Historical Overview Flashcards
What is the political history of Britain characterized by?
Gradual evolution marked by power struggles, reforms, and revolutions.
When did the unification of England occur, marking the start of a centralized government?
In the 10th century.
What major event in 1066 altered the nature of English governance?
The Norman Invasion.
What governance system did the Normans introduce in Britain?
Feudalism.
What did the Magna Carta, signed in 1215, aim to limit?
The power of the monarchy.
Which principle, introduced by the Magna Carta, states that no one could be imprisoned without a trial?
Habeas Corpus.
What institution was established under King Edward I in 1295?
The Model Parliament.
What are the two houses of the bicameral system established by the Model Parliament?
The House of Commons and the House of Lords.
What was the significance of the English Civil Wars in the mid-17th century?
They were conflicts over the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament.
Who led the brief republican rule in Britain during the Protestant Protectorate (1653-1658)?
Oliver Cromwell.
What event in 1688 fundamentally reshaped the English Constitution?
The Glorious Revolution.
What was the outcome of the Glorious Revolution?
Establishment of the supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy.
Which two political parties emerged after the Glorious Revolution?
The Whigs and the Tories.
What did the Act of Union in 1707 accomplish?
It dissolved the Scottish Parliament and formed a united British state.
What was a central theme in British politics during the 18th century?
The concept of the ‘free-born Englishman’ and political representation.
