Elizabeth versus Mary Stuart

41.  Elizabeth versus Mary Stuart.

Mary was the Queen of Scotland (Elizabeth’s cousin). She has been married to the Dauphin, the heir of the French king. As the Roman Church never recognized the marriage (Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn), she claimed the English Crown. Mary was accused of murder of her second husband and was imprisoned, signed her abdication, then managed to escape to England. Elizabeth didn’t want Mary to be executed. Mary spent in prison 19 years, then executed for high treason.

42.  Elizabethan foreign policies and their effect on the treasury.

England was not a great power, European countries dominated. England secretly did harm to them (pirates – got a lot of money to the treasury, so she didn’t punish them), and aided the Netherlands against Spain. Philip II, the Spanish King and “bloody” Mary’s husband, also supporting Mary Stuart – conflicted with Elizabeth. Sent fleet to defeat England, but England won the Invincible Armada and became the Mistress of the Seas. Financial problems, Elizabeth considered to be very miserly.

43.  The main causes of the conflict between King and Parliament in the mid-17th century.

2 main problems when Stuarts replaced Tudors – religious and financial. Lack of money in the treasury, the Parliament refused to introduce any ordinary taxation. James I got rid of the Parliament. Also James stated that Puritanism in his country couldn’t be tolerated.

44.  In what war was the battle of Naseby fought?

14th June 1645. The First Civil War. The first defeat of royalists.

45.  Name the Stuart kings and queens.

James I, Charles I. After Restoration - Charles II, James II, Mary II, William III, Queen Anne.

46.  What do you know about Guy Fawkes?

The Gunpowder Plot. 5th November 1605. He wanted to blow up the Parliament, when the King, the Lords and the Commons should be there. The Plot was disclosed, Fawkes imprisoned, found guilty, executed.

47.  What event is commonly referred to as Regicide? How popular and lawful was it?

The execution of Charles I. People considered this to be a horrible event because they believed him to be lord-anointed. He was convicted not by the court of law but by a legislative assembly.

48.  Under what circumstances was it possible for English kings to rule without Parliament? What kings did it? When was this finally stopped?

James I got rid of the Parliament. Charles I also. When Charles I had to summon the Parliament because he needed money badly (Scotts invaded the country and demanded money, to prevent from active war) – summoned the Long Parliament. It started passing laws – no dissolution of the Parliament without its consent, no type of taxation without its consent, king able to summon the Parliament when wanted, but at least in 3 years.

49.  What events took place in England between 1642 and 1649?

In 1642 the King went to the North to assemble the army to fight with the Parliament. Nobody wanted the war but the chance for compromise was lost, Charles refused to abolish the royal prerogatives, so the war was inevitable. The Parliament created the “New Model Army” which defeated the Royal Army. Charles was captured but fled to the Isle of Wight, then arrested, put on trial, executed (1649).

50.  What period is called the Personal Rule? How did it end?

1629-1640, Charles I, had problems with money, wanted to avoid wars, to raise money by royal prerogatives, granted new monopolies, remembered old taxes, conflicted with the Parliament and finally he didn’t summon. Peace with France and Spain, commercial prosperity. Ended with 2 civil wars and execution.

51.  Who are Cavaliers and Roundheads?

Cavaliers were the people, mostly nobility, who supported the King during the English Civil War. Roundheads, mostly puritans, gentry, – supported the Parliament.

52.  What do you know about Inigo Jones?

A British architect, who was the partner of Charles I (who was the patron of arts). Designed many important buildings, esp. in London. He was the first person to introduce the Italian Palladian style. Also designed scenery for the theatre.

53.  Why are the events of 1642 - 1649 sometimes referred to as the Puritan revolution? What were its results?

Because the Parliament consisted mainly of puritans. They criticized the C of E, were persecuted for this, they wanted to get rid of all remains of Catholicism. Results – extreme puritans did away with the C of E and set new political system, the Republic.

54.  What period in English history do we call the Protectorate?

The period after Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Parliament and proclaimed the Protectorate, assuming the title of Lord-Protector. 5 years (1653-1658). Then his son Richard, till 1659.

55.  When and between what countries was the War for the Spanish Succession fought? What were its results?

In 1701-1713, England (+ Holland), France and Spain – for the Spanish throne after the Spanish King’ death. England won, got Minorca, Gibraltar, Newfoundland. French expansion stopped.

