UNIT 2: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland PDF

UNIT 2. The United Kingdom of Great Sustituye la imagen Britain and Ireland y adáptala al formato con clic English Culture and Civilization derecho > recortar Patricia Coloma Peñate, PhD...

UNIT 2. The United Kingdom of Great Sustituye la imagen Britain and Ireland y adáptala al formato con clic English Culture and Civilization derecho > recortar Patricia Coloma Peñate, PhD Degree in Primary Education ÍNDICE CONTENIDOS 1. Great Britain or the UK? 2. Historical overview 2 GREAT BRITAIN OR THE UK? Imagen 1 Great Britain or UK Nota. Adaptado de Great Britain, https://stock.adobe.com/images/id/271675364?as_campaign=Freepik&as_con tent=api&as_audience=srp&tduid=9d78468a333b8b757923d2317041bae3&as _channel=affiliate&as_campclass=redirect&as_source=arvato 3 GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITION Imagen 1 Terminology of the British Isles Geographically speaking we refer to The British Isles, which is composed by Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man and other smaller islands like Shetlands or Scillies. "Great Britain" comes from the Ancient Greek Pretania, in Latin Britannia. https://external- preview.redd.it/dB4V0fmv9owBnPTGxDSwCWLqCSjSguv5I4hi6QJAGgM.gif?fo rmat=mp4&s=2f85202b69f497dec746bd8996a3d385ac4ca36c 4 POLITICAL DEFINITION Imagen 1 Terminology of the British Isles Politically speaking, we differentiate 2 nation states: United Kingdom of Great Britain (which contains England, Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland (Ulster) The Republic of Ireland (Éire in Irish). https://external- preview.redd.it/dB4V0fmv9owBnPTGxDSwCWLqCSjSguv5I4hi6QJAGgM.gif?fo rmat=mp4&s=2f85202b69f497dec746bd8996a3d385ac4ca36c 5 NAMING In the United Kingdom, national identity and citizenship do not always mean the same thing. The Scottish and Welsh will usually say that they have British (or UK) citizenship, but that their nationality is Scottish or Welsh. In Northern Ireland some people say they are British, some people say they are Irish and some people say that they are both. This depends on their political and cultural allegiances. People born in England will more often say that their nationality as well as their citizenship is British. Many important institutions are common to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, such as the laws and customs of the Constitution, the Crown as a symbol of unity, and parliamentary and representative government. But there are many important differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland now have parliaments and assemblies of their own, with limited but significant powers. In sport there are four different football teams which play separately in international competitions, but there is only one Olympic team for the whole of the United Kingdom. 6 -At one time the four nations were distinct from each other in almost every aspect of life. -In the first place, they were different racially. The people in Ireland, Wales and highland Scotland belonged to the Celtic race; Those in England and lowland Scotland were mainly of Germanic origin. -This difference was reflected in the languages they spoke. People in the Celtic areas spoke Celtic languages: Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh. People in the Germanic areas spoke Germanic dialects (including the one which has developed into modern English). -Today these differences have become blurred. -Although there is only one government for the whole of Britain, and people have the same passport regardless of where in Britain they live, some aspects of government are organized separately (and sometimes differently) in the four parts of the United Kingdom. Moreover, Welsh, Scottish and Irish people feel their identity very strongly. 7 The evolution of the states of the British Isles. Dank · Jay - Own work, adapted from a previous image created as a PNG file by JW1805 at English Wikipedia. Dank · Jay - Own work, adapted from a previous image created as a PNG file by JW1805 at English Wikipedia. 20/9/19 8  England Capital: London. Cosmopolitan city, it has cultural and racial variety. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Southern England: dynamic economic region, services and high-tech manufacturing. The South West is a popular image of rural beauty (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset…). Northern England: industrial area, especially Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield. https://www.edfringe.com/ 9 SCOTLAND Capital: Edinburgh. Other major cities: Glasgow and Aberdeen. Southern Uplands is characterized by hill ranges and sheep farming, and Lowlands is where most of the population lives. Importance of tourism, fishing and whisky production. Known for the importance of bagpipes, the formal dresswear (kilts) and the Highlands. Edinburgh festival Fringe https://www.edfringe.com 10 WALES Capital: Cardiff. Other major cities. Swansea and Newport. Here is where most of the population reside. Highland country, with hills and deep river valleys. Cultural landmark: the Welsh mountains. Welsh is spoken by over 20 % of total population. https://www.edfringe.com 11  Northern Ireland Also known as Ulster. Capital: Belfast. It has 6 counties. Rocky coastline, mountainous areas (Slieve Donard). Emphasis on agriculture, but linen production and shipbuilding are the focus in Belfast. Cultural landmark: The Giant’s Causeway. https://www.ireland.com/what-is-available/natural-landscapes-and- sights/articles/giants-causeway-myth/ 12 The Republic of