Importances Flashcards
Significance of Alfred the Great
ST:
- created peace for his people + defeated Danes (Battle of Ashdown in 871 + Battle of Edington 878)
- set up schools + improved education
- improved English defences + helped to reunite England
LT:
- he built 60 - oar ships which some say led to the English Navy
- formed the basis of English kingship for centuries to come -> translated works regarded as ideal Christian kingship from Latin to Old English
Today:
- improved legal system -> used juries for the first time
- spread Christianity -> set up schools to better educate priests
Loss of American colonies
ST: effect on Britain -> lost 13 colonies so lost trade, war cost them £80 mil BUT trade w America went back to the same level pre war by 1985 and 100,000 Americas went to Canada
LT: expansion of empire -> discovered Australia in 1770 and sent 20,000 criminals there over the next 20 years + and owned 32% of African territory by 1900
Today: good relations -> Canada and Australia still have money with queens face, Australia were Britains first trade deal after Brexit in 2016
Kwame Nkrumah
ST: campaigned for Gold Coast independence -> member of the United Gold Coast Convention + imprisoned in 1948 for riots against British rule - then made his own party Convention people’s party -> became PM in 1957
LT: became hated -> held Pan-African conferences + Ghanaians grew tired of his international approach so in 1966 members of the Ghanaian military removed him from power
Jomo Kenyatta
ST: campaigns for independence -> helped to organised Pan-African Congress in Manchester in 1945 - elected twice
LT: growth and contributions to Kenya -> joined the Commonwealth in 1963 under him - between 1964 and 1966 the number of secondary schools increased by 80% and 85% of Kenyan children were in primary education
Today: seen as the ‘father of nation’ + has an airport named after him (Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi)
Claudia Jones
ST: campaigns -> in 1958 she founded the first black British weekly newspaper (West Indian Gazette) + campaigned against the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill in 1962
LT: increased awareness -> created the Notting Hill Carnival in 1959 in response to the Notting Hill riots of 1958 to embrace diversity -> over a million still visit every year
Today: used to be feared for her communist beliefs as she campaigned during the Cold War but now is viewed positively
Cnut and North Sea Empire
ST: improved relations with church and Scandinavians -> went to Rome for the New Holy Roman Emperor in 1027 - paid off his Scandinavian army with £72,000 tax money + made English coinage weigh the same as Scandinavian
LT: 20 year reign of peace -> ended dangled, married Emma of Normandy in 1017 and inherited Denmark and Norway also brought Danish nobles over
Today: seen as good but some believe his sons led to the Battle of Hastings
Slave trade
ST: impact on trade -> from 1761 to 1808 Britain made £60mil through items like guns for enslaved Africans who were then traded in places like the West Indies for cotton and tobacco - also reduced no. of indentured servants so reduced wages needed to be payed -> strengthened trade links and free economy
LT: growth of British companies -> Royal African Company began in 1672 by Charles II (5,000 slaves a year 1680-88) - made Britains identity stronger and the money was used to fund buildings like Liverpool’s town hall
Today: viewed bad
Jewish migration to Britain
ST: discrimination -> 1905 Aliens Act, accused of taking jobs and only allowed to become MPs in 1858
LT: impact on British culture -> 1818-1914 120,000 Jews arrive + 60% of which worked in clothing industries - the Jewish clothing trade allowed poorer British families to afford new clothing
HYW
ST: enhancing British identity -> Battle of Agincourt (1415) - French had the upper hand of 45,000 but still lost 10,000 men whilst British only lost 1,600 - win declared in French which separated them from the rest of Europe + meant they could settle their own affairs like when they left the EU in 2016
LT: led to big empires in Britain -> after they were forced to look elsewhere for colonies leading to colonies in America like Jamestown (1607) + India for resources like spice - Britain had 13 colonies in America
Today: development of British military -> infantry first used in the Battle of Crecy (1356) led to strong British navy and the use of firearms
