☰ Contents · World history

Great Britain: political system, economy and domestic policy

Lessons 11–12 · 2 lessons · M. Lafasov, U. Jo‘rayev, E. Xoliqov, D. Qodirova. Jahon tarixi (World history), Grade 9, revised 3rd edition. “O‘qituvchi” Publishing House, Tashkent, 2014
11

The political and economic position of Great Britain in the late 19th – early 20th century

Textbook: pp. 39–41
GoalExplain Britain’s constitutional monarchy and why its economic lead was lost.
New words
constitutional monarchy: the monarch is head of state but government is formed by parliament · konstitutsiyaviy monarxiyathe two main parties: Conservatives and Liberals · Konservatorlar va Liberallar“workshop of the world”: Britain’s 19th-century nickname as the leading industrial power · «jahon ustaxonasi»free trade: trade without import duties · bojsiz savdo
Explanation

Great Britain was a constitutional monarchy: although the king or queen was head of state, domestic and foreign policy were run by a government formed by parliament. The party that won the election formed the government; in a strong two-party system the Conservatives (resting on landowners and the Anglican Church, traditional) competed with the Liberals (resting on the middle class, favouring reforms). The 1867 parliamentary reform lowered the property qualification and nearly doubled the number of voters. Under the Liberal W. Gladstone (prime minister four times) trade union rights widened and the secret ballot and a school reform were introduced; under the Conservative B. Disraeli (1874–1880) laws shortened factory working hours and dealt with workers’ housing and public health. By the end of the century the “workshop of the world” lost its industrial lead and began to fall behind Germany and the USA. The reasons: much capital was sent to colonies while home factories were not modernised, free trade continued, and military spending rose sharply. Even so, London remained the world’s financial centre and the pound sterling the currency of international settlement.

Worked examples
Comparison: in Germany the emperor appointed the chancellor; in Britain the party that won the parliamentary election formed the government – royal power was limited.
Why