Ireland Capital: Dublin. In 1801 it became an English colony. Following the Irish War of Independence, from 1919- 1921, Ireland was separated into 2 political entities: The Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, which remained part of the UK. The terms of the treaty stirred controversy and imploded in an Irish civil war (1922-1923). Culturally known for the three-leaved shamrock (symbol of the Christian Trinity) and multiple legends and tales (Leprechauns). Saint Patrick’s Day https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day 13 https://static.miraheze.org/reallifevillainswiki/2/28/IRA_flag.png The IRA was created in 1919 as a successor to the Irish militant nationalist organization. Its purpose was to use armed force to gain independence from the UK. The 1921 treaty, stating that a part of Ireland would remain under British rule, proved unacceptable to most IRA members, so they began to take armed action against the British government. Even after they were named illegal in 1931, they continued to use armed forced against the British government and population, and even across Europe. In 2005, the IRA announced it had ended its armed campaign Video: What is the Republican Army? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utWe4Pb6eqw 14 AN OVERVIEW OF NORTHERN IRELAND VS IRELAND With the 1801 Acts of Union, Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. Then, a war of independence broke out in the early 20th century leading to the partitioning of the island by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. This resulted in the creation of the Irish Free State.. Did any difference call your attention?. Regarding the language use, what differences are between these two countries? The Union Jack - The national flag of the UK is famously known as the Union Jack or the Union flag. It represents the union of the UK’s different countries and is also used in some nations that used to be under the British rule. -The first version of the flag was designed in 1606, when James VI came into power. At first its use was restricted to royal ships, finally gaining recognition in 1707, with the union between Scotland and England. -The flag was redesigned when Ireland joined the union of Great Britain in 1801. -The Union Jack is composed by 3 flags: the cross of St George, the cross of St Andrew and cross of St Patrick. 16 https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandera_del_Reino_Unido#/media/Archivo:Banderas_de_la_Union_Jack.PNG 17 What about Wales? The Welsh flag is not incorporated into the Union flag because Wales was already united to England when the first version was designed. United Kingdom Government : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Wales.svg 18 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW BIG BEN: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/panoramic-view-big-ben-london-sunset-uk_10590324.htm#page=1&query=BIG%20BEN&position=2 19  Prehistoric Britain During the Stone Age, people crossed the narrow sea from Europe and settled in the western parts of Britain and Ireland. They used the land to farm and created centres of religious, political and economic power. The most spectacular is Stonehenge, which still remains a mystery as to why it was built. video: Researchers Purpose New Origin of Stonehenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9HF_txxLz0 19 The Celts and the Romans Around 700 BC another group began to arrive from east Europe, the Celts. They were technically advanced (use of iron). The inhabitants adopted the Celtic culture. The Celtic tribes were ruled by a warrior class and fought amongst themselves. Some of these warriors were women (ex. Boadice). In 43 AD, the Romans arrived and they established a Romano-British culture across the southern half of Britain, but they were never able to conquer Scotland. Under Roman rule London became the most important trading centre in northern Europe. The Romans had a big impact on life in Britain. Before they left in 410 AD, they established medical practice, created a structure of administration and law, and built great public buildings and roads. The language of the Romans was Latin. Latin had a huge impact on the English language we speak nowadays. 21  Hadrian's Wall Marching 73 miles (117km) from coast to coast, Hadrian’s Wall was built to guard the wild north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. It was built in AD122.As of today, you can only see 10% of the original wall... In its day: - It was a complex system of communications and defenses. As well as the Wall itself there was an earthwork, a ditch, two major roads and numerous forts, milecastles and turrets along the 73-mile frontier. - The Wall was built under the command of Emperor Hadrian who travelled extensively across his Empire, making improvements to its defenses and consolidating its borders. - Many soldiers and civilians travelled great distances to reach the Wall, including people from modern-day Syria, Romania and North Africa. Source: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians- wall/hadrians-wall-history-and-stories/ The Anglo-Saxon invasion As the Roman Empire gradually became weaker, new tribes invaded from Northern Europe looking for better land. These were called the Jutes, Angles and Saxons. These people spoke dialects which later became the basis of English. The people of Britain fought against these new invaders and where led for a while in the 6th century by the legendary King Arthur. Eventually, however, the invaders took over all of southern and eastern Britain, setting up their own kingdoms and pushing the Britons to the west and to the north. During the 6th century, missionaries from Rome led by St Augustine came to Britain and spread the new religion of Christianity across the south. Monks from Ireland did the same in the north of Britain. 