Name____________________________________
EVOLUTION OF THE BRITISH STATE
OBJECTIVE: The students will be able to assess the impact of historical events on the development of
the modern British state.
BIG IDEA / CONCEPT - How did the British Empire go from an Absolute Monarchy to a Limited
Monarchy to a Parliamentary Democracy in a Prime Ministerial System? They did it GRADUALLY!
GRADUALISM is an important concept in British politics. It refers to the idea that change in the
British system should occur slowly over time. Gradualism has allowed the British state to adapt and
to change but to remain stable over time.
1.
1600s to mid 1900s – Age of Imperialism and Colonial Mercantilism

Beginning around 1650, the British government pursued a policy of
mercantilism in international trade. Mercantilism stipulates that in order to
build economic strength, a nation must export more than it imports.
A. What is Imperialism?
B. Give 2 reasons for Imperialism and Colonialism by the British”
C. How has Colonialism / Imperialism shaped contemporary politics in the UK?
2.
The following events will have one of the following impacts:
 Reducing the power of the Monarch and advancing the ascendancy of Parliament (MARK
THESE EVENTS WITH A “M”)
 Expanding Suffrage (MARK THESE EVENTS WITH AN “S”)
 Collectivist Consensus (MARK THESE EVENTS WITH A “CC”)
http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/british.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1038820.stm
DATE
DESCRIPTION
IMPACT – “M”
OR “S” OR “CC”
1215
Origin of British State
 Nobles forced King John to sign
 King no longer Absolute Monarch
 Consent needed before tax or spend
 Created Great Counsel as precursor to House of Lords
M
DATE
DESCRIPTION
IMPACT “M” OR
“S” OR “CC”
1642-49
1660
1688
1689
British B of R impact is creation of a Constitutional Monarchy
with important rights in Parliament over the purse ($) and
over policy making
M
1701
Act of Settlement – Sets succession rules for the throne and made the
Monarch accountable to the Parliament
Queen Anne – last Monarch to refuse to give Royal Assent to a Bill
passed by parliament
M
M
1701
1721
1832
1867
2ND Reform Act
1884
Representation of the People Acts
1911
Reform of Parliament Act
1918
1919
1928
1929
1942
Suffrage expanded to all males and to women over age of 30
The IRA – Irish Republican Army is formed to fight British rule
1948
1952
1973
1979
1990
1997
NHS is started
1997
1998
Lady Diana dies
Good Friday Accord
1999
2005
2005
2010
2014
S
XXXX
The Beveridge Report
M
2015