History of the UK & US – Key Terms (Video Notes)

Formation of the UK

Treaty of Union (1707): united England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain. $1707$ .
Acts of Union (1800): united Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. $1800$ .
The American Revolution: the struggle of the 13 American colonies against British rule to gain independence.

The American Revolution

The Boston Tea Party (1773): prompted by colonial opposition to the British tax on tea; American colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded British ships and dumped tea into Boston Harbor as a protest.
The American Revolutionary War: fought from $1775$ to $1783$ .
Declaration of Independence (main author: Thomas Jefferson): adopted on $1776-07-04$ ; proclaimed the 13 colonies free and independent states, asserted natural rights, and listed grievances against King George III.
Peace of Paris (1783): ended the war; Britain recognized the independence of the United States.

The Victorian Era

Timeframe: $1837-1901$ .
Key features: rapid industrialization; expansion of the British Empire; major social reforms.

The American Civil War

Major debate: Slavery.
Years: $1861-1865$ .
Two opposing sides: The Union (North) vs. The Confederacy (South). The Confederacy was the secessionist faction.
President during the war: Abraham Lincoln.
Outcomes: abolition of slavery and the supremacy of the federal government over the states.

World War I

Years: $1914-1918$ .
How the UK entered: the UK declared war on Germany in August 1914 after Germany invaded Belgium.
How the US entered: in $1917$ , prompted by German unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram.

The New Deal

Definition: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s program to combat the Great Depression.
Key contents (examples mentioned): relief for the unemployed, recovery of the economy, and reforms to address systemic problems.
Note: The New Deal is associated with major reforms such as Social Security, banking regulation, and public works projects (as described in the broader discussion of economic reform).

United States in World War I

President during the war: Woodrow Wilson.
The US entry into WWI occurred in $1917$ due to German submarine warfare and other factors.
The US proposed the League of Nations, but the United States did not join.

The Roaring Twenties

Preceded by: World War I.
Spirit and characterization: era of economic prosperity, optimism, and cultural dynamism.
In the US, Jazz became a popular music style.
The era ended with the Wall Street Crash of 1929, leading to the Great Depression.

The Great Depression

Major causes: overproduction; stock market speculation; unequal distribution of wealth; bank failures; declining international trade.
Major characteristics (as discussed in relation to reforms): shift toward reforms and government intervention.
Key reforms mentioned: social welfare programs, financial regulation, and public works initiatives.

World War II

Years: $1939-1945$ .
How the UK entered: the UK declared war on Germany on $1939-09-03$ following the invasion of Poland.
British Prime Minister during most of WWII: Winston Churchill (from $1940-1945$ ).
How the US entered: after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on $1941-12-07$ .
Atomic bombings: Hiroshima on $1945-08-06$ and Nagasaki on $1945-08-09$ , leading to Japan’s surrender.
UN formation: The San Francisco Conference (1945) formulated and negotiated the United Nations.

Cold War (Overview)

Definition: a period of political, military, and ideological tension after World War II between the United States and its Western allies and the Soviet Union and its allies.
It did not involve direct large-scale fighting between the two superpowers but featured proxy wars, an arms race, and competition for global influence.
Ideological conflict: capitalism vs. communism.
Major features: arms race (including nuclear weapons); space race and technological competition; proxy wars (e.g., Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan); division of Europe (Iron Curtain, Berlin Wall); political and military alliances (NATO vs. Warsaw Pact).

Chapter 4: Political Systems

What is a constitutional monarchy? A system where the monarch is the head of state but political power is limited by a constitution and exercised by elected representatives.
What is a parliamentary democracy? A system of government where the executive (Prime Minister and Cabinet) is drawn from and accountable to the legislature (Parliament).
What is a representative democracy? A democracy in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.
Separation of powers: division of government powers into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent concentration of power.
UK political system: constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy; government formed by the majority party in the House of Commons; monarch as head of state; Prime Minister as head of government.
US political system: federal republic with a presidential system; power divided between federal and state governments; clear separation of legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
American federalism: powers divided between federal government and the states; federal handles national issues (defense, foreign policy, interstate commerce); states manage local matters.

Chapter 5: Economic Systems

Economic metrics: GDP, GDP per capita, inflation rate, unemployment rate.
Type of economy: both the UK and the US have mixed economies (primarily market-based with government regulation and welfare provisions).
Main trade partners: UK — EU countries, US, China; US — Canada, Mexico, China, EU.
Key sectors/industries:
- UK: finance, services, manufacturing, creative industries.
- US: technology, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, entertainment.
Structural shifts: move from agriculture and manufacturing to services, finance, and technology.
Finance sector importance for the UK: London as a global financial center; finance contributes significantly to GDP, employment, and trade.
Thatcherism: the economic and political approach of Margaret Thatcher (UK Prime Minister, 1979–1990), emphasizing free markets, privatization, deregulation, reduced power of trade unions, and limiting the welfare state.
The New Deal (revisited): a reminder of Roosevelt’s 1930s reforms to combat the Depression.
Key current challenges (as described):
- UK: Brexit impact, productivity gap, regional inequality, aging population.
- US: income inequality, healthcare costs, trade tensions, national debt.

Chapter 6: Education Systems

David Labaree (1997) three goals of the American education system:
- Democratic equality – prepare citizens.
- Social efficiency – train workers for the economy.
- Social mobility – help individuals improve their social status.
Educationalization: tendency to assign schools the responsibility of solving broad social problems (poverty, inequality, health, etc.).
1944 Education Act (England and Wales): introduced free secondary education for all; created the tripartite system (grammar, technical, secondary modern schools); raised the school-leaving age.
Progressive education: child-centered learning; learning by doing; focus on critical thinking; active participation; education tailored to individual needs.

Education in the US and UK: Key Civil Rights Milestones and Policies

Brown v. Board of Education (1954): US Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, ending "separate but equal".
Affirmative action in education: policies promoting opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups (e.g., racial minorities, women) in admissions and hiring to ensure diversity and equality.
No Child Left Behind (2001): standardised testing in reading and math; school accountability; annual progress measurement; funding tied to performance.
Ongoing problems in education:
- UK: educational inequality, funding challenges, regional disparities.
- US: achievement gap, unequal access to quality education, high cost of higher education.