23 The Norse invadors Towards the end of the 8th century Danish raiders came to England (the Vikings). After numerous fights against the Anglo-Saxons, they settled relatively peacefully under the reign of King Alfred. Peace did not last for long, and soon Danish kings and Anglo-Saxon Kings were once again battling each other. After the death of Anglo-Saxon king Ethelred died, the leader of the Danish Vikings came into power. The Anglo-Saxon kingdom officially came to an end with the Norman Conquest (1066), but the Anglo-Saxon identity survived beyond that. Social integration with Celts, Danes and Anglo-Normans = modern English people. 24 The Norman Conquest Watch the following video and answer the questions below: Where did the Normans come from? In what year did the Norman Conquest take place? What was the name of the Duke of Normandy? Who was killed during the Battle of Hastings? What changes took place in English society after the Norman Conquest? Video: How the Normans changed the history of Europe - 25 The Norman Conquest The Normans were vikings who had settled in the north of France. During the rule of Edward “the Confessor”, many Normans moved to Britain. Following the death of Edward the Confessor in 1066, a war ensued to proclaim a new heir. On the one hand, the Anglo-Saxon noble Harold Godwinson claimed the throne, but he was challenged by the Duke William of Normandy, who stated King Edward had promised the throne to him. In 1066, Harold was defeated and William was proclaimed King of England. A new period begun. French became the language of the nobility for the next 3 centuries and a hierarchal society was imposed, two things that would impact British society forever. 26 The Middle Ages Period of social change and turmoil: The Hundred Years’ War with France. The Black Death (1348). More than one-third of the entire population of Britain died, and whole villages disappeared. Shortage of labour as a consequence (Peasant’s Revolt). The War of the Roses (1455-85). Two houses claimed the throne: the Lancaster family and the York family. The victory of Henry Tudor (Lancaster) marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of a powerful new period for the British empire. 27 Language and culture in the Middle Ages After the Norman Conquest, English continued to be spoken by ordinary people but was no longer written. By the end of the 14th century this changed. A writer who helped in the rebirth of English literature: Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (1387-1400). It is a recollection of old stories that Chaucer rewrote in an amusing way. 28 The Tudors (reign of Henry VIII) The end of the Middle Ages was marked by the Tudor dynasty (1485-1603) who strated to shape a powerful nation state with a more centralized royal authority and a distinct identity.Henry VII had already begun to strengthen the central administration of England and reduce the military power of the aristocracy. His son Henry VIII is famously known for his many wives and his decision to execute them: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn… Many claim Henry was cruel, wasteful with money and thirsty for power, unlike his father, Henry VII. 29  English reformation: the King wanted to divorce Catherine the Aragón, but the Pope did not allowed him to do so, as a result, Henry established the Church of England. The king, not the Pope, now had the power to appoint the bishops and to decree what people were required to believe. The people who opposed the Pope were called Protestants. They read the Bible in their own languages instead of Latin, and interpreted it for themselves Video: “The Wives of Henry VIIIth” 30 Language and culture during the Tudors -Printing helped with the dissemination of ‘standard’ English. -Literacy increased greatly during the mid-sixteenth century. By the 17th century half the population could read and write. -Canonical works: Utopia, by Thomas More, and Shakespeare's plays. Why is Utopia a canonical work? Utopia (1516) is the first novel to tackle the idea of a perfect society. It explores themes like shared property, equality or democracy. 31 Elizabeth I reigned for 45 years! Considered to be the greatest monarch of Tudor dynasty. Elizabeth's reign became known as the Elizabethan era. Today the Elizabethan period is remembered for the richness of its poetry and drama, especially for the plays and poems of Shakespeare, who is still widely recognized as the greatest writer in English. The period is also important for England’s discoveries and trade overseas, at a time when European countries began to exert power and influence in other parts of the world. 32 SHAKESPEARE - He is considered to be the greatest English writer - In his lifetime, Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and over 150 poems. - Although he was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 , Shakespeare spent most of his professional life with an acting company in London, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. In 1599, the acting company built the Globe Theatre. - During Shakespeare’s time, it was common for writers to take stories that already existed and write their own version. For example, Romeo and Juliet was taken from an Italian story. - His longest play is Hamlet. It’s set in Denmark and it narrates Prince Hamlet’s revenge attempts against his uncle, Claudius, who killed Hamlet’s father to get his throne and marry his mother. - Watch the famous soliloquy: “ To be or not to be” To be or not to be - Kenneth Branagh HD (HAMLET) The Civil War (1642-1645) -During the 17th century there was a change in society: the economic power moved from the Lords to the merchants and landowning farmers, who were represented by the House of Commons. -Following Elizabeth’s death, James VI of Scotland rose to power. He was a strong advocate of royal absolutism, like his successor, Charles I. This led to constant conflicts and disagreements between Charles I and the House of Commons. -After Charles attempts to arrest members of Parliament who had opposed him during Ireland’s rebellion, 2 armies are formed: the Royalists (Charles’s army) and the Parliament. The Royalist army is eventually defeated. 34 The Republic From 1649 to 1660 Britain was a republic. Parliament is dissolved, Oliver Cromwell becomes the “Lord Protector” and rules alone. His attempts to govern the country through the army are extremely unpopular. After his death, Parliament regains power and Charles II is invited to return to the Kingdom. 1688: The Glorious Revolution: Britain becomes a constitutional monarchy. 35 The 18th century 1707: the union between Scotland and England is completed by Act of Parliament. Growing power of the English Parliament: development of more organized political parties. 2 groups: Whigs and Tories. English society starts to display interest in the world. Early colonies in North American and the Caribbean, the boom of travel writing: Gulliver’s Travels (Jonathan Swift, 1726). - Enslaved Africans were brought to England during the Elizabethan period. Slavery was legal in Britain until 1772! In order to justify slavery and see as something natural and good for them, black people were often portrayed as savages, sometimes they were even described as having different shapes to white people. 36 The Empire Built on trade and the need to defend against the rival European powers. As a result Britain gradually grew as a maritime power. (In those days in order to trade you needed to needed to control the sea routes and to defend it from the pirates). Also built on enslaved labour: Enslaved Africans were transported by the British to America in order to work on the plantations. Between 1662 and 1806, around 3.5 million Africans were tranported to the New World in British Ships. Triangular trade. Mass consumer society starts to develop in Britain. New commodities were imported to Britain and sold to other European countries. Chocolate, sugar, tea, coffe, tobacco, cotton transform economy and lifestyle. 37 TRIANGULAR TRADE 38 The Industrial Revolution 1760: development of mass production thanks to a series of factors: increased prosperity, relative political stability, growing trade with colonial markets and increased scientific and technological knowledge. Early inventions in the textile industry (Spinning Jenny). Steam power is introduced by James Watt (1769). Increase in coal mining. Improved transport infrastructure: new roads, canals, railways… New socio-economic reality: migration from rural areas to fast-growing towns and cities. Emergence of a new urban proletariat, with accompanying social problems. 39 The Napoleonic Wars ((1803–1815) The threat of invasion by French revolutionary forces moved Britain to form coalition with European monarchies, like Austria, Spain or Portugal. 2 important battles: Battle of Trafalgar established British naval supremacy for more than 100 years. Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon’s final defeat. 40 The 19th Century Britain was at its most powerful and self-confident moment. National pride. Period of social changes: questioning of traditional beliefs (importance of science), colonialism, increase in education, rise of the middle-classes (construction of the burgeois identity). Century based on economy, propriety and national identity. Victorian period (1837-1901): The Victorian era spans the 63 years of Queen Victoria's reign over Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. During this period, MORALITY was central. 41 Cultural changes Romanticism: rationalism is challenged and substituted by the idea of the individual and the irrational. Love slowly becomes an accepted reason for marriage, and the expression of affection between members of the family and even friends (especially between women) is considered important. Important authors: Wordsworth, Coleridge. The Gothic: inspiration from medievalism and Romanticism. It also was to counterbalance the rationalism of the Industrial Revolution. First gothic novel in English literature: The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole. This would inspire other novels: Mysteries of Udolpho (Ann Radcliffe, 1794), Dracula (Bram Stoker, 1897) and Frankenstein (Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, 1818). Literature became an important part of the 19th century as a source of entertainment, and many intellectuals used it as a way to develop social critiques of society. Law of copyright. 