A Modern, Thriving Society Flashcards
What other languages other than English are spoken in particular parts of the UK?
Wales - Welsh
Scotland - Gaelic
Northern Ireland - Irish Gaelic
How has the population of the UK changed?
Large growth in population - what was happening during these times?
From 5m in 1700 to 8m in 1801
From 8m in 1801 to 20m in 1851
From 20m in 1851 to 40m in 1901
From 1901 to 2010, population increase has slowed down.
Population growth has been faster in more recent years. Migration into the UK population and longer life expectancy have played an important part in population growth.
Population distribution over the UK: England 84% Scotland 8% Wales 5% Northern Ireland 3%
Improved living standards and better health care mean that now there are a record number of people aged 85 and over.
Ethnic diversity: European Australian Canadian New Zealand American Asian Black Mixed descent
What are the main Christian and other religious festivals celebrated in the UK?
Easter
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Diwali / Festival of Lights (October/November): Hindus and Sikhs
Hannukah: Jews
Eid al-Fitr: end of Ramadan for Muslims
Eid ul Adha: Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to for Muslims
Mothering Sunday: Sunday three weeks before Easter
Father’s Day: third Sunday in June
Bonfire Night: 5 Nov Guy Fawkes night - failed plan to bomb the Houses of Parliament
Remembrance Day: 11 Nov - commemorates the dead of WWI which ended 11/11/1918
What is the official church of the state?
In the UK there is a constitutional link between Church and State. The official church of the state is the Church of England (called the Anglican Church or Episcopal Church). It is a Protestant church and has existed since the Reformation in the 1530s.
The monarch is the head of the Church of England and the spiritual leader is the Archbishop of Canterbury. The monarch Has the right to select the Archbishop and other senior church officials, but usually the choice is made by the Prime Minister and a committee appointed by the Church. Several Church of England bishops sit in the House of Lords.
In Scotland, the National Church is the CHurch of Scotland, a Presbyterian Church. It is governed by ministers and elders. The chairperson of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the Moderator, who is appointed for one year only and often speaks on behalf of the Church.
There is no established church in Wales or Northern Ireland.
Other Protestant Christian groups in the UK are Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Quakers
Notable British sportsmen and women:
Sir Roger Bannister: first man to run a mile in under 4m, 1954.
Sir Jackie Stewart: Scottish racing driver who won the Formula 1 three times.
Bobby Moore: captained English football team that won the World Cup, 1966.
Sir Ian Botham: captained English cricket team and holds a number of English Test cricket records, both for batting and bowling.
Jayne Torvil and Christopher Dean: gold medals for ice dancing at the Olympic Games in 1984 and in four consecutive world championships.
Sir Steve Redgrave: gold medals in rowing in five consecutive Olympic Games and one of Britain’s greatest Olympians.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson: won 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 gold medals, in over five Paralympic Games. Won London Marathon six times and broke a total of 30 world records.
Dame Kelly Holmes: two gold medals for running in the 2004 Olympic Games. Has held a number of British and European records.
Dame Ellen MacArthur: fastest yachtsperson to sail around the world singlehanded.
Sir Chris Hoy: Scottish cyclist with 6 gold, 1 silver Olympic medals and 11 world championship titles.
David Weir: 6 gold medals over two Paralympic Games. Won London Marathon six times.
Sir Bradley Wiggins: First Briton to win the Tour de France, 2012. 7 7 Olympic medals, including golds in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
Mo Farah: British long distance runner born in Somalia. Won gold medals in the 2012 Olympics for the 5000m and 10000m and first Briton to win the Olympic gold in 10000m.
Jessica Ennis: Won the 2012 Plympic gold medal in the heptathlon - 7 different track and field events. Holds a number of British athletics records.
Andy Murray: Scottish tennis player - won the men’s singles in the 2012 US Open. First Brit to win a singles title in a Grand Slam tournament since 1936. Also won Olympic gold and silver medals and was runner-up in the men’s singles at Wimbledon.
