uk history facts

It also benefits from historical and cultural links with the United States and is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Britain's naval supremacy meant that France could never enjoy the peace necessary to consolidate its control over Europe, and it could threaten neither the home islands nor the main British colonies. The second half of the 19th century saw a major expansion of Britain's colonial empire in Asia and Africa as well as the Pacific . A campaign under Daniel O'Connell led to the concession of Catholic Emancipation in 1829, allowing Catholics to sit in Parliament. This led to decolonisation, and a withdrawal from almost all of its colonies by 1970. In 1914 it apparently "solved" the problem of Irish Home Rule but when the war broke out the solution was shelved. During its first 100 years of operation, the focus of the British East India Company had been trade, not the building of an empire in India. The lost generation felt its sacrifice was little regarded in Britain, with poems like Siegfried Sassoon's Blighters criticising the ill-informed jingoism of the home front. His party was defeated in 1874, but made a comeback based on opposition to Turkey's Bulgarian atrocities against Christians. The challenge came from dictators, first Benito Mussolini of Italy, then Adolf Hitler of a much more powerful Nazi Germany. Civil war threatened when the Protestant-Unionists of Northern Ireland refused to be placed under Catholic-Nationalist control. Wales, a congeries of Celtic kingdoms lying in Great Britain’s southwest, was formally united with England by the Acts of Union of 1536 and 1542. 1951". Prince Albert was effective in defusing a war scare in late 1861. The 2015 election was held on 7 May 2015 with pre-election polls all predicting a close race and a hung parliament. He proposed Irish home rule in 1886; It failed to pass and the resulting split in the Liberal Party kept it out of office for most of the next 20 years. [130][131], The Royal Navy dominated the seas, defeating the smaller German fleet in the only major naval battle of the war, the Battle of Jutland in 1916. These common rock structures are breached by the narrow North Channel. An Anglo-Russian invasion of the Netherlands in 1799 accomplished little except the capture of the Dutch fleet. [53] British merchants and financiers, and later railway builders, played major roles in the economies of most Latin American nations. Her long reign until 1901 saw Britain reach the zenith of its economic and political power. In May 1803, war was declared again. Middle-class reformers did their best to assist the working classes aspire to middle-class norms of 'respectability. [55] After parliamentary investigations demonstrated the horrors of child labour, limited reforms were passed in 1833. It was well understood that a collapse of that country would set off a scramble for its territory and possibly plunge Britain into war. [101], In terms of historic reforms, Gladstone's first ministry 1868–74 was his most successful. This combined the two kingdoms into a single kingdom, and merged the two parliaments into a single parliament of Great Britain. The system of smuggling finished products into the continent undermined French efforts to ruin the British economy by cutting off markets. The war had been won by Britain and its allies, but at a terrible human and financial cost, creating a sentiment that wars should never be fought again. The chaperone faded away; village druggists sold contraceptives. However, this was blocked by King George III, who argued that emancipating the Roman Catholics would breach his Coronation Oath. The Roman Catholic hierarchy had endorsed the Union. The 1926 general strike was a nine-day nationwide walkout of 1.3 million railwaymen, transport workers, printers, dockers, iron workers and steelworkers supporting the 1.2 million coal miners who had been locked out by the owners. The private sector enjoyed a housebuilding boom during the 1930s. [227] There also remained gaps between manual and non-manual workers in areas such as fringe benefits and wage levels. The procedure used was developed by Herbert Morrison, who as Lord President of the Council chaired the Committee on the Socialization of Industries. ", Nicholas Joicey, "A Paperback Guide to Progress: Penguin Books 1935–c. While any student of history has learned about the likes of Abraham Lincoln and World War II, how many of us know that Lincoln was a champion wrestler or that Franklin Roosevelt okayed a plan to bomb the Imperial Japanese Army with bombs attached to bats? [176] The Conservative government had provided a nine-month subsidy in 1925 but that was not enough to turn around a sick industry. 3. [54] The British intervened in 1827 on the side of the Greeks, who had been waging the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire since 1821. They made Lord Grey prime minister 1830–1834, and the Reform Act 1832 became their signature measure. [210] Those in traditionally poorly paid semi-skilled and unskilled occupations saw a particularly marked improvement in their wages and living standards. 2007 saw the first ever election victory for the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) in the Scottish Parliament elections. Unemployment was relatively low during this period and the standard of living continued to rise with more new private and council housing developments taking place and the number of slum properties diminishing. As a result of these changes, large numbers of the working classes were able to participate in the consumer market for the first time. In the wake of the global economic crisis of 2008, the United Kingdom economy contracted, experiencing negative economic growth throughout 2009. Updates? There also remained a strong economic divide between the north and south of England during this period, with the south of England and the Midlands fairly prosperous by the Thirties, while parts of south Wales and the industrial north of England became known as "distressed areas" due to particularly high rates of unemployment and poverty. [80] Parliament passed laws in 1870, 1881, 1903 and 1909 that enabled most tenant farmers to purchase their lands, and lowered the rents of the others. Joseph Chamberlain took a major element of upper-class supporters out of the Party and into a third party, the Liberal Unionists, which collaborated with and eventually merged into the Conservative party. … The "second war of independence" for the American, it was little noticed in Britain, where all attention was focused on the struggle with France. This was considered as the most successful nation union in world history. Lunn, Jon, Vaughne Miller, Ben Smith. He had strong support from Unionists and considerable backing of Labour, as well as a majority of his own Liberal Party, although Asquith turned hostile. [148] The most prominent directors remaining in London were Alexander Korda, an expatriate Hungarian, and Alfred Hitchcock. [98] He was the moral compass of the Liberal Party and is famous for his oratory, his religiosity, his liberalism, his rivalry with Disraeli, and for his poor relations with the Queen. In July 2008, the Labour government under Gordon Brown approved the treaty and the Queen ratified it.