TOPIC 1 - UK POLITICAL HISTORY

Question 1

HOW DID FEUDALISM WORK?

Answer 1

KING POSSESSED ULTIMATE EXECUTIVE, LEGILSATIVE AND JUDICIAL POWER. KING AT TOP OF SYSTEM FOLLOWED BY NOBLES, KNIGHTS AND THEN PEASANTS AT BOTTOM. PEOPLE WERE GIVEN LAND AND PROTECTION BY PEOPLE OF HIGHER RANK AND FOUGHT FOR THEM IN RETURN.

Question 2

WHAT WAS THE DOMINANT POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE UK IN MEDIEVAL TIMES?

Answer 2

FEUDALISM

Question 3

WHAT WAS THE WITAN?

Answer 3

EARLY FORM OF ROYAL COUNCIL THAT EXISTED DURING ANGLO SAXON PERIOD. WITAN MEANS MEETING OF THE WISE MEN.

Question 4

WHAT WERE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE WITAN?

Answer 4

1. ADVISED THE KING ON IMPORTANT MATTERS OF STATE
2. CHOSE THE KING IF THERE WAS NO CLEAR HEIR
3. INVOLVED IN PASSING LAWS AND MAKNG JUDICIAL DECISIONS
4. DISCUSSED LAND GRANTS AND PROPERTY DISPUTES

Question 5

WHAT WAS THE CURIA REGIS?

Answer 5

SERVED AS PRINCIPLE ROYAL COUNCIL OF THE NORMAN TIMES.

Question 6

WHAT WAS THE FUNCTION OF THE CURIA REGIS?

Answer 6

1. ADVISED THE KING ON IMPORTANT MATTERS
2. FUNCTIONED AS A COURT OF LAW
3. INVOLVED IN COLLECTING TAXES AND MANAGING ROYAL FINANCES.

Question 7

WHAT WAS THE MAGNA CARTA?

Answer 7

FIRST DOCUMENT TO PUT INTO WRITING THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE KING AND HIS GOVT IS NOT ABOVE LAW. ISSUED IN JUNE 1215.

Question 8

WHY WAS THE MAGNA CARTA IMPORTANT?

Answer 8

1. INTRODUCED IDEA THAT THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WERE WORTHY OF PROTECTION FROM ARBITRARY ACTS OF KING
2. PREVENTS KING EXPLOITING POWER

Question 9

WHY WAS THERE AN ENGLISH CIVIL WAR IN THE 17TH CENTURY?

Answer 9

DISPUTES OVER HOW ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND IRELAND SHOULD BE GOVERNED. CENTRE OF CONFLICT WAS DISAGREEMENTS OVER RELIGION AND ABUSE OF KING’S POWER