Ellie Simmonds: Paralympic gold medalist for swimming at 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games and holds a number of world records. Youngest member of the British team at the 2008 Games.
Notable British music persons:
Henry Purcell (1659-95) organist at Westminister Abbey and wrote church music, operas and other pieces - developed a distinct British style.
George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) German-born composer then British citizen: Water Music for King George I, Music for Royal Fireworks for George II, Messiah oratorio - sung by choirs at Easter.
Gustav Holst (1874-1934) composer: The Planets, adapted Jupiter as the tune for I vow thee my country (British hymn).
Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) composer born in Worcester. Pomp and Circumstance Marches. March No 1 (Land of Hope and Glory) - played at the Last Night of the Proms.
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1873-1958) composer for orchestras and choices - influenced by English folk music.
Sir WIlliam Walton (1902-83) Film scores to operas. Wrote marches for the coronations of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Best known works are Facade (ballet) and Belshazzar’s Feast (choir).
Benjamin Britten (1913-76) operas including Peter Grimes and Billy Budd. Also wrote A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra based on a piece by Purcell.
Notable British artists:
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) portrait painter who often painted people in country or garden scenery.
David Allen (1744-96) Scottish portrait painter - The Origin of Painting.
Joseph Turner (1775-1851) influential landscape painter in a modern style.
John Constable (1776-1837) landscape painter - Dedham Vale on the Suffolk-Essex border in the east of England.
The Pre-Raphaelites late-19th century: detailed pictures on religious or literary themes in bright colours. Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Sir John Millais.
Sir John Lavery (1856-1941) Northern Irish portrait painter - royal family.
Henry Moore (1898-1986) English sculptor and artist - large bronze abstract sculptures.
John Petts (1914-91) Welsh artist - engravings and stained glass.
David Hockney (1937-) ‘pop art’ movement of the 1960s and continues to be influential today.
Who are the patron saints?
Wales: St. David (Daaviid is a good Welsh name) - 1 March
Northern Ireland: St Patrick (Paddy) - 17 March
England: St George (George’s cross) - 23 April
Scotland: St Andrew (St Andrews in Scotland) - 30 November
WHES?
How did British cinema develop?
Films were first shown publicly in the UK in 1896.
British film makers expertise in clever special effects.
- Sir Charles Chaplin
- Sir Alexander Korda, director
- Sir Alfred Hitchcock, director
- Sir David Lean, director
- Ridley Scott, director
- *Passport to Pimlico, comedy
- The Ladykillers, comedy
- Carry On, comedy
- Harry Potter
- James Bond
Ealing Studios oldest continuously working film studio facility in the world.
Britain continues to be particularly strong in special effects and animation:
- Nick Park, 4 Oscars. Wallace and Grommit
- Sir Laurence Olivier, actor
- David Niven, actor
- Sir Rex Harrison, actor
- Richard Burton, actor
Oscar winners:
- Colin Firth
- Sir Antony Hopkins
- Dame Judi Dench
- Kate Winslet
- Tilda Swinton
Famous British films:
- *The 39 Steps, Alfred Hitchcock
- Brief Encounter, David Lean
- The Third Man, Carol Reed
- The Belles of St Trinian’s, Frank Launder
- Lawrence of Arabia, David Lean
- Women in Love, Jen Russell
- Don’t Look Now, Nicolas Roeg
- Chariots of Fire, Hugh Hudson
- The Killing Fields, Roland Joffe
- Four Weddings and a Funeral, Mike Newell
- Touching the Void, Kevin MacDonald
Notable places of interest in the UK:
Big Ben, the great bell on the clock tower called ‘Elizabeth Tower’ at the Houses of Parliament, is 150+ years old.
The Eden Project, located in Cornwall, has biomes housing plants from all over the world.
Edinburgh Castle, dates back to the early Middle Ages.
