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."