Revision Notes

Complete Study Guide

Table of Contents

Principles in the UK
What is the UK?
Early Britain
The Middle Ages
Tudors & Stuarts
Arts & Culture
The Government

Principles in the UK

1. Fundamental Principles

  • Democracy
  • Rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Tolerance
  • Participation in community life

2. Responsibilities

  • Respect / obey the law
  • Respect the rights of others
  • Treat others with fairness
  • Look after yourself & family
  • Look after the area in which you live

3. Freedoms

  • Belief & religion
  • Speech
  • From unfair discrimination
  • Fair trial
  • Join in the election of government

What is the UK?

UK: The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Countries of the UK

England
Scotland
Wales
N. Ireland

Great Britain (GB)

England, Scotland & Wales

Parliament: Westminster (UK)

Crown Dependencies & Overseas Territories

Territories closely linked to UK but NOT part of it:

Crown Dependencies

  • Channel Islands
  • Isle of Man

British Overseas Territories

  • St Helena
  • Falkland Islands

Early Britain

📌 Must-Know Key Dates

  • 55 BC - Julius Caesar's first invasion (unsuccessful)
  • AD 43 - Emperor Claudius conquers Britain
  • AD 410 - Romans leave Britain
  • AD 600 - Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established
  • AD 789 - Vikings arrive from Scandinavia
  • 1066 - Norman Conquest (William the Conqueror)
Stone Age
First People in Britain
Hunter-gatherers arrived 10,000 years ago. Built Stonehenge (Wiltshire) and Skara Brae (Orkney)
Bronze Age
4000 Years Ago
Lived in Roundhouses, buried dead in Round barrows
Iron Age
Iron Tools & Coins
Built Hill forts like Maiden Castle. Spoke Celtic language
55 BC - AD 410
Roman Britain (400 years)
Built roads, walls (Hadrian's Wall), and introduced new laws
AD 600
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
Sutton Hoo burial. Christianity spreads via St Patrick, St Columba, St Augustine
AD 789
Vikings Arrive
King Alfred the Great defeats Vikings. First Danish king: Cnut
1066
Norman Conquest
William the Conqueror defeats Harold at Battle of Hastings. Creates Domesday Book

The Stone Age

1st People to Live in Britain: Hunter-gatherers

Came to Britain via a land bridge 10,000 years ago. Later separated by channel, Britain permanently separated.

1st Farmers

Arrived 6000 years ago from South East Europe. They built houses, tombs & monuments.

Two famous monuments (still standing today):

  • Stonehenge in Wiltshire
  • Skara Brae in Orkney

Bronze Age

4000 years ago

  • Lived in Roundhouses
  • Buried their dead in Round barrows

Iron Age

Period where people started making tools & weapons with iron.

  • Minted coins in iron – inscribed names of Iron Age kings
  • Continued to live in round houses – grouped into settlements called Hill forts
  • Maiden Castle is an impressive hill fort
  • Language spoken: Celtic

The Romans

🧠 Remember Roman Dates
55 - 43 - 410
55 BC = Caesar FAILED (two 5s = two tries, both failed)
AD 43 = Claudius SUCCEEDED (4+3=7, lucky number!)
AD 410 = Romans LEFT (4-1-0 = countdown to zero Romans)
⭐ Critical Roman Facts
Three Key Dates: 55 BC (failed), AD 43 (success), AD 410 (left)
Key Person: Boudicca led rebellion
Key Structure: Hadrian's Wall (kept out Picts)
Still Visible: Housesteads & Vindolanda forts
  • 55 BC Julius Caesar led a Roman invasion → Unsuccessful
  • AD 43 Emperor Claudius led new Roman invasion → Success! CRITICAL
  • During invasion, there was resistance from native British tribes → Rebellion led by Boudicca Person
  • Romans didn't conquer N. Britain → Emperor Hadrian builds wall to keep out Picts (ancestors of Scots)
  • Hadrian's wall had many forts. Two can still be seen:
    • Housesteads Place
    • Vindolanda Place
  • Romans built roads, public buildings & created law & introduced new plants & animals
  • AD 410 Romans left after 400 years
Link Hadrian's Wall to Hadrian's time as emperor. The wall still exists today in northern England - imagine it as a giant "No Entry" sign for the Picts!

The Anglo-Saxons

Britain was invaded again by tribes from N. Europe → Angles, Saxons, and Jutes

  • Kingdoms established by AD 600
  • Famous burial for 1 A-S king = Sutton Hoo → King was buried in armour/treasure in a ship under mound of earth
  • Christian Missionaries arrive in 3rd & 4th century to preach about Christianity
  • Most famous missionaries:
    • St Patrick (Ireland)
    • St Columba
    • St Augustine (Rome) – later became 1st Archbishop of Canterbury

Vikings

Come from Denmark, Norway & Sweden in AD 789

  • They posed a threat to A-S; united under King Alfred the Great and defeat the Vikings
  • In the north, continuous Viking invasion also caused Scotland to unite under Kenneth Mac Alpin
  • A-S kings continued to rule what is now England except for a short period when Danish kings ruled
  • 1st Danish King = Cnut (Canute)

The Norman Conquest

🔥 MOST IMPORTANT DATE IN BRITISH HISTORY
1066 William the Conqueror defeats King Harold at the Battle of Hastings

This is the LAST successful foreign invasion of Britain - you MUST remember this date!
🧠 Never Forget 1066
TEN-SIXTY-SIX
Think: "William won with his SIXTY-SIX knights at TEN o'clock" (not true, but helps you remember!)
Or: "10-66" looks like "IO-GG" = "I Overthrow Good (King) Harold"

📚 Additional Details (Click to Expand)

▼
  • Battle commemorated by Bayeux Tapestry (can still be seen in France today) Artifact
  • William Conqueror sent his men all over England to draw up lists of people and the land and animals they owned → Compiled into the Domesday Book Survey
If you only remember ONE date from British history, make it 1066. It appears in almost every practice test!

The Middle Ages

Period of constant war

📌 Middle Ages Key Dates

  • 1215 - Magna Carta (King John limits his own power)
  • 1284 - England annexes Wales (Statute of Rhuddlan)
  • 1314 - Battle of Bannockburn (Robert the Bruce defeats England)
  • 1348 - Black Death kills 1/3 of population
  • 1400 - Modern English language emerges

1. War in Britain & Abroad

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
  • 1284
  • English annexed Wales
  • Statute of Rhuddlan
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
  • 1314
  • Robert the Bruce defeated English
  • Battle of Bannockburn
🇮🇪 Ireland
  • 1200
  • English rule in the Pale
  • (Area outside Dublin)
💭 Remember the Pattern
Wales 1284 = England WINS
Scotland 1314 = Scotland WINS (30 years later, Scotland fights back!)
Ireland 1200 = Earlier, partial English control

Wars Abroad

  • English participated in CRUSADES → war for control over the holy land Religious Wars
  • Also participated in the 100 YEAR WAR (actually 116 years!) → war with France
  • Famous battle: Battle of Agincourt → Henry V defeats a French army Henry V

2. Feudalism & Black Death

Feudalism established during the Middle Ages:

  • King would befriend a bunch of lords who allocated large areas of land in return for help in the war
  • Lords allowed regular peasants (serfs) to grow food there. In return, serfs worked for the lords and went to army

1348 - Plague known as THE BLACK DEATH

  • Killed around 1/3 of population
  • Following the Black Death, labour shortages resulted in peasants demanding wages
  • Emergence of a Middle Class & large landowners = Gentry

3. Legal & Political Changes

⚖️ MAGNA CARTA - Foundation of British Law
1215 King John forced to accept the Magna Carta (Great Charter)

Why it matters: Established that even the KING must follow the law. This is the foundation of British democracy!
🧠 Remember 1215
12-15
Think of a clock: "At 12:15, King John signed at LUNCH time"
Or: "1-2-1-5" = "One King, Two choices: One signature, Five freedoms"
Magna Carta appears in tests almost as often as 1066. Remember: 1215 = Law becomes BIGGER than the King!

Parliament developed during this period. Two separate houses emerged:

  • House of Lords - lords, bishops & great landowners sat
  • House of Commons - knights, smaller landowners & wealthy people from towns sat

Scotland had its own parliament with 3 houses:

  • Lords
  • Common
  • Clergy

In England, common law was established (followed precedence), i.e. legal decisions were made by following previous decisions.

In Scotland, the legal system was codified (written down).

4. Language & Poetry

Middle Ages saw emergence of distinct national identity & culture.

By 1400, Anglo-Saxon (spoken by peasants) & Norman French (spoken by the king and his noblemen) COMBINED into Modern ENGLISH.

  • Official documents written in English and becomes the preferred language by Royal Court & Parliament
  • In Scotland, people continued to speak Gaelic

THE CANTERBURY TALES:

  • Written by Geoffrey Chaucer
  • Printed by William Caxton (one of first using printing press)
  • They are poems about stories of Pilgrimage

THE BRUCE:

  • Poems about Battle of Bannockburn
  • Written by John Barbour in Gaelic

The Tudors & Stuarts

1. The Wars of the Roses & Henry VII

🌹 Wars of the Roses Overview
1455 War STARTS between two families
1485 War ENDS at Battle of Bosworth (30 years of fighting!)
Winner: Henry Tudor becomes Henry VII
🧠 Remember 1455 & 1485
1455 to 1485 = 30 YEARS
Think: "Roses fought for THIRTY years" (1455-1485)
Both dates start with "14" - the war happened in the 1400s
Started with 55 (double 5s), ended with 85 (looks like BS = Battle of Bosworth)
🌹 Red Rose - House of Lancaster
  • Leader: Henry Tudor
  • Color: RED rose
  • Result: WON the war ✅
  • Think: "LAND-caster = won the LAND"
⚪ White Rose - House of York
  • Leader: Richard III
  • Color: WHITE rose
  • Result: LOST the war ❌
  • Think: "YOLK is white = York lost"
🌺 The Tudor Rose - Symbol of Unity
After winning, Henry Tudor married Richard III's niece to unite both families

Created the Tudor Rose:
🌹 RED petals on outside = Lancaster WON (red = blood, victory)
⚪ WHITE petals on inside = York LOST (white = inside, trapped)

This became the symbol of the Tudor dynasty!
💭 Easy Way to Remember
WINNER = OUTSIDE, LOSER = INSIDE

Lancaster (red) WON → Red on OUTSIDE of Tudor Rose
York (white) LOST → White trapped INSIDE

Think of a winner's podium: Winner stands in front (outside), loser stands behind (inside)
👑 Henry VII - First Tudor King
Henry Tudor became Henry VII
FIRST king of the Tudor dynasty
Centralized power = Reduced the power of nobles (made king stronger)
🧠 Remember the Story
RED BEAT WHITE
1. 1455 - Two families fight (Lancaster RED vs York WHITE)
2. 1485 - Battle of Bosworth - Henry Tudor WINS
3. Henry marries York's niece = UNITES families
4. Becomes Henry VII = FIRST Tudor king
5. Creates Tudor Rose = RED outside (winner), WHITE inside (loser)

Think: "RED roses BEAT WHITE roses, so RED goes on the OUTSIDE!"
Tests LOVE asking: "What does the Tudor Rose symbolize?" Answer: Unity of Lancaster (red) and York (white) families after the Wars of the Roses. Red outside = Lancaster won!

2. Henry VIII

Son of Henry VII. Most famous for breaking away from the Church of Rome as Pope refused to grant him a divorce.

Establishes the Church of England, where the king NOT Pope holds power.

Henry VIII's Six Wives:

🧠 Famous Rhyme for Henry's Wives
Divorced, Beheaded, Died
Divorced, Beheaded, Survived
This tells you what happened to each wife in order!
1. Catherine of Aragon
Divorced
Daughter: Mary
2. Anne Boleyn
Beheaded (took lovers)
Daughter: Elizabeth
3. Jane Seymour
Died (after childbirth)
Son: Edward
4. Anne of Cleves
Divorced
German princess (political marriage)
5. Catherine Howard
Beheaded (took lovers)
Anne Boleyn's cousin
6. Catherine Parr
Survived
Widow, remarried after Henry died
⭐ Remember the Children
All three of Henry's children became rulers:
Edward VI (Jane's son) → Mary I (Catherine A's daughter) → Elizabeth I (Anne B's daughter)
Tests often ask: "Which wife gave Henry his son?" Answer: Jane Seymour (she's #3, she DIED giving birth to Edward)

During his reign he formed the Act of Government of Wales which formally united Wales with England.

The Reformation (During 16th Century)

When Henry VIII was cutting ties with the Church of Rome – movement called REFORMATION was spreading across Europe.

