Power: monarchy and democracy in Britain c. 1000 — 2014

William of Normandy

Claimed Edward the Confessor promised him the throne in 1051. Had strong military and papal support.

Harold Godwinson

Appointed by the Witenagemot and crowned king after Edward's death. Had significant support from Anglo-Saxon nobility.

Harald Hardrada

Viking king with a claim through King Cnut

Edgar the Ætheling

Closest blood relative to Edward but was a teenager with no military backing.

Norman Invasion

William's claim to the throne

Battle of Stamford Bridge

Harold Godwinson defeated Harald Hardrada.

Battle of Hastings

William defeated Harold Godwinson

Centralization of Power

William distributed lands to loyal Norman lords

Feudal System

Land held from the king in exchange for military service.

Harrying of the North

Brutal campaign to quash rebellion and establish control. Led to widespread destruction

Domesday Book

Comprehensive survey of England's land and resources

King's Power (1087)

William I held centralized power

Role of the Barons

Held lands directly from the king and had substantial local power.

John

Youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine

Taxation and Finances (John)

Imposed heavy taxes and fines to fund wars in France.

Justice System (John)

Used the legal system to his advantage

Royal Authority (John)

Exercised arbitrary power

Baronial Discontent

High taxes

Magna Carta

Charter signed by King John in 1215

Simon de Montfort

Leader of the baronial opposition

Model Parliament

Parliament called by Edward I in 1295

Richard II

Assumed full control of the government in 1389

Henry Bolingbroke

Son of John of Gaunt

Wars of the Roses

Conflict between the Lancastrian and Yorkist houses for the English throne.

Henry VIII

Powerful monarch who increased the power of the monarchy through control of the Church and centralization of administration.

Thomas Cromwell

Henry VIII's chief minister

Privy Council

Henry VIII's main advisory body.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

Established the monarch as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Charles I

Dissolved Parliament in 1629 and ruled without it for eleven years

Oliver Cromwell

Leader of the Parliamentarians

Restoration of the Monarchy

Return of Charles II to the throne in 1660.

James II

Sought to restore and expand royal prerogative

Bill of Rights (1689)

Established parliamentary sovereignty and limited the powers of the monarchy.

Act of Settlement (1701)

Secured Protestant succession to the throne by stipulating that only Protestant descendants of James VI and I could inherit the crown.

Act of Union (1707)

Unified England and Scotland into a single kingdom

Tories and Whigs

Two main political parties in the 1700s with different political stances.

Limited Monarchy

Monarchs in the 1700s had limited power due to constitutional and parliamentary developments.

Rotten Boroughs

Constituencies with very few voters but still sending representatives to Parliament.

Pocket Boroughs

Constituencies controlled by a single individual or family.

Reform Act of 1832

Extended the franchise to more men and redistributed parliamentary seats.

Reform Act of 1867

Further extended the franchise to working-class men.

Reform Act of 1884

Extended the franchise to rural workers.

Mass Trade Unions

Organizations of workers aiming to improve working conditions and wages.

Labour Party

Political party representing the interests of the working class.

"Suffrage Movement"

"The primary aim was to secure the right to vote for women

"National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS)"

"A group that used peaceful methods like petitions

"Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU)"

"Led by Emmeline Pankhurst

"DORA (Defense of the Realm Act)"

"Introduced in World War I

"Representation of the People Act 1918"

"Legislation that granted the right to vote to women over the age of 30 who met property qualifications."

"Impact of World War I on Suffrage"

"Women’s contributions to the war effort

"British Union of Fascists (BUF)"

"Led by Oswald Mosley

"Public Order Act 1936"

"Legislation that restricted political demonstrations and banned the wearing of uniforms at political rallies

"Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)"

"An organization advocating for the removal of nuclear weapons and global disarmament through protests and political advocacy."

"Greenpeace"

"Focused on environmental protection and anti-nuclear testing

"Beveridge Report 1942"

"Outlined a vision for a comprehensive welfare state

"National Health Service (NHS)"

"Established in 1948 to provide universal healthcare as part of the post-war welfare state reforms."

"Keynesian Economics"

"Economic policies focused on managing economic cycles through state intervention

"Miners’ Strike 1984-1985"

"Economic policies focused on managing economic cycles through state intervention

"Miners’ Strike 1984-1985"

"Led by the NUM

"Trade Unions' Post-War Influence"

"Trade unions became powerful in advocating for workers' rights and shaping labor policies through strikes and political pressure."

"Scotland Act 1998"

"Established the Scottish Parliament with powers over areas like education and health

"Government of Wales Act 1998"

"Created the Welsh Assembly with powers over health

"Northern Ireland Act 1998"

"Established the Northern Ireland Assembly under the Good Friday Agreement

"Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition (2010-2015)"

"A coalition formed after the 2010 General Election

"Internal Conflicts in Coalition Government"

"Conflicts between Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties affecting the stability and policy-making of the coalition government."

"End of Coalition Government"

"Occurred with the 2015 General Election

"Peaceful Campaigning by Suffragists"

"Included methods like petitions

"Militant Tactics of Suffragettes"

"Involved protests

"Impact of Women’s Wartime Contributions"

"Highlighted the capability and reliability of women

"Public and Political Support for Women’s Vote"

"Growing support for women’s suffrage reflected in political circles

"Initial Government Response to Suffrage Movement"

"Involved repression and legal measures to curb militant activities of the suffragettes."

"Changing Attitudes Post-War"

"The war effort and women's roles led to a re-evaluation of women’s political rights and the extension of voting rights."

"Defeat of the Miners’ Strike"

"Resulted in the closure of many pits and a reduction in the power of the coal industry and trade unions."

"Influence of CND on Disarmament"

"Contributed to public awareness and policy discussions on nuclear disarmament

"Greenpeace’s Environmental Impact"

"Advanced environmental awareness and legislation through direct action and global campaigns."

"Further Devolution in Scotland"

"Included increased powers for the Scottish Parliament

"Further Devolution in Wales"

"The Welsh Assembly gained primary legislative powers and greater authority over policy areas with the Government of Wales Acts."

"Power-Sharing in Northern Ireland"

"Designed to ensure representation and reduce conflict under the Good Friday Agreement with the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly."