Political and Economic Change in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandPaul B. EllisAP Comparative Government Period 3

Themes of UK political and economic changeConsult 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

*usually

The bayeux tapestry

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

Legislation of the 1700s 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)

Takeaways:WhigsTaxesWarsTreaties

Stamp to be affixed to goods

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

Takeaways:EmancipationElectoral reformPartial male suffrage

Dublin, Ireland in 1908 with Union Jack flags flying as part of UK (GB + Ireland)

Legislation of the Industrial Revolution Corn Laws (1815-1846) 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 suffrageHelping farmers (corn laws)Industry reformsProtecting workers

Gladstone and Disraeli WILLIAM GLADSTONE—LIBERAL(1868-1874, 1880-1885, 1886, 1892-1894)

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

BENJAMIN DISRAELI—CONSERVATIVE(1868, 1874-1880) 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

Modern UK Political Parties 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

Conservative PM David Cameron

Liberal Dem Dep. PM Nick

Clegg

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)

1937-1939, 1939-1940

Winston Churchill—Conservative 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

1940-1945, 1945

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

1945-1951

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

1976-1979

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

1979-1990

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

1990-1997

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)

British IndustriesIndustry 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

Comparison to the U.S.

UNITED KINGDOM 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)

UNITED STATES 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)

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

http://j.mp/ukpoliticalsocialchangesporcle