  • This was against the authority of the Pope & ideas of Roman Catholic Church
  • A Christian group, THE PROTESTANTS formed their own churches, read Bible in their own language and believed in having a personal relationship with God
  • The English attempted to impose their protestant ideas in Ireland → Leads to rebellion in Ireland

3. Edward VI → Mary → Elizabeth I

Edward VI

  • Son of Henry VIII (1st successor to Henry)
  • Died at age 15
  • Only reigned for 6 years
  • Main achievement: introduces Book of Common Prayer to be used in the Church of England (still used in some churches today)

Mary (Bloody Mary)

  • Edward succeeded by half-sister Mary
  • She was a devout Catholic who persecuted protestants
  • Dies after short reign

Elizabeth I

  • Successor to Mary. She was a Protestant
  • Successful in avoiding any serious religious conflicts by finding a balance between views of Catholics and the more extreme Protestants
  • Successful in managing parliament by balancing her wishes with those of the houses of parliament
  • Popular monarch, especially after defeating the Spanish Armada
⚓ Spanish Armada - Elizabeth's Greatest Victory
1588 Elizabeth I defeats the Spanish Armada

Spain sent a large fleet to conquer England and restore Catholicism - but England won!
🧠 Remember 1588
FIFTEEN-EIGHTY-EIGHT
"Elizabeth ATE the Spanish fleet!" (ATE = EIGHT-EIGHT = 88)
Or: "15-88" looks like "IS-BB" = "It Sank Big Boats"

4. Elizabethan Period

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Golden Age of England
Period of growing patriotism (pride in being English)
New trade routes + colonization of America
Age of exploration and cultural achievement
⛵ Sir Francis Drake
  • Led defeat of Spanish Armada
  • Circumnavigated the world (sailed all around it)
  • Ship: THE GOLDEN HIND
🎭 William Shakespeare
  • Famous playwright & poet
  • 4 Major Plays:
  • • A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • • Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet
🧠 Remember Shakespeare's Plays
M-H-M-R
Midsummer Night's Dream - Hamlet - Macbeth - Romeo & Juliet
Think: "My Happy Magical Romeo" (all are stories about love or magic!)
💭 Remember Drake's Ship
GOLDEN HIND = Think of a golden deer (hind = female deer)
Drake sailed around the world in the GOLDEN age = GOLDEN HIND!

5. Mary, Queen of Scots

👑 Mary Stuart - Tragic Queen
Catholic queen in Protestant Scotland
Crowned at 1 week old (youngest ever!)
Imprisoned by Elizabeth I for 20 years, then executed
Her son James VI became King of Scotland
🧠 Remember Mary's Story
1 WEEK → FRANCE → SCOTLAND → ENGLAND → EXECUTED
1. 1 week old - Crowned queen (dad died)
2. France - Spent childhood there
3. Scotland - Returned, power struggle, accused of murder
4. England - Fled, jailed by cousin Elizabeth for 20 years
5. Executed - For plotting to take Elizabeth's throne
❌ Mary's Problem
  • Catholic queen
  • Scotland was Protestant
  • Didn't fit in = power struggle
  • Accused of killing husband
✅ What Happened
  • Fled to England (cousin Elizabeth)
  • Gave throne to son James VI
  • Elizabeth jailed her (threat!)
  • Executed after 20 years
💭 Easy to Remember
Mary = Catholic, Scotland = Protestant = DIDN'T MATCH
Elizabeth = her COUSIN (family), but still executed her (politics > family!)
Mary's son James VI later becomes King of ENGLAND too (James I)
Tests ask: "Why was Mary executed?" Answer: For plotting to overthrow Elizabeth I (her cousin) and take the English throne.

6. James I & VI - King of Two Countries

👑 James I & VI
Elizabeth I dies with no children
James (Mary's son) becomes king of BOTH countries:
• James I of England
• James VI of Scotland
Created the King James Bible (Authorised Version)
💭 Remember the Numbers
James I & VI - Why different numbers?
England counts him as their FIRST James = I
Scotland already had 5 James before = VI (sixth)

Think: "ONE for England (new), SIX for Scotland (old)"
🇮🇪 Ireland - The Plantations
Problem: Irish Catholics rebelled against Protestant English rule
Solution: English government sent Protestant settlers to Ireland
Result: PLANTATIONS = Protestant settlements in Ulster (N. Ireland)
🧠 Remember Ireland Timeline
THE PALE → PLANTATIONS
1. The Pale - Small area near Dublin under English control
2. Henry VII & VIII expand English control
3. Henry VIII becomes "King of Ireland"
4. Irish Catholics rebel against Protestant rule
5. English send Protestant settlers = PLANTATIONS in Ulster
Remember: PLANTATIONS = Protestant settlers "planted" in Catholic Ireland. This created division that still affects N. Ireland today!

