hear thehear the Queen’s Queen’s commands to commands to

Parliament Parliament for the next for the next

year’s session inyear’s session in ““Queen’s Speech Queen’s Speech from the Thronefrom the Throne””

House of Commons, 1642House of Commons, 1642King Charles I led troops into Commons to arrest 5 leading King Charles I led troops into Commons to arrest 5 leading

dissident Members of Parliament (MPs). dissident Members of Parliament (MPs). the five received warning, escaped. Avoided bloodshed on the the five received warning, escaped. Avoided bloodshed on the

floor of House of Commons.floor of House of Commons. Finding the five had flown, the King threatened the Speaker, Finding the five had flown, the King threatened the Speaker,

Lenthall, whose reply has become legendary, -Lenthall, whose reply has become legendary, -

““May it please your May it please your Majesty, I have neither Majesty, I have neither eyes to see, nor tongue eyes to see, nor tongue to speak in this place, to speak in this place, but as this House is but as this House is pleased to direct me, pleased to direct me, whose servant I am.”whose servant I am.” - - Speaker Speaker LenthallLenthall

A yearly A yearly drama drama reminding reminding Britons ofBritons of wherewhere

PowerPower

resides . . .resides . . .

King ? or King ? or Commons?Commons?

Traditions, Rituals, Ceremony,Traditions, Rituals, Ceremony,and Pageantryand Pageantry

reinforcereinforce the the dignity dignity of government of government legitimizelegitimize government by evoking historical government by evoking historical

memoriesmemories impressimpress upon Govt officers weight of office - upon Govt officers weight of office -

dignity, responsibility, dutydignity, responsibility, duty provide provide continuitycontinuity w/ past w/ past engender engender legitimacy & patriotismlegitimacy & patriotism through through

pageantrypageantry promotepromote national national unityunity

Prehistoric to 1000 yrs Prehistoric to 1000 yrs agoago Earliest Earliest BritainBritain

Celtic BritainCeltic Britain (arrive 500 BC) (arrive 500 BC) Romano-Celtic BritanniaRomano-Celtic Britannia (43 AD to (43 AD to

410). 410). (Romans 1(Romans 1stst arrived 55 BC) arrived 55 BC) Roman law, peace, trade, ChristianityRoman law, peace, trade, Christianity Hadrian’s WallHadrian’s Wall Withdrawal of Roman power in 5Withdrawal of Roman power in 5thth Century Century

ADAD Angles, Saxons, Jutes Angles, Saxons, Jutes 55thth Century Century Norman EnglandNorman England The DanelawThe Danelaw

Celtic Britain:BritonsScotsWelshIrishCornish

CelticCeltictribes oftribes of BritainBritain

Celtic BritainCeltic Britain

Anglo-Saxon Britain feudal aristocracy - weak kings Post Roman reality - memory

of central govt and its desirability as a model but

feudal fractionalization Anglo-Saxon Witan

King's council of nobles tribal, clannish, scattered power Related to Scandinavian / Viking

system• eg. Icelandic ALTHING

lacked focus / power too dispersed

The Lord's Prayer in Olde English Matthew 6:9-13 Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum; Father our thou that

art in heavensSi þin nama gehalgod be thy name hallowed

to becume þin rice come thy kingdom

gewurþe ðin willa be-done thy will

on eorðan swa swa on heofonum. on earth as in heavens

urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us todæg our dailybread give us todayand forgyf us ure gyltas and forgive us our sins

swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum as we forgive those- who have-sinned-against-usand ne gelæd þu us on costnunge and not lead thou us into temptationac alys us of yfele. soþlice but deliver us from evil. truly.

Norman EnglandNorman England

Norman ConquestNorman Conquest William the . . . . unofficial heirWilliam the . . . . unofficial heir 1066 battle of Hastings1066 battle of Hastings

• William… the ConquerorWilliam… the Conqueror Centralization of powerCentralization of power Domesday BookDomesday Book ExchequerExchequer

Norman EnglandNorman EnglandNorman ConquestNorman Conquest

brought Wm's own nobility & a plan to brought Wm's own nobility & a plan to organize & govern Englandorganize & govern England

* William replaced the entire English * William replaced the entire English ruling class w/Norman noblesruling class w/Norman nobles

and his rule was backed by brutal and his rule was backed by brutal military power and much better military power and much better administration planadministration plan

Norman EnglandNorman England

and so political stability & centralization and so political stability & centralization were brought to England relatively were brought to England relatively early: earlier than in continental Europeearly: earlier than in continental Europe

* however, while sovereign power * however, while sovereign power resided in the Monarch,resided in the Monarch,

British Kings were still expected to British Kings were still expected to consult w/the earls, barons, and consult w/the earls, barons, and leading clergymen (i.e., nobility) in leading clergymen (i.e., nobility) in order to declare laws and levy taxesorder to declare laws and levy taxes