[239]. Catholics no longer had to pay taxes to it. The Treasury subsidized the low rents. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Sidmouth's Gagging Acts of 1817 heavily muzzled the opposition newspapers; the reformers switched to pamphlets and sold 50,000 a week. The preservation of a high moral tone is obviously of paramount importance. By the earlier Seventies, however, the UK standard of living was lower than all EEC countries apart from Italy (which, according to one calculation, was roughly equal to Britain). Curious but true. 3 The Olympics Used to Award Medals for Art. It joined the European Economic Community in 1973, thereby weakening economic ties with its Commonwealth. [213] Between 1955 and 1967, the average earnings of weekly-paid workers increased by 96% and those of salaried workers by 95%, while prices rose by about 45% in the same period. Equality increased dramatically, as incomes declined sharply for the wealthy and for white collar workers, as their taxes soared, while blue collar workers benefited from rationing and price controls. From 1971 to 1983, households having the sole use of a fixed bath or shower rose from 88% to 97%, and those with an internal WC from 87% to 97%. The son of James II planned to invade England, but before he could do so, John Erskine, Earl of Mar, launched an invasion from Scotland, which was easily defeated. Forces of reform, often emanating from the Evangelical religious elements, opened decades of political reform that broadened the ballot, and opened the economy to free trade. As a result British culture, and its technological, political, constitutional, and linguistic influence, became worldwide. The Liberals were in power with a progressive alliance of Labour and, off and on, Irish Nationalists. The aristocracy and landed gentry, with their ironclad control over land rights, dominated hunting, shooting, fishing and horse racing. [102] He was an idealist who insisted that government should take the lead in making society more efficient, more fair, and that the government should expand its role in society in order to extend liberty and toleration. David McLean, "Finance and 'Informal Empire' before the First World War", A.J. It took a five more years to set up a general staff and other Army reforms, under the administration of Lord Haldane. Ratification of the Treaty of Ghent ended the war in February 1815. In the 1990s neoliberalism led to the privatisation of nationalized industries and significant deregulation of business affairs. There was a revival of creativity in the 1933–45 era, especially with the arrival of Jewish filmmakers and actors fleeing the Nazis. Discover ancient people and places, and fascinating facts with our selection of games and activities. Kate Middleton is a cousin to the first president of the US, George Washington, and American World War II hero, General George Petton. [170] For over a century the shipping industry had dominated world trade, but it remained in the doldrums despite various stimulus efforts by the government. The Elector of Hanover became king as George I (1714–1727). Together England, Wales, and Scotland constitute Great Britain, the larger of the two principal islands, while Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland constitute the second largest island, Ireland. In 1971, only 35% had central heating, while 78% enjoyed this amenity in 1990. The British imperial vision called for control over the new countries and the Dutch-speaking "Boers" (or "Afrikaners") fought back in the War in 1899–1902. The Chartist movement, peaked as a democratic movement among the working class in 1848; its leaders moved to other pursuits, such as trade unions and cooperative societies. Welfare conditions, especially regarding food, improved during the war as the government imposed rationing and subsidized food prices. The Victorian era saw the fleshing out of the second British Empire. Prime Ministers from 1900 to 1945: Marquess of Salisbury, Arthur Balfour, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, H. H. Asquith, David Lloyd George, Bonar Law, Stanley Baldwin, Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill. It weakened the veto power of Lords, blocked woman suffrage. Get facts about Bonnie Prince Charlie here. The United Kingdom comprises four geographic and historical parts—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. By 1996, two-thirds of households owned cars, 82% had central heating, most people owned a VCR, and one in five houses had a home computer. The South Sea Bubble was a business enterprise that exploded in scandal. [140] Britain officially adopted the name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" by the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927. It was vetoed in 1963 by French President Charles de Gaulle. The coalition lacked a long-term plan, because it was cobbled together from leftovers from the 1890s. [87], Lord Palmerston (1784–1865) dominated foreign policy for decades, through a period when Britain was at the height of its power, serving terms as both Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister. Causes included an end to the easy credit of the preceding years, reduction in consumption and substantial depreciation of sterling (which fell 25% against the euro between January 2008 and January 2009),[254] leading to increased import costs, notably of oil. Well, sadly, throughout history, there have been many people who have been treated differently because of where they come from, what religion they follow, or whether they’re a boy or a girl. Inflation was around 4 per cent, money wages rose from an average of £8 a week in 1951 to £15 a week by 1961, home-ownership spread from 35 per cent in 1939 to 47 per cent by 1966, and the relaxation of credit controls boosted the demand for consumer goods.