42 Charles Dickens: a social critique of Victorian society During the 19th century, the working-classes lived in tremendous conditions. Charles Dickens was one of the authors who criticized through his literature the great disparity between the poor and the middle-classes, especially when it came to children. The influence of his works and the rise in charity projects led to a series of reforms, like the Poor Law in 1834. In his novels Oliver Twist, Hard Times or A Christmas Carol we get a glimpse on the working and life conditions of the poor. 43 Morality and class in the 19th century In an age of paradox, where the loss of faith in the church and traditional institutions was developing due to the advance of science and rationalism, a series of moral codes were imposed in order to secure the power of the middle-class and british hierarchy and power. This led to an emphasis on education, which was meant to establish sharp differences between the working classes and the middle classes and to impose multiple religious and moral values that many people did not actually believe in (Age of hypocrisy). This paradox affected women’s position in society. While the rise of domestic ideology forced women to marry and embrace their role as ’Angel in the House’, Victorian education started teaching women how to be more independent, as shown by the creation of new jobs for women, such as the governess. 44 Pride and Prejudice an exploration of class and gender conventions Jane Austen explores in her novel the pressure that women had in the 19th century to find a husband, since marriage was almost always the only way to secure their future. In order to be “suitable” for marriage, they had to live up to many expectations and behave like a proper “lady”. This meant that there was no room for individuality, all women had to fit in a specific role. Context of the movie scene: Elizabeth and Mr Darcy argue about what qualities an “accomplished woman” should have. What are the qualities they mention? Video: Pride and prejudice - An accomplished woman 45 Jane Eyre A social critique of Victorian ideals Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë, 1847) is a canonical work that challenges the idea that women were merely beautiful objects rather than intelligent human beings. Jane, the protagonist, is a plain poor woman who becomes the first heroine to claim the right to act on her convictions. Her position as a governess is also revolutionary, she does not belong to the middle-class. 46 Feminism in the 18th and 19th century Towards the end of the 19th century, the debate over women’s suffrage started to gain force. Many middle-class intellectual women started to push for reform. One of the most prominent figures of the First Wave movement was Mary Wollstonecraft, who in 1792 wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. She claimed that women were as intelligent as men, and that therefore they should receive the same education, since without it they could never develop their mental capacity and gain freedom. British women did not gain the right to vote until 1921. 47 The turn of the century - By the end of the century the condition of the poor in most of Britain greatly improved as prices fell and real wages doubled. Life at home was made more comfortable, and 2 Education Acts were passed, so that children had to go to school until the age of 13, where they were taught how to read and write. - After the death of Queen Victoria Britain remained the greatest world power, but the subsequent World Wars and the rise of the US and the Soviet Union gradually weakened its power. By the end of the 70s Britain was no longer a world power at all. 48 WWI ( 1914-1918) The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and the failure to involve the democratic Weimar Republic in the post-war political settlement known as the League of Nations can be considered one of the main detonants of the Second World War. WWII (1939-1945) Britain got involved in WW II to prevent further German expansionism in Europe. The UK and France declared war on Germany in 1939, after Hitler invaded Poland. One of the most destructive episodes of WW II in Britain was the Blitz (German bombings in Britain), where thousands of civilians were killed. Video: Black Saturday; the bombing of London's docks in WWII. 49 The United Nations During the II WW the Allies (Soviet Union, the US, France and the UK) had started to think of ways in which a new world could replace the failed League of the Nations. They decided to create the United Nations, into which they invited some less powerful nations. They hoped that the success of wartime alliance could be carried into peacetime. 50 The Fall of the Empire - During the middle of the 20th century Britain was not only concerned with the danger from the Soviet Union, it was also concerned with finding a new part to play in the fast- changing world and recover from the effects of the wars. -However, in spite of their efforts, Britain slowly became dependent on the US and saw a process of decolonization, whereby the British Empire was dismantled and replaced by the Commonwealth of Nations. 51 From Colonial to Commonwealth The decline of the British Empire gave way to the appearance of the ‘British Commonwealth of Nations’, a term that was meant to signify a sense of collectiveness among the nations that continued to have allegiance to Britain after gaining political autonomy. At first, the British monarch remained as the head of the Commonwealth in symbolic terms, but eventually the term ‘British’ disappeared. Contradictory events: Commonwealth Immigrants Act (1962) Nowadays, the term ‘Commonwealth of Nations’ exists only in name. It aims to promote democracy and non-racialism among its members. https://thecommonwealth.org/member-countries 52 The Empire Windrush Key moment in Britain’s history. The Windrush was a ship that picked up Jamaican servicemen who were taken to Britain on the premise that they would get to see the glory of the “mother country”. People took passage on the ship mainly to seek employment. 