7. Charles I & Divine Right

⚔️ Divine Right of Kings
Charles I believed: "God made me king - I don't need Parliament's permission!"
Parliament disagreed = Conflict brewing
Many MPs were PURITANS (strict Protestants)
💭 What Went Wrong
Charles ruled 11 years without Parliament (raising money alone)
Tried to force his prayer book on Scotland → Scottish army formed
Needed money for army → Had to recall Parliament
Parliament said NO → Civil War!

8. The English Civil War

⚔️ Civil War
1649 Charles I EXECUTED - First king ever beheaded!
Defeated at battles of Marston Moor and Naseby
👑 Cavaliers (King's Side)
  • Supporters of King Charles I
  • Fancy cavalier hats & clothes
  • LOST the war ❌
  • Think: "Cavaliers = KING lovers"
⚔️ Roundheads (Parliament)
  • Supporters of Parliament
  • Short "round" haircuts (Puritans)
  • WON the war ✅
  • Think: "Roundheads = ROUND up the king!"
🧠 Remember Who Won
ROUNDHEADS = ROUND UP = CAPTURED KING
Cavaliers = Fancy = Lost (being fancy didn't help!)
Roundheads = Simple = Won (simplicity wins!)

Battles: Marston Moor + Naseby = Parliament victories
Result: Charles I captured and executed 1649
Tests ask: "Who were the Roundheads?" Answer: Parliament supporters (won the Civil War). Cavaliers = King's supporters (lost).

9. The English Republic & Oliver Cromwell

🏛️ Commonwealth = Republic (No King!)
Army in control after executing Charles I
Oliver Cromwell = Lord Protector (leader of republic)
Charles II tries to invade, loses, hides in Oak Tree!
💭 Remember Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell = Lord Protector (NOT king, but acted like one!)
Charles II hid in an OAK TREE to escape (famous story!)

10. The Restoration (1660)

👑 Bringing Back the King
1660 RESTORATION - Charles II invited back as king
After 11 years of republic, people wanted monarchy again
Charles II learned his lesson = worked WITH Parliament
🧠 Remember 1660
16-60 = SIXTEEN-SIXTY
Think: "60 = SIXTY = SICK of republic, bring back the KING!"
Or: "1660 looks like I-bb-0 = Invited Back, Became king, 0 problems!"

11. Charles II's Reign - Important Events

🧠 Remember Three 6s
1665 - 1666 - 1679
All happen during Charles II's reign - look at the 6s!
1665 - Plague (65 = death comes at 65 years old?)
1666 - Great Fire (666 = devil's number = fire from hell!)
1679 - Habeas Corpus Act (67+9 = legal protection)
💀 1665 - Plague

Major plague killed thousands in London

🔥 1666 - Great Fire

Fire destroyed much of London (year after plague!)

⚖️ 1679 - Habeas Corpus

Illegal to jail people without court hearing

🔬 Royal Society - Science!
Oldest surviving science community
Famous members:
• Sir Isaac Newton - Discovered gravity
• Sir Edmund Halley - Halley's comet
Tests love asking about 1665 & 1666! Remember: Plague THEN Fire (65 before 66). Both happened in London during Charles II.

12. The Glorious Revolution

📌 Glorious Revolution Overview

  • 1688 - William of Orange invited to invade (no fighting!)
  • 1689 - Battle of Boyne (William defeats James II in Ireland)
  • Called "Glorious" because it was bloodless in England
  • Established Protestant succession
🧠 Remember 1688
16-88
"William walked in WITHOUT a fight" - Glorious = No blood!
Think: "88 looks like two snowmen = COLD welcome for James (he ran away!)"
❌ James II
  • Catholic king
  • Unpopular
  • Fled to France (twice!)
  • Lost at Battle of Boyne
✅ William of Orange
  • Protestant from Netherlands
  • Married to Mary (James' daughter)
  • Invited to invade (no fight needed)
  • Became William III
⭐ Why "Glorious"?
No fighting in England = BLOODLESS revolution
BUT there was fighting in Ireland (Battle of Boyne) and Scotland (Glencoe massacre)

📚 Additional Details (Click to Expand)

▼
  • McDonalds of Glencoe - Scottish clan massacred for being late to take oath to William Massacre
  • Jacobites - Scots who still supported James Rebels
  • William became William III of England & Ireland, but William II of Scotland (Scotland counted differently!)
Tests often ask about the Battle of Boyne. Remember: William of Orange defeated James II in IRELAND, not England!

