British History & Politics Flashcards
(9 cards)
What was the Act of Union (1707)?
A political union between England and Scotland under Queen Anne, forming Great Britain.
Why did England bail out Scotland financially in 1707?
Scotland had suffered a major financial failure with the Darien Scheme (a failed colony in Panama).
Who became king after Queen Anne died childless in 1714?
George I from Hanover, chosen because he was Protestant.
Who was the first unofficial Prime Minister of Britain?
Robert Walpole, who ruled in place of George I and lived at 10 Downing Street.
What was revolutionary about the water frame?
It mechanized cotton spinning, replacing the manual work of hundreds.
What did Robert Owen say about machines in New Lanark?
One machine did the work of 60 years of the whole population—much faster.
What was Thomas Newcomen’s invention in 1710?
A machine to pump water out of mines.
How did James Watt improve on Newcomen’s invention in 1775?
He created a steam engine that replaced 12 horses’ worth of work.
What did Adam Smith argue in terms of economics?
Division of labour increases productivity and lowers prices, boosting Britain’s economy.