NormanNorman ReformsReforms Magna CartaMagna Carta 1215 1215 – explicit protection of– explicit protection of feudal customs, rights, and lawfeudal customs, rights, and law Rule of law Rule of law – the LAW is the King– the LAW is the King Limited monarchyLimited monarchy

implies individual rightsimplies individual rights power sharingpower sharing King rules w/ Lord’s advice & consent – parliamentKing rules w/ Lord’s advice & consent – parliament Mixed monarchyMixed monarchy

Common LawCommon Law

Common LawCommon Law Prior to Norman Conquest,1066, justice was Prior to Norman Conquest,1066, justice was

administered primarily by county courtsadministered primarily by county courts Courts were presided over by diocesan bishop or Courts were presided over by diocesan bishop or

by county sheriffby county sheriff

both ecclesiastical & civil both ecclesiastical & civil jurisdiction.jurisdiction.

Trial by JuryTrial by Jury began in began in these courts.these courts.

Common LawCommon Law By 1150s Henry II began sending judges By 1150s Henry II began sending judges

from his own central court to hear disputes from his own central court to hear disputes throughout England,throughout England,

resolving cases on an resolving cases on an ad hocad hoc basis. basis. Judge-made law, legal precedent, jury

trial, - Supremacy of Law

Stare DecisisStare Decisis - - PrecedentPrecedent curbed power of canonical (church) courts curbed power of canonical (church) courts

and manoral courts (feudal)and manoral courts (feudal)

Magna Carta of 1215 King John recognized it as a right of his

subjects “to have common council of the kingdom” for the assessment of extraordinary aids Taxation crafting law war military conscription

Consequences of Common LawConsequences of Common Law

conflict of King w/ churchconflict of King w/ church most famously with most famously with Thomas Thomas á á BecketBecket, Archbishop of , Archbishop of

CanterburyCanterbury Writ of Right - Royal order for a feudal lord to

provide justice to plaintiff or the King would intercede through the Sheriff

• ))Writ of Praecipe - ignored manoral courts, ordered disputed lands to be restored to plaintiff or have defendant appear in King’s Court to explain

• ))in effect an automatic presumption against the feudal lord

)encouraged and empowered the rising middle class

Wales

Edward I brings Wales under British sovereignty in 1283

Prince of Wales

Sovereignty

power was still largely in the hands of the Monarchy who ruled by divine right

Kings and Queens of Britain were practicalities nonetheless required to consult Parliament before levying taxes or making law

tensions b/n Crown and Parliament grew.

* Parliament got a major boost during the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547) when he declared a partnership w/the Parliament in his struggle w/Rome (wanted a divorce cause Catherine couldn’t bear him male child, Pope wouldn’t grant it so Henry w/Parliament bolted Catholic Church and created Church of England): granted divorce

Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation

Henry VIIIHenry VIII Break w/ RomeBreak w/ Rome

Elizabeth IElizabeth I

1588 Defeat of the1588 Defeat of the Spanish Armada Spanish Armada ColonizationColonization MercantilismMercantilism Commercial CultureCommercial Culture

James IJames I

Good Queen Bess

Elizabeth I

* Eventually the tensions b/n the institutions boiled over, as the efforts of the Stuarts (Charles I and James II) to centralize authority in the 1600s led to all out war

b/n Crown & Parliament

* Charles I took England to unsuccessful wars w/Spain and France which increased his desperation

for $ and he tried to levy taxes w/o consent of the Parliament

Charles ICharles I (1625-1649)(1625-1649)

English Civil WarEnglish Civil War

(1642-48)(1642-48)

"who should rule the "who should rule the country?"country?"

Parliamentarians Parliamentarians vs.vs. RoyalistsRoyalists

ParliamentariansParliamentarians Puritans – RoundheadsPuritans – Roundheads House of CommonsHouse of Commons Merchant classMerchant class Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell New Model ArmyNew Model Army RoyalistsRoyalists

Aristocratic,Aristocratic, supported Kingsupported King called called CavaliersCavaliers House of Lords & the CourtHouse of Lords & the Court Roman Catholics or HighRoman Catholics or High

Church ofChurch of

EnglandEngland

Charles I beheaded by Parliament

TheThe Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution

16891689 James II ousted James II ousted Parliament invites William & Mary to the throneParliament invites William & Mary to the throne Bill of Rights – relationship between Parliament Bill of Rights – relationship between Parliament

and Crown – shared rule and Crown – shared rule 1714, Anne w/out heir, Parliament invites 1714, Anne w/out heir, Parliament invites

George of HanoverGeorge of Hanover

The English Bill of RightsThe English Bill of Rights

To prevent abuse of To prevent abuse of power by William & power by William & Mary Mary and all future and all future monarchs, Parliament, monarchs, Parliament, in 1689, drew up a list in 1689, drew up a list of provisions to which of provisions to which Wm & Mary had to Wm & Mary had to agreeagree. .