[221]. Tourists flocked to seaside resorts; Blackpool hosted 7 million visitors a year in the 1930s. Vivid memories of the horrors and deaths of the World War made Britain and its leaders strongly inclined to pacifism in the interwar era. But in the same month, US president Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation would be issued in January 1863 making abolition of slavery in the Confederacy a war goal. Britain was at war against France almost continuously from 1793 until the final defeat of Napoleon in 1815. The United Kingdom retains links with parts of its former empire through the Commonwealth. After Napoleon's surrender and exile to the island of Elba, peace appeared to have returned, but when he escaped back into France in 1815, the British and their allies had to fight him again. [151], In radio, British audiences had no choice apart from the upscale programming of the BBC, a government agency which had a monopoly on broadcasting. (The adjective “British” came into use at this time to refer to all the kingdom’s peoples.) [165] His mixture of strong social reforms and steady government proved a powerful election combination, with the result that the Conservatives governed Britain either by themselves or as the leading component of the National Government. Berlin declared the water routes to Britain were war zones where any ship, neutral or otherwise, was a target. Like the first, though, it was vetoed by de Gaulle. Britain had never experienced the boom that had characterized the US, Germany, Canada and Australia in the 1920s, so its bust appeared less severe. Scotland, occupying northern Great Britain, includes the Orkney and Shetland islands off the northern coast and the Hebrides off the northwestern coast. In 1878, faced with Russian victories against the Ottomans, he worked at the Congress of Berlin to maintain peace in the Balkans and made terms favourable to Britain which weakened Russia, its longstanding enemy. The British army controlled only a handful of coastal cities in the U.S. 1780–81 was a low point for Britain. Although now a single kingdom, certain institutions of Scotland and England remained separate, such as Scottish and English law; and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Anglican Church of England. The ice melted and the sea level rose. Particularly hardest hit by economic problems were the north of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; unemployment reached 70% in some areas at the start of the 1930s (with more than 3 million out of work nationally) and many families depended entirely on the dole. John Maynard Keynes, who had not predicted the slump, said, "'There will be no serious direct consequences in London. In practice the laws were designed to deter troublemakers and reassure conservatives; they were not often used. [142] Football proved highly attractive to the urban working classes, which introduced the rowdy spectator to the sports world. In 1955, 96% of manual labourers were entitled to two weeks’ holiday with pay, compared with 61% in 1951. All social classes appreciated how the royals shared the hopes, fears and hardships of the people. With his slow start and mobilization of national resources, H. H. Asquith had proven inadequate: he was more of a committee chairman, and he started so drink so heavily after midday that only his morning hours were effective. We find the look ahead decidedly encouraging. They were sold cheap (usually sixpence) in a wide variety of inexpensive stores such as Woolworth's. [268][269], The debate on Brexit grew heated. For example, in 1842, the nation was scandalized by the use of children in coal mines. Britain handled foreign policy and defence. The British budget in 1814 reached £66 million, including £10 million for the Navy, £40 million for the Army, £10 million for the Allies, and £38 million as interest on the national debt. The UK Independence Party (UKIP), rallying voters against the European Union and against uncontrolled immigration, secured 13% of the vote and came second in over 115 races, but won only one seat in parliament. It was a superpower during the 18th, 19th and early 20th century and was considered since the early 1800s to be the most powerful and influential nation in the world, in politics, economics (For it was the wealthiest country at the time.) There are lots of fun facts about England due to its long history which has thrown up lots of strange anomalies and rather strange ways of doing things, or traditions. In 1992, the Conservative government under John Major ratified it, against the opposition of his backbench Maastricht Rebels. The capital city is London with an urban population of 10,310,000. The UK has the third-highest rate of heart attack in Europe. The opponents warned of bedlam. [244] On 7 July 2005, a series of four suicide bombings struck London, killing at least 52 commuters and many more hundreds are seriously injured, in addition to the four bombers. 1. In the "Scramble for Africa", the boast was having the Union Jack flying from "Cairo to Cape Town." Britain faced a severe financial crisis, and responded by reducing her international responsibilities and by sharing the hardships of an "age of austerity". Robert M. Kozub, "Evolution of Taxation in England, 1700–1850: A Period of War and Industrialization", François Crouzet, "Wars, blockade, and economic change in Europe, 1792–1815.". ", See Jeremy Black, "Could the British Have Won the American War of Independence?". Enter the world of history for kids. The young men who governed Britain in 1914 were the same old men who governed Britain in 1939.[136][137]. The core of the United Kingdom as a unified state came into being in 1706 with the political union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland,[1] into a new unitary state called Great Britain. The Liberal Democrats lost 49 of their 57 seats, as they were punished for their decision to form a coalition with the conservatives in 2010. 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