Arts & Culture

📌 Arts & Culture Quick Facts

  • The Proms - 8 week BBC classical music festival
  • Turner Prize - Contemporary art award
  • Man Booker Prize - Best fiction novel
  • Laurence Olivier Awards - Theatre awards
  • Edinburgh Festival - Theatre & comedy showcase

1. Music

🎵 The Proms
8 week summer season of classical music
Organised by the BBC
Sir Edward Elgar's March No.1 played on last night

🎪 Music Festivals & Awards

▼

Famous Outdoor Festivals

  • Glastonbury
  • Isle of Wight
  • Creamfields

Notable Awards

  • The Mercury Prize - Best Album in UK and Ireland
  • The Brit Awards - Range of music categories

Famous Composers/Musicians

🧠 Remember Composers
P-H-H-E-V-W-B
Purcell, Handel, Holst, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Walton, Britten
Think: "Please Handle Heavy Equipment Very Well, Benjamin!"

🎼 Composer Details (Click to Expand)

▼
Henry Purcell
Organist at Westminster Abbey
Handel
Composer for King George I & II
Gustav Holst
Famous for "The Planets"
Sir Edward Elgar
March No.1 played at last Proms night
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Orchestra & choir music
Sir William Walton
Facade & Belshazzar's Feast
Benjamin Britten
Young Person's Guide to Orchestra
Remember: Elgar's music plays at the LAST night of the Proms. Holst wrote about PLANETS (space!)

2. Theatre

🎭 Must-Know Theatre Facts
Theatreland = London's West End
Pantomimes = Christmas fairy tale plays
Edinburgh Festival = Theatre & comedy showcase
Laurence Olivier Awards = Theatre oscars

🎪 Theatre Details (Click to Expand)

▼
  • Gilbert & Sullivan - Comic operas: HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado
💭 Remember Gilbert & Sullivan
Think: "G&S = Great & Silly operas!" (They're comic/funny operas)

3. Art

Famous London Galleries

  • National Gallery
  • Tate Britain
  • Tate Modern

Turner Prize → Annual award for contemporary art at Tate Britain

Important Artists

Thomas Gainsborough Portrait painter
David Allen Portrait painter
Joseph Turner Landscape painter who raised profile
John Constable Landscape painter
The Pre-Raphaelites Group of artists
Sir John Lavery Portrait painter
Henry Moore Sculptor & artist
John Petts Engravings & stained glass
Lucian Freud Portrait painter
David Hockney Pop artist

4. Architecture

The Gothic Style

Many houses/places especially in London can be seen with this style:

  • Houses of Parliament
  • St Pancras Station

Famous Architects

Sir Edward Lutyens - Designed New Delhi seat in India and Cenotaph in Whitehall

The Chelsea Flower Show

Shows garden designs from Britain and around the world

5. Literature

📚 Literature Prize
Man Booker Prize = Best fiction novel
For authors from Commonwealth, Ireland, or Zimbabwe
🧠 Remember Famous Writers
A-D-S-H-R-D-W-A-G-T
Austen, Dickens, Stevenson, Hardy, Rowling, Doyle, Waugh, Amis, Greene, Tolkien
Think: "All Dedicated Students Have Really Done Well At Great Tests!"