This document, the This document, the English Bill of Rights,English Bill of Rights,prohibited a standing army in peacetime,prohibited a standing army in peacetime,

except with the consent of Parliamentexcept with the consent of Parliamentrequired that all parliamentary elections be free.required that all parliamentary elections be free.Monarch's authority, Monarch's authority, only with consent of only with consent of ParliamentParliamentguarantees right to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail guarantees right to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail and protection from cruel and unusual punishment.and protection from cruel and unusual punishment.

Our nation has built on, Our nation has built on, changed, & added to changed, & added to those ideas and those ideas and institutions that settlers institutions that settlers brought here from brought here from England.England.

Political Reform 19Political Reform 19thth Century Century Industrialization

Population shifts Inequities exploitation

Dickens’ Novels

riots in 1819 led the Reform Act of 1832

Chartist Movement in the 1830s and 1840s

Representation of the People Act 1832, commonly

known as the Reform Act 1832

,

The Great Reform Act of 1832Began 1760 as reaction to supposed autocratic policies of

the new young King George III

began The early liberal or radical tradition in Britain

culminated with the Great Reform Act of 1832.

Masterminded by liberal Whig Earl Grey

abolished the so called “Rotten Boroughs” in England

led to complete overhaul of the entirely venal electoral system in Scotland

Extension of the franchise across Britain.

early beginnings of modern mass democracy in the UK

Industrial Era Industrial Era

start of the modern party-political system

Liberally-minded Whigs gradually organised themselves into the Liberal Party

those holding more conservative views – nicknamed “Tories” by their liberal opponents (Tory was a term of abuse by the late 18th century)

– organised themselves into the Conservative Party and gradually adopted term “Tory” for themselves

In The Tree of Corruption from 1831, caricaturist H. H. Heath depicts hacking away the old Rotten Borough System,

to the strenuous protests

from those whose livelihood depend on it.

© the Library of Congress.

The Great Reform Act of 1832

Removed Rotten Burroughs / Pocket BurroughsRemoved Rotten Burroughs / Pocket Burroughs disenfranchised 56 boroughs in England & Wales and disenfranchised 56 boroughs in England & Wales and

reduced another 31 to only one MPreduced another 31 to only one MP created 67 new constituenciescreated 67 new constituencies broadened the franchise's property qualification in the broadened the franchise's property qualification in the

counties, to include small landowners, tenant farmers, counties, to include small landowners, tenant farmers, and shopkeepersand shopkeepers

The Great Reform Act of 1832

created a uniform franchise in the boroughs, giving the vote created a uniform franchise in the boroughs, giving the vote to all householders who paid a yearly rental of £10 or more to all householders who paid a yearly rental of £10 or more and some lodgersand some lodgers

Expanded franchise among middle classExpanded franchise among middle class

7% of adult Brits could vote7% of adult Brits could vote

House of Commons to represent masses House of Commons to represent masses

22ndnd Reform Act 1867 Reform Act 18672X electorate to 16%2X electorate to 16%

33rdrd Reform Act Reform Act 1884 1884nearlynearly universal male suffrage universal male suffrage

22ndnd Reform Act 1867 Reform Act 1867

2X electorate to 16% of pop.2X electorate to 16% of pop.

33rdrd Reform Act Reform Act 1884 1884

nearlynearly universal male suffrage universal male suffrage

When the Houses of Parliament burnt down in 1834, Queen Adelaide openly spoke of it

being God's just punishment for passing the Great Reform Act

Political Reform 20Political Reform 20thth Century Century

1900 – Labour Party speaks for the 1900 – Labour Party speaks for the working class & socialist reformsworking class & socialist reforms

Parliamentary Acts in 1911 stripped all the Parliamentary Acts in 1911 stripped all the remaining significant powers away from remaining significant powers away from the aristocratic House of Lordsthe aristocratic House of Lords

reform of the system made Britain a more reform of the system made Britain a more substantive and expansive democracy substantive and expansive democracy was completewas complete

Women’s suffrageWomen’s suffrageEmmiline Pankhurst,

suffragette leader, used arson and

window smashing to further their cause

- “breaking glassis the most

eloquent argument in politics.”

Emmeline Pankhurst

being arrested in

1914

•1918 the Representation of the People Act

gave women over 30 yrs old the vote if they were householders, or wives of householders occupiers of property w/ an annual rent of £5 or if they were graduates of British

universities. enfranchised only about 8.5 million women Ten years later, in 1928, women won the

right to vote on the same terms as men.

WWII & Churchill

WWII & Post-War BritainWWII & Post-War Britain

1939-45 World War II1939-45 World War II1945 – 1945 – LabourLabour takes power takes power

the the beginning of the British beginning of the British Welfare StateWelfare State

PM PM Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher - - ConservativeConservative Prime Minister Prime Minister of of

the UKthe UK from 1979 to 1990from 1979 to 1990

PM PM Tony BlairTony Blair – – NewNew Labour Labour Prime Minister 1990 - 2007Prime Minister 1990 - 2007

Current PM Current PM

Gordon Gordon BrownBrown 2007- 2007-