56.  Why are the events of 1689 called either the Glorious or the Unexpected revolution? What were the consequences?

James II conflicted with the Parliament, the 2 parties decided to remove James and invite his daughter with her husband William of Orange. James fled to France, people didn’t object. No blood, no opposition, no battles. Absolutism in England came to its end, England became limited monarchy.

57.  What does the term "Restoration" stand for?

No parliament, no stability, and at last the royalists invited Charles II (Charles I’s son) to become the King in 1660.

58.  What role did the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough play in English history?

John Churchill for his victories in the War for the Spanish Succession (the battle of Blenheim) got the title of Duke of Marlborough, was granted the land. His wife Sarah Jennings was the Queen’s favourite.

59.  Who are the Dissenters?

Members of one of the protestant groups that separated from the C of E, refused to accept the doctrine of the established church.

60.  When did the party system emerge? What were the first parties, how did the system change with years?

1670’s. first there were two parties – Tory (court party that supported the King) and Whigs (who supported the Parliament – country / gentry, wanted reforms).

61.  When did the King become king-in-Parliament? What did it mean?

1694, William of Orange, III. He ruled under certain conditions: accepted the Bill of Rights (no standing army, no laws without parliament’s consent), the Act of Settlement (no catholic succeed). Didn’t rule on his own, but a part of the Parliament.

62.  When was the Civil List first introduced?

In William of Orange’s reign, 1698. The Parliament started giving money for keeping king’s household, so that he couldn’t dissolve it.

63.  Who are the Hanovers?

After the Queen Ann’s death there was a change of dynasty, because she didn’t have children. George I was from German, but James I’s remote relative.

64.  How and when did the office of the Prime Minister originate? What did the office imply? Who was the first PM?

1720’s. The first PM was Robert Walpole, he became the King’s representative in the HC.

65.  What were the main periods of the reign of George III?

The first period 1760-1789, believed in an absolute monarchy, was an idealistic politician. When the colonies in America got independence, the Whigs returned to power. Also after the French Revolution, England felt that it was a great threat. After the War with Napoleon, the victory, he got national respect. The monarchy began to change.

66.  Who are the Black Prince, Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Prince of Wales?

The Black Prince was the Prince of Wales, during the Hundred Years War he defeated the French. Bonnie Prince Charlie – the grandson of James II, believed to have the right to be the king instead of George II. The Prince of Wales is the eldest son of the King / Queen, started when Wales joined England in Edward I‘s reign.

67.  What period is called "the rule of the elite"? How did the political system work? When and why did it end?

The period of Whigs’ ruling, during the reign of George I and II, the country was effectively controlled by the ministers (Robert Walpole – the head). It ended with the accession of George III (who was brought up in England); he subjugated the Parliament.

68.  What event is called "the Boston Tea Party"?

A protest in Boston in 1773 against the British tax on tea, when tea was thrown from the ship into the water in the Boston Harbour. This is considered to be the event that started the American Revolutionary War.

69.  What period is referred to as Regency? Why was it necessary?

The period 1811-1820 when the country was ruled by the Prince Regent (George IV), because the King himself was mentally ill.

70.  When was the first British Empire created? When did it end?

Created after the victory in the War for the Spanish Succession. It ended in 1783 when the colonies in America became independent.

71.  Who is William Pitt the Younger? What role did he play?

He was the head of the fraction of the Whig Party, George III preferred him, became the PM – great stability, support of both King and the Parliament.

72.  Who were the heroes of the wars against Napoleon?

Horatio Nelson defeated Napoleon several times, the battle of Trafalgar, he was fatally wounded; Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo in 1815.

73.  How did the expression "to meet one's Waterloo" originate?

Napoleon was finally defeated in the battle of Waterloo in 1815.

74.  The changes in the nature of monarchy and the ruling elite in the early 19th century.

The Monarchy became the symbol of the nation’s unity. After the war with Napoleon. Great proud. The ruling elite underwent great change. People deserving respect – not only birth and property, but industry and morality. A view that wealth and rank meant duty, private morality. Political power based on birth and property.

75.  What is the Great Reform Bill? Why was it necessary and what were its main provisions?

It was a bill which gave a voting right to more social groups and big cities were now represented in the Parliament. Necessary – because industrial cities emerged and they had no representatives.