📖 Writer & Poet Details (Click to Expand)

▼

Key Writers to Remember

Classic Authors
  • Jane Austen - Pride & Prejudice
  • Charles Dickens - Oliver Twist
  • Thomas Hardy - Far from Madding Crowd
Adventure & Fantasy
  • R.L. Stevenson - Treasure Island
  • JK Rowling - Harry Potter
  • JRR Tolkien - Lord of the Rings
Mystery & Modern
  • Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes
  • Graham Greene - Our Man in Havana
  • Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited

Important Poets

💭 Three Williams
William Wordsworth - The Daffodils
William Blake - The Tyger
Plus Lord Byron - She Walks in Beauty
Easy ones to remember: JK Rowling = Harry Potter, Conan Doyle = Sherlock Holmes, Tolkien = Lord of the Rings

The Government

📌 Government Must-Know Facts

  • PM lives at 10 Downing Street, country house = Chequers
  • Cabinet = 20 senior MPs
  • Main parties: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats
  • Devolved governments since 1999 (Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland)
  • Voting age: 18+

1. The Prime Minister (PM)

🏛️ PM's Residences
Office/Home: 10 Downing Street
Country House: Chequers
💭 Remember PM Facts
PM = Leader of the party IN POWER (winning party)
Think: "Number TEN Downing = Perfect TEN location for the PM!"

2. The Cabinet

👥 The Cabinet
PM appoints 20 senior MPs
Meet weekly to make government policy decisions
🧠 Remember Top 3 Cabinet Roles
C-H-F
Chancellor (Economy) - Home Secretary (Crime) - Foreign Secretary (Other countries)
Think: "Clever Helpers in Foreign lands"

📋 Cabinet Departments (Click to Expand)

▼
Chancellor of the Exchequer

Economy - Money matters

Home Secretary

Crime, Policing, Immigration

Foreign Secretary

Relationships with other countries

Secretaries of State handle Education, Health, Defence, etc.

3. The Opposition

  • 2nd largest party
  • Points out failures of government, especially during PM Questions which are weekly
  • The leader shadows ministers (shadow cabinet)
  • Their role: to challenge government & put forward alternative policies

4. The Party System & Standing for Election

Anyone >18 can stand for election as MP – not likely to be voted unless they stand part of major parties.

Main Parties:

  • Conservatives
  • Labour
  • Liberal Democrats

There are some MPs who don't form part of above = INDEPENDENTS (not part of party)

Pressure & lobby groups = organisations that try to influence government. Example: Greenpeace – an environmental group, often lobbies for climate change & animal rights

5. Civil Service

  • Civil servants support ministers in developing and implementing policy
  • They aren't political appointees and anyone can apply to be a civil servant BUT have to:
    • Be politically neutral
    • Chosen on merit

6. Local Government

  • Local elections held each year in May
  • Local authorities are funded by central government & local taxes
  • Many councillors of Local Authorities elect a Mayor = the ceremonial leader of the council

7. Devolved Administrations

Different areas have different government. There has been a Welsh & Scottish Parliament since 1999 & a Northern Irish Assembly.

  • The UK government has power to SUSPEND these parliaments and did this to the N. Irish Assembly on a few occasions
  • Elections for each of these assemblies is done through using a form of proportional representation, where political parties are given a certain number of seats in parliament that represents their total share of the votes = proportionate to votes
  • Devolved administrations cannot make certain laws governing defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation, and social security → under central UK government

8. Media & Government

  • Media publications of parliament are broadcast on TV and published in official reports (Hansard)
  • The UK has a free press = newspapers are free from government control
  • By law, radio & TV coverage of political parties must be balanced; equal time must be given to rival political parties on radio & TV

9. Voting & Electoral Register

🗳️ Voting Requirements
Age: 18+
Who can vote: UK, Commonwealth & Ireland citizens
Must register on: Electoral Register (updated yearly)
💭 Remember Voting Facts
Think: "EIGHTEEN to ELECT" (Age 18+ to vote)
N. Ireland is different: They use Individual Registration (everyone registers themselves)

10. How & Where to Vote

  • Elections are held at polling stations/places
  • On election you will be sent a poll card
    • Tells you where your polling station is and when the election will take place
  • On arrival you get a ballot paper to fill out and then place it in a ballot box
  • If unable to attend a polling station, you can complete a postal ballot

11. Standing for Office

⚠️ Who CANNOT Stand for Election?
❌ Members of armed forces
❌ Civil servants
❌ People with criminal offences
❌ House of Lords members (for House of Commons only)
🧠 Remember Who Can't Stand
A-C-C-L
Armed Forces - Civil Servants - Criminals - Lords
Think: "Army Can't Come to Lords (Parliament)"
Tests often ask about this! Remember: House of Lords members CAN stand for OTHER elections, just not for House of Commons

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