kinda modern era Flashcards
(41 cards)
- When was the peak of British economic dominance?
Late 19th century (Victorian era)
Britain was known as “the workshop of the world” due to its industrial and colonial power.
It controlled a vast empire and had strong global trade influence.
- Who succeeded Queen Victoria at the beginning of the 20th century?
King Edward VII (her son)
He began the Edwardian Era in 1901, following Victoria’s death.
- What event marked the beginning of the Edwardian Era?
The death of Queen Victoria in 1901
Edward VII ascended the throne, symbolizing a shift in social values and culture.
- What technological advancements characterized the early 20th century?
Automobiles became more common.
Electricity spread to homes and cities.
Telephones, radio, and airplanes were developed or improved.
Growth of urban transport, such as electric trams and subways.
- What is IRA?
Irish Republican Army
A paramilitary group that used armed struggle to fight for Irish independence from British rule.
Later, it sought to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland.
(The original IRA helped force the British government to sign the Anglo-Irish Treaty, creating the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland).
→ So, southern Ireland became independent.)
- How did the UK respond to the US shift in focus to Iraq in 2003?
The UK, under Prime Minister Tony Blair, supported the US-led invasion of Iraq.
Britain claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), though these were never found.
The decision was highly controversial and led to protests and political backlash at home.
- What was the outcome of the 2005 general election for the Labour Party?
Labour Party won a third consecutive term.
Led by Tony Blair, but with a reduced majority in Parliament.
Voter support had declined, especially due to the Iraq War.
- What were the consequences of the War on Terror for the UK?
Military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Increased terrorism threats at home (e.g., 7/7 London bombings in 2005).
Strain on public opinion and government resources.
Heightened security laws and surveillance measures.
- What event led to the UK coming out of recession in the 4th quarter of 2009?
Government stimulus programs (The UK government helped the economy by cutting VAT (a type of tax) to make shopping cheaper and spent more money on public projects like roads and buildings. This created jobs and encouraged people to spend.)
and bank rescue efforts. (Giving them extra money (capital); Promising to protect loans between banks; Helping banks get more cash to lend)
The economy showed slight growth (0.1%), ending the longest recession since World War II.
Boosted by consumer spending and government investment.
- What was the response of the unionist parties to the SNP’s victory in 2007?
Unionist parties (e.g., Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats) became more cautious about Scottish independence. - parties that believe Scotland should stay part of the UK.
The SNP wanted to hold a referendum (a public vote) on whether Scotland should become independent from the UK. The unionist parties strongly opposed this idea and tried to prevent it from happening.
Instead of independence, the unionist parties suggested re-examining Scotland’s existing powers under devolution (Scotland already had its own parliament and some control over laws).
They created a special group called the Calman Commission to study whether the Scottish Parliament should get more powers, like control over certain taxes or public services—but still remain in the UK.
- What was the aim of the Calman Commission?
To review devolution and recommend changes to the Scottish Parliament’s powers.
Aimed to strengthen the union while giving Scotland more responsibility.
It recommended that the Scottish Parliament should get new powers, especially over taxation and some laws, so it would be more responsible and accountable for its own decisions.
- What marked the end of 16 years of continuous economic growth in the UK?
The 2008 global financial crisis.
UK entered recession after consistent growth since 1992.
Caused by bank failures, housing market collapse, and credit crunch.
- How many parts comprised the bank rescue package announced in October 2008?
The package had three main parts:
Capital injection into banks.
Government guarantees for bank loans.
Improved liquidity through the Bank of England.
Designed to stabilize the financial system and prevent total collapse.
- Who became Prime Minister in the UK after the 2010 General Election?
David Cameron becoming prime minister as the head of a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.
- What significant change occurred in the British royal succession in late October 2011?
“Perth Agreement” was reached by the leaders of the 16 Commonwealth Realms (nations where Queen Elizabeth II was then head of state)
Girls are equal to boys in the line of succession. Before, a younger brother would jump ahead of an older sister.
Royals can now marry Catholics without losing their place in line.
- What was the outcome of the 2011 General Election in terms of parliamentary seats?
It’s important to clarify that there was no UK-wide General Election in 2011. The last UK General Election before that was in 2010. However, there were significant devolved elections in the UK in 2011
The Scottish National Party (SNP) won a historic overall majority, securing 69 out of 129 seats. This was a significant shift, as it was the first time a single party had won an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament.
This majority allowed the SNP, for the first time, to call for and hold a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.
- What is the name of the law that obliges many government employees not to tell anyone about the details of their work?
Official Secrets Act (OSA) - law designed to protect sensitive government information and national security. It criminalizes the unauthorized disclosure, obtaining, or use of such information, often including espionage.
- Britain is a _________________ monarchy & parliamentary __________.
Britain is a constitutional monarchy & parliamentary democracy.
- Is there any single written document which can be appealed to as the highest law of the land?
No
nstead, its constitution is “uncodified” and made up of various sources, including:
Statutes (Acts of Parliament): Laws passed by Parliament are a major part of the constitution.
Common Law: Decisions made by judges over centuries.
Conventions: Unwritten rules and practices that are widely accepted and followed, though not legally enforceable in the same way as statutes.
Treaties: International agreements. The principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty means that Parliament is the supreme law-making body and can make or unmake any law, and no law passed by Parliament can be overridden by a “higher” constitutional document.
- What kind of political party system is in the UK?
The United Kingdom has a multi-party system, but it is dominated by two main parties: the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. This makes it often function like a two-party system in practice.
- In what century was the Labour Party formed?
The Labour Party was formed in the 20th century, specifically in 1900.
- Who has absolute power in Britain?
No one has absolute power in Britain.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, meaning that power is shared and limited by law. The monarch’s role is largely ceremonial, and real political power lies with Parliament and the Prime Minister.
- Other countries have ‘citizens’ but in Britain people are legally described as ___________.
SUBJECTS
In Britain, people are legally described as “subjects” of the Crown, more specifically as “British subjects” or “British nationals”, though “citizen” is also used informally.
- The family name of the royal family is ______.
Windsor
However, descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip can also use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
