1. Paul B. Ellis AP Comparative Government Period 3
Political and Economic Change in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Paul B. Ellis
AP Comparative Government Period 3

2. Themes of UK political and economic change
Consult subjects before imposing policy
Ex: William the Conqueror’s tax agreement after Battle of Hastings
Noblesse oblige—responsibility of wealthy to provide welfare to the poor
Change happens through evolution, not revolution*
Ex: Establishment of the houses of parliament
20th century change occurs mostly through change in leadership
Cosmopolitan nationalism
Ex: Unification of UK nations; incorporation of people from Empire into culture
Balance between national pride and distinct cultural identities
The bayeux tapestry
*usually

3. Early events of political change
Magna Carta
Barons forced King John to sign charter outlining their freedoms
John ended up not honoring the charter and tried to suppress the barons
The English Civil War
Turmoil in the British Isles allowed new forms of Christianity
Temporary republic instead of monarchy; established need for parliamentary consent for monarch to rule
The Glorious Revolution
Conflict over Christianity limited Catholics’ freedoms
After monarchy’s reinstatement, James II deposed by William of Orange (Dutch)
Bank of England established (1694)
Signing of the Magna Carta

4. Legislation of the 1700s Takeaways: Whigs Taxes Wars Treaties
Acts of Union (1707)
England + Scotland
Jewish Naturalization Act (1753)
Allowed Jews to be naturalized by application to Parliament
Intolerable Acts (Stamp, Townshend, Tea)
Source of revenue from American colonies
Declaratory Act (1766)
Maintained Parliament’s right to subject colonies to laws
Constitutional Act (1791)
Reformed Canada’s government
First income tax (1798)
Stamp to be affixed to goods
Takeaways:
Whigs
Taxes
Wars
Treaties

5. Legislation of the early 1800s
Act of Union (1800)
England + Ireland
Slave Trade Act (1807)
Abolished slave trade, but not slavery
Return to the gold standard (1819)
Followed silver, gold shortages of late 1700s
Roman Catholic Relief Act (1829)
Allowed Catholics to serve in Parliament—key in Catholic Emancipation
Great Reform Act (1832) and Municipal Corporations Act (1835)
Reformed UK electoral system by standardizing districts, increasing male suffrage
Slavery Abolition Act (1833)
Slavery illegal to practice within the British Empire
Dublin, Ireland in 1908 with Union Jack flags flying as part of UK (GB + Ireland)
Takeaways:
Emancipation
Electoral reform
Partial male suffrage

6. Legislation of the Industrial Revolution
Corn Laws ( )
Taxed imported food to increase local profits, landowning power
Mines and Collieries Act (1842)
Prohibited women, young children from working in mines
Railway Regulation Act (1844)
Forced railroads to cheaply serve poor so they could find work
Reform Act (1867)
Enfranchised more working class males
Trade Union Act (1871)
Legalized trade unions in the UK
Factory Acts (1800s-1900s)
Series of legislation to cap working hours, improve conditions
Takeaways:
Working male suffrage
Helping farmers (corn laws)
Industry reforms
Protecting workers

7. Gladstone and Disraeli
William Gladstone—Liberal
( , , 1886, )
Benjamin Disraeli—Conservative
(1868, )
Appointed to a lower office
Led opposition to Disraeli, tore apart his budget
Once elected as anti-Anglican church in Ireland, reformed civil service, army, judiciary, and electoral systems
More “ethical” in his foreign policy
Passed over for appointment
Attacked predecessor over corn laws
Steps in to lead Conservatives, uses Liberal split over Reform Act to become PM
More social reforms, foreign policy when reelected
Better relationship with the queen

8. Modern UK Political Parties
Conservative PM David Cameron
Liberal Dem Dep. PM Nick Clegg
Tory and Whig parties of old lead to Conservative and Liberal parties
Liberals split into Labour (unions) and Liberal Dems
Coalitions rarely form
Wars have forced cooperation
Notable details:
Unions are actually part of the Labour party unlike in the US
While cabinet ministers are partisan, top civil service workers at each agency are not

9. Neville Chamberlain—Conservative,
Became PM when Stanley Baldwin retired
Unemployment Act of 1934
Allowed people as young as 14 to be insured, established unemployment benefit agencies
Factories Act (1937)
Signed Munich Agreement in 1938 (appeased Hitler)
“Peace for our time”
Conceded Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) to Germany
Coal Act (1938)
Nationalized coal resources
Declared war on Germany (WWII)

10. Winston Churchill—Conservative
, 1945
Led Britain through WWII
On the ground, charismatic wartime leader
Series of meetings with FDR regarding international initiatives
United Nations, NATO, Atlantic Charter, rebuilding Europe (esp. Germany)
Remained politically active even after diselected
Iron curtain speech
Beveridge Report
Expanded National Insurance, established National Health Service

11. Clement Attlee—Labour
Widespread nationalization of utilities and important industries
Facilitated independence of colonies
Included India, Ceylon, Burma
British pull out of Palestine completely
End of “mandate” there
Supported Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan
Backed U.S. in Soviet containment and European rebuilding
Major policies include social and housing support programs

12. James Callaghan—Labour
Sought support for the pound
Took out an IMF loan
Started discussion of need for educational reform
Laid foundation for “National Curriculum” years later
Kept UK in the European Economic Community
Limited pay raises to control inflation
“Winter of Discontent”
Sought to devolve powers to Scotland
Referendum failed, leading to vote of no confidence
Election brought Conservatives to power

13. Margaret Thatcher—Conservative
Extensive privatization of government industries
Introduced “poll tax” to fund municipal governments
Secured EU rebate to compensate for small British agriculture
Attempted to impose immigration quotas
Increased taxes in recession to reduce inflation, leading to high unemployment
Cooperated with U.S. under Reagan on Cold War policy
Eventually ousted as party leader due to extremely low poll ratings

14. John Major—Conservative
Continued the work of Thatcher
She sought to be a “backseat driver”
Conservative party embroiled in sex scandals
Began Northern Ireland peace process with IRA
His negotiations set the stage for the Good Friday Agreement
Participated in the arms embargo of Bosnia to stifle conflict there
An instance of contrast with the U.S. (Clinton administration)
Unremarkable term and poor economic decisions led to Tony Blair’s New Labour winning the next election

15. Economic statistics
High income—Member of the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
GDP (in USD-2012): $2.435 trillion (8th highest)
Total population (2012): 63.23 million (22nd highest)
Life expectancy (2011): 81 years (27th highest)
GNI per capita based on PPP (2012): $38,250 (21st highest)
CO2 emissions (2009): 7.7 metric tons per capita (14th highest)
Gini index (FY 2008/2009): 40 (60th highest disparity)

16. British Industries Industry Name Date Nationalized Date Privatized
Steel
1967
1951, 1988
Transportation
1939 (air), 1948 (rail, road, boat)
1983 (boat), 1987 (air), 1985 (rail), 1980s (road)
Oil and gas
1943 (local gas), 1974 (50% government share)
1986 (gas)
Coal
1938
1994

17. Comparison to the U.S. Change usually not as tumultuous
United kingdom
United states
Change usually not as tumultuous
Change closely linked to colonization/expansion activities
Politicians more willing to resign if public opinion turns against them or they botch the handling of a treaty
Nationalization of industries done strategically (surrounding wars)
Significant political changes are more tumultuous
Expansions/unions largely static or nonexistent
Politicians tend to hold on to power regardless of temporary opinion swings
Nearly all industries are private (exceptions: rail, postal service)

18. Globalization Relationship with the U.S. Close allies on most issues
Tremendous trade (imports)
Small size of UK means it needs goods from elsewhere
British Empire  British Commonwealth
Many nations now independent
Queen still on various money
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with U.S. President Ronald Reagan