76.  What were the main features of Victorian society and government?

The country was effectively ruled by the PMs, who were elected from the party that got the majority in the Parliament. 2^nd Reform Bill in 1867 (aristocratic rule declined), electorate doubled, secret ballot introduced. Society: class division formed but no confrontation. Financial independence, respectability, philanthropy, hard work, earnestness. Police force created, public health, education for the lower classes. Free unregulated market.

77.  The extension of franchise after the Great Reform Act of 1832, its consequences.

Every 5^th received a vote. Redistribution of seats. Now big cities were represented, property qualification for candidates. Social consequence – tied the middle class to the aristocrats.

78.  What was the role of Prince Albert in British history?

He was the Prince-Consort, was not fit for business, but had good influence on the young queen. He was interested in arts, music, science and industry, planned and organized the Great Exhibition in 1851. Many buildings are named after him.

79.  What were the two main parties in the Victorian age and who were their most prominent leaders?

Tory –> Conservatives (Disraeli), Whigs –> Liberal (Gladstone). They alternated.

80.  When did government social policy originate? What areas did it cover?

Social reforms in Victorian reign – public health, education for all children, state undertook the duty to provide schools, school attendance became compulsory, elementary education free.

81.  What is the Boer War?

The war in South Africa against 2 Boer republics (Transvaal and Orange Free State), made them a part of the British Empire. Huge loss of life, Britain became unpopular in Europe.

82.  What period do we call Edwardian? What were its distinctive features?

The reign of Edward VII. Society became cosmopolitan, new wealth was added to the old wealth of great landowning families (from Victorian time). Appearance of the Labour Party, social reforms. Crisis, suffragette movement. Poverty and unemployment. Irish question.

83.  What do you know about the People's Budget?

Was introduced by David Lloyd George. It was designed to pay the costs of social welfare and naval rearmament. But the Lords rejected the project in 1909.

84.  What were the effects of WWI on British society?

Had very important consequences, affected everyone, traumatized the whole generation, nothing was the same after it. It had provided the occasion for massive governmental experiments in economic enterprise, in insurance. It was the impulse for social and economical change. Rising unemployment. Rise of Labour Party and decline of Liberals. Very extensive program of social reforms – Liberals failed to respond.

85.  The rise and fall of the Second British Empire.

1850 the 2nd British Empire, India added, exceeded the 1st. During the period from 1940 to 1980 years more than 40 British colonies became independent. Remained friendly with Britain, most of them –> the Commonwealth.

86.  When did government economic policy begin?

After the WWI, the Government started defending the home market by introducing protectionist tariffs.

87.  When did the Labour party emerge? How did it later change the party system? The changes in the Labour programme at the end of the 20th century, their main cause.

Emerged in 1906. In 1920’s rose and replaced the Liberal Party. Was traditionally the socialist party, but in 1980-90’s changed and move towards the political center (New Labour).

88.  What were the main effects of WWII?

The economy declined, there was nothing to export, no money for import. Britain was effectively a totalitarian state, the Government had unlimited power, rationing introduced, luxuries had 100% tax on them, everyone of fighting age was conscripted, servants disappeared. Defeat of Conservatives and victory of the Labour Party.

89.  What role did Mrs. Simpson, a divorced American, play in English history?

Wallis Simpson, had a relationship with Edward VIII. Because she had already been married twice before, Edward was not allowed to marry her. Then he decided to abdicate, she became the Duchess of Windsor.

90.  What is a Welfare state? When was it created? What does the term "Welfare" mean today?

State with a system of social help provided by the state, giving money to people who are poor or unemployed, providing medical care. 1945-51. The department of social security.

91.  What is meant by the "era of consensus"?

92.  What is Affluent Society?

Wealthy society, which was created by expansion of the middle class. In 1990’s the society was defined by a prosperity that involved the majority of people.

93.  What events are sometimes referred to as "The Winter of Discontent"?

The winter of 1978-79 when many workers refused to work in protest against the Labour government’s idea on limiting pay rises. The Labour party lost power after this.

94.  What events are called "The Battle of Britain"?

The fights between German and Britain aircraft during the summer and autumn of 1940, when British aircraft tried to prevent German aircraft from bombing British cities. The bombing was stopped at the end of 1940 and it was considered as a great victory. Main result – prevented from invasion.

95.  Why was Thatcher's period in office called a revolution? What did she mean when she proclaimed a return to Victorian values?

Changed a lot, reduced taxes, took away power from trade unions, started the programme of privatization, and created huge middle class. Free market. Everybody should work hard, be earnest, thrifty, and independent.