British History Notes

Origin of the British State

  • Magna Carta (Great Charter) 1215
    • Nobles forced King John to sign, limiting the King’s absolute power.
    • Required royal consent from the nobility for taxation and spending.
    • Guaranteed the Writ of Habeas Corpus, allowing the accused a chance to respond to charges.

The Magna Carta

  • Functions of the Magna Carta
    • Established the Great Council, precursor to the House of Lords.
    • Kings held meetings with the Great Council to discuss financial matters, often wherever the King resided.
    • Structure of meetings:
    • King and ministers at the front
    • Nobility facing the King
    • Commoners at the back, kneeling.

Development of Parliament

  • Over time, nobility and commoners convened in separate houses, marking the emergence of a bicameral parliament.

British Incrementalism

  • British history characterized by gradual change or incrementalism.
  • After the Magna Carta, England slowly evolved into a nation state.
  • Lacked a cohesive national identity and government institutions didn’t possess modern powers.

The English Reformation (16th Century)

  • 1532-1536: Period transformation led by King Henry VIII's desire for a male heir.
    • Established the Church of England following the Pope’s refusal to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
    • This leads to multiple marriages and efforts to secure a male heir.

Succession Crisis After Henry VIII

  • Henry VIII dies in 1547, succeeded by Edward VI (6-year reign).
  • Dispute over succession: Lady Jane Gray vs. Mary I.
    • Mary was Catholic; Jane a Protestant.
    • Mary deposes Jane in July 1553, leading to Jane's execution in 1554.

Mary I's Reign

  • Mary I ruled from 1553-1558, attempted to revert England to Catholicism.
    • Faced resistance from Parliament; many Protestants executed (nicknamed Bloody Mary).
    • Died in 1558 without an heir; reversion to Protestantism under Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth I and Religious Settlement

  • Elizabeth I ascends in 1558, promoting the Act of Uniformity mandating attendance at the Anglican Church.
    • Her reign marked by moderate policies, avoiding systematic religious persecution, unlike her predecessors.

The English Civil War (17th Century)

  • 1642-1660: Conflict between Royalists (supporting Charles I) and Parliamentarians.
    • Charles I's execution in 1649 led to the establishment of the English Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.
    • Restoration of monarchy under Charles II with specific limits on royal powers.

The Glorious Revolution (1688)

  • In response to James II's rule, he fled; William and Mary took power, witnessing the establishment of the English Bill of Rights.
    • This revolution influenced later democratic movements, like the American Bill of Rights.

The Act of Union 1707

  • United English and Scottish Parliaments, creating Great Britain with a parliamentary system in Westminster.

The Industrial Revolution

  • Led to profound transformations in British society:
    • First industrialized state, significant population growth, urbanization, transportation improvements.

The Reform Acts

  • 1832 Reform Act: Extended suffrage, changing the electoral process and parliamentary dynamics.
  • 1867 Reform Act: Further extended suffrage and shifted power to the House of Commons, strengthening political parties.

British Hegemony by 1900

  • UK at peak of global influence; often stated that "The sun never sets on the British Empire" due to its extensive reach.

Evolution of Identity

  • Britishness defined as a defense against Catholic Europe in the 18th Century; evolved with the rise of Empire and Industrialization.
  • 20th Century: Transitioned to stand against fascism, later lost clarity with integration into the European Community in 1971.