Great Britain Political system, history and outstanding people

Great Britain What is Britain politically? What does it mean? What do you know about the royal family? What are the monarch’s duties? Do you know any other kings or queens from the past? What do you think of the concept of monarchy?

constitutional monarchy – the head of state is a monarch today – Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952) very little political power representative role (symbolic, ceremonial) the head of judiciary and the Church of England, Commander-in-Chief Great Britain

Queen’s duties appoints the Prime minister formally opens the Parliament every autumn signs the laws her face on all notes and coins symbol of British traditions

Government the head of the government is the Prime Minister today – Theresa May (since July 2016) her seat – 10 Downing Street (since 1731) two main political parties: Conservative Party (right wing) Labour Party (left wing)

Parliament the seat – the Houses of Parliament (Westminster Palace) two houses the House of Commons (651 members - MPs) most powerful, decides national policy elected every 5 years the House of Lords (1203 members) members are not elected, aristocracy in the UK life peers (they are members, but their sons/daughters can’t be, usually former members of the House of Commons) the Lords Spirituals (judges and bishops) hereditary peers (the heads of aristocratic families)

History - settlement The Celts ( BC) first people who came to Britain The Romans 43 AD – they conquered the island built many roads, towns, 1 st bridge in London Hadrian’s Wall – built by Emperor Hadrian to defend Roman territories The Anglo-Saxons (5th century) came from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands legendary King Arthur – their greatest hero, the Knights of the Round Table The Vikings (8th century) came from Scandinavia built many fortresses Alfred the Great – the first king of England

History The Battle of Hastings (1066) between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy (known as William the Conqueror) and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II, during the Norman conquest of England the Normans won The Black Death an epidemic of plague that spread over the whole of Europe arrived in England in 1348 and killed as much as a third to half the population

History The War of Roses ( ) a series of dynastic wars between the royal houses of Lancaster (red rose) and York (white rose) for the throne of England the result – Henry VIII became the king of England The Great Fire of London (September 2-5, 1666) started in a bakery in Pudding Lane and destroyed 70% of the city (the fire spread very quickly because of a strong wind, the streets of the City were very narrow, wooden houses) St. Paul’s Cathedral – destroyed, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren

The Blitz London badly bombed during WWII 2005 – terrorist´s attacks in London public transport

Outstanding people in British history

William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings– 1066 became the king of England introduced feudal system built many castles (the Tower)

Henry VIII very important English king had 6 wives the Pope refused to give him the necessary permission for the divorce so he took England out of the Roman Catholic Church and made himself head of the Church of England => beginning of Protestantism in England

Elizabeth I ruled the country from 1558 to 1603 the house of Tudor extremely strong and clever woman who controlled the difficult political and religious situation of the time she never married

Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader (17 th century) after the execution of king Charles I in 1649, a republic was declared (for 11 years) => Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland

Victoria ruled GB from 1837 to 1901 second longest rule of any British king or queen during her reign - Britain’s greatest period of world power and industrial development was named the Empress of India

Winston Churchill was a UK politician, prime minister from (WW II), regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20 th century also a historian, a writer, an artist the only British Prime Minister to have received the Nobel Price in Literature he first person to be made an honorary citizen of the USA

Margaret Thatcher the Prime Minister of the UK ( ) and the Leader of the Conservative Party ( ) the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century a Soviet journalist called her the ‘Iron Lady’ (associated with her uncompromising politics and leadership style)

Famous royal families – match the monarch with the family The House of York (15 th century) The House of Tudor (16 th - beg.17 th century) The House of Stuart (17 th century) The House of Windsor (20 th century) Henry VIII James I George V Richard III Elizabeth I Elizabeth II