1948, with the Empire Windrush’s arrival, marked the beginning of a period of migration that would transform Britain into the multicultural society that it is today. However, the process of migration was far from ideal: the ‘Windrush generation’ of immigrants found themselves discriminated by the Britons and unable to find stable jobs. https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/how-did-empire-windrush-change- london-docklands 53 WINDRUSH SCANDAL In 2010 boxes of documents that contained the landing cards for the Windrush generation were ordered to be destroyed for data protection purposes. They were documents that proved their date of arrival and could verify their status as legal migrants. In 2014 new Inmigration Act was passed. Theresa May was explicit when it was introduced that its purpose is to create a ‘hostile environment’ for migrants in the UK. The act prevented private landlords from renting houses to people without legal status, prevented illegal immigrants from obtaining driving licenses and bank accounts, prevented employers of giving jobs to people without legal status, etc. Many peple of Windrush generation did not have pasports or any other documents that could prove they were legal citizens so they were threatened with deportation. Many lost their jobs, houses, were refused re-entry to the UK, or were not granted access to healthcare. Theresa May had later apologized to the Caribbean nations. 54 Important social changes 1970s: Second Wave feminism: women protested against gender discrimination and they claimed their right to sexual freedom and equality at work. Economic crisis (inflation) and social crisis (student protests against Vietnam war). 1980s: Thatcherism caused social division and working-class riots due strict measures like the closing of coal mining). Age of uncertainty. Conservative emphasis on traditional values and materialism. 55  21st century: BREXIT - The story of Britain’s breakup with the European Union began long before 52 percent of voters on a June 2016 referendum decided to leave the union. - Britain’s relationship to the EU has always been a conflictive one. The problems were related to economic and migratory issues. - The 2008 economic crisis intensified Britain’s suspicion against the EU. Such fear was increased by the influx of migrants going to the UK in search of opportunities. - In 2013, Britain’s then-Prime Minister David Cameron promised that if his Conservative Party won elections, he would hold a referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU or leave. - The UK held the Brexit referendum on June 23, 2016. (Source: https://www.vox.com/2020/1/31/21083573/brexit-news-boris-johnson-timeline-eu-uk) 56 Brexit’s Impact Since Britain left the European Union on 31 January 2020, Brexit has exposed and exacerbated the underlying weaknesses in the British economy – low productivity, low business investment, falling global competitiveness and, perhaps most strikingly, an absence of strategy from the government to tackle these problems. (Source: https://www.institute.global/insights/geopolitics-andsecurity/three-years-brexit-casts-long-shadow-over- uk-economy) 8/9/2022: QUEEN ELIZABETH II DIES - Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral Castle, aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. - King Charles III, aged 73, becomes head of state in 15 Commonwealth realms, including the UK. - According to the video: 1. What did the Queen help the monarchy do? 2. She was described as _________________ in the world. 3. At what age did the queen ascend to the throne? VIDEO: The Life & Death of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) | Vanity Fair://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLAu2qNglek KING CHARLES III - King Charles III married his first wife Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. He had a long time affair with Camila Parker Bowles, who he finally married in 2005. - Camila became consort Queen after Queen Elizabeth’s death. - Up until now, his kingdom has been marked by familiar dis putes with his son Harry and by ill health, both he and his daughter in law, Princess Kate are fighting against cancer REFERENCIAS BIBLIOGRÁFICAS Cooke, J. (1990) Factbook Of British History. Rainbow Books. O’Driscoll, J. (2003). Country and people of the UK. Availablae at http://staffnew.uny.ac.id/upload/132161223/pendidikan/Country+and+People+of+UK.pdf Collins dictionary at https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/the-commonwealth http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/ http://www.thisafropolitanlife.com/2014/03/31/what-is-an-afropolitan/ https://documentaryheaven.com/bloody-friday/ https://www.museumoffreederry.org/content/free-derry-story http://www.wales.com/national-symbols http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_languages/countries/uk.shtml http://www.wales.com/language https://www.diversityjobboard.co.uk/cultural_diversity.html https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43782241 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/20/its-inhumane-the-windrush-victims-who-have-lost-jobs-homes-and- loved-ones http://www.pajiba.com/politics/how-did-the-windrush-scandal-happen.php https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/the-commonwealth 60 Patricia Coloma Peñate [email protected] UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia © UCAM