The Giant’s Causeway, located on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, is a land formation of columns made from volcanic lava, formed about 50 million years ago.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park covers 720 square miles in the west of Scotland. It is the largest expanse of fresh water in mainland Britain.
London Eye is a Ferris wheel that is 443ft (135m) tall, originally built as part of the UK’s celebration of the new millennium, and continues to be an important part of New Year celebrations.
Snowdonia is a national park in North Wales that covers 838 square miles (2170 square km), and its most well-known landmark is Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.
The Tower of London was first built by William the Conqueror after he became king in 1066, houses the Crown Jewels.
The Lake District is England’s largest national park, covering 885 square miles (2292 square km). Famous for its lakes and mountains, the biggest stretch of water is Windermere. In 2007, Wastwater was voted as Britain’s favourite view.
Which sports are particularly popular in the UK and what are some of the major sporting events held each year?
UK Olympic Games in 1908, 1948, 2012.
- Cricket: originated in England. 5 day matches.
- Football: English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup. International tournament victory - World Cup 1966.
- Rugby: originated in England - union/league. Six Nations Championships and The Super League.
- Horse racing: Roman times. Royal Ascot (5d), Grand National at Aintree, Grand National at Ayr.
- Golf: 15th century Scotland - St Andrews the home of golf. The Open Championships.
- Tennis: evolved in England in late 19th century. First tennis club at Leamington Spa. Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
- Water sports
- Sailing: Sir Francis Chichester first person to sail singlehanded around the world passing the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn in 1966/67. Two years later Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to do this without stopping.
- Rowing: Oxford and Cambridge University.
- Motorsports: 1902. Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championships: Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button.
- Skiing
What are some of the major arts and culture events that happen in the UK?
- The Proms
- Glastonbury
- Isle of Wight Festival
- V Festival
- National Eisteddfod of Wales - cultural festival
- The Mercury Music Prize
- The Edinburgh Festival - The Fringe
- The Laurence Olivier Awards
- The Turner Prize
- Chelsea Flower Show
- The Man Booker Prize for Fiction
How are achievements in arts and culture formally recognised?
The Mercury Prize, September, for the best album from UK and Ireland.
The Brit Awards - best British group and best British solo artist.
The Laurence Olivier Awards -best director, best actor/actress in theatre.
Turner Prize, est. 1984 celebrates contemporary art:
- Damien Hirst
- Richard Wright
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction, 1968, for authors from the Commonwealth, Ireland or Zimbabwe:
- Ian McEwan
- Hilary Mantel
- Julian Barnes
British Academy Film Awards hosted by BAFTA.
Who are the important figures in British literature?
Jane Austen (1775-1817) English novelist concerned with marriage and family relationships: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility.
Charles Dickens (1812-70) novelist - Oliver Twist, Great Expectations.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) writer of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Thomas Hardy (1840-94) author and poet of Far From the Maddening Crowd, Jude the Obscure.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) Scottish doctor and writer of Sherlock Holmes.
Evelyn Waugh (1903-66) writer of Decline and Fall, Scoop, Brideshead Revisited.
Sir Kingsley Amis (1922-95) Novelist and poet - Lucky Jim.
Graham Greene (1904-91) religious novelist - The Heart of the Matter, The Honorary Consul, Brighton Rock, Our Man in Havana.
J K Rowling (1965-) writer of the Harry Potter series.
Poems:
- Beowulf
- Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (court of King Arthur)
- Shakespeare sonnets
- John Milton: sonnets - Paradise Lost
- William Wordsworth - nature
- Sir Walter Scott - Scotland
- William Blake
- John Keats
- Lord Byron
- Percy Shelley
- Alfred Lord Tennyson
- Robert and Elizabeth Browning
- Wilfred Owen - WWI
- Siegfried Sassoon - WWI
- Sir Walter de la Mare
- John Masefield
- Sir John Betjeman
- Ted Hughes
