Introduction to the British Isles

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Introduction to the British Isles

• History

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The Nations of the British Isles

• How did England, Wales, Scotland and (Northern)
  Ireland come to form the United Kingdom?

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England

• 43 410 Romans. Conquered most of present day
  England and Wales
• 61 Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, revolts against
  the Romans
• From 410 Germanic invasions various tribes,
  including Angles and Saxons
• 8th C. Viking raids
• 9th C. Danes in the north and east

Statue of Boudicca in London
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• 1066 Norman Conquest
• Significance languageloss of Anglo-Saxon
  aristocracyChurch became NormanAnglo-French
  relations

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Edward I

• King of England, 1272 1307
• Longshanks
• Conquered Wales
• Established parliament in Ireland
• Hammer of the Scots

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Edward Iand Edward II

• 1284 Edward defeats Llewellyn ap Gruffydd,
  bringing Wales under English control (Norman
  conquest post -1066 in large parts of Wales but
  not everywhere) From then on, English monarch is
  ruler of Wales (though official union not until
  1536, under Henry VIII)
• 1296 Edward raises army against Scotland
• 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge victory for
  Scots under William Wallace. Wallace taken
  prisoner to London and hanged, drawn and
  quartered
• 1314 Battle of Bannockburn victory for Scots
  under Robert the Bruce against Edward II

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England and Scotland

• Close connections in the 16th century Margaret
  Tudor, Henry VIIs sister, marries James V of
  Scotland. Their daughter, Mary I (Queen of Scots)
  is the closest claimant to the throne when
  Elizabeth I is queen.

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Elizabeth I, The Virgin Queen (1533 1603)
Mary Queen of Scots (1542 1587)
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Union of the Crowns

• 1603 James VI of Scotland becomes James I of
  England
• Religious tensions re.rights of catholics
• 1605 Gunpowder plot

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The Act of Union

• 1707 the Union of the parliaments. The Scottish
  parliament becomes one of the first parliaments
  ever to vote itself out of existence
• Structure of Scots Law etc to be preserved
  (separate laws for England and Scotland) the
  (presbyterian) Church of Scotland becomes the
  established Church in Scotland monarch is an
  ordinary member (cv Church of England) but is
  invited to observe the General Assembly (or send
  representative, known as the Lord High
  Commissioner).

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The English Civil War

• From 1642 Roundheads and Cavaliers
• 1649 execution of Charles I
• Britain a republic known as the Commonwealth
  under the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell

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• 1660 Monarchy restored under Charles II
• 1685 Accession of James II and VII
• 1688 Glorious revolution parliament refused
  to allow James II to give rights to catholics and
  the immortal seven invited William of Orange
  (grandson of Charles I through his mother, Mary)
  and his wife Mary (also a Stuart daughter of
  James II) to become King and Queen
• The deal the monarch rules only with the support
  of parliament

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William III
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• James II fled to Ireland (Strong English presence
  during the Tudor period).
• Mixture of catholics (traditional religion of the
  Irish which had not been part of the reformation)
  and protestants, English settlers given lands in
  Ulster under James VI and I
• 1690 Battle of the Boyne William of Orange
  defeats James II

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• 1801 Official Union. United Kingdom of Great
  Britain and Ireland is established

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The making of the Union FlagThe Union Jack
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Ireland

• 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin
• 1921 Treaty establishes the Irish Free State
  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
  Ireland
• 1969 onwards The Troubles
• 1998 Good Friday agreement
• 1999 New assembly established at Stormont
• 2002 Stormont suspended
• 2006 St Andrews Agreement...

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Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair, April 1998
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Devolution in Wales

• 1925 Plaid Cymru founded
• 1979 referendum rejected by 80
• 1997 referendum 50.3 in favour
• 1999 Welsh Assembly 60 AMs
• Main responsibilities health, education,
  economic development, rural affairs
• No power over defence, foreign affairs,
  taxation, policing
• Welsh Assembly elections 2003 Labour 30 AMs, PC
  12, Conservatives 11

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Devolution in Scotland

• 1979 Referendum accepted by 51.6 but Scotland
  Act required 40 of electorate to vote Yes.
• 1997 Referendum 74 in favour of Scottish
  parliament including tax-varying powers
• 1999 Scottish Parliament founded
• 2004 Opening of the new Parliament building at
  Holyrood
• Main responsibilities as for Wales, but with
  added policing and tax-varying powers. Can debate
  other issues and make recommendations to
  Westminster
• 129 MSPs
• 2003 elections Labour the largest party SNP,
  second largest. Coalition of Labour and Lib-Dems

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• No devolution in England but cf Greater London
  Authority
• Regional Assemblies planned
• 2004 Referendum for the NE England Assembly
  rejected by 695 519 to 197 310
• Regarded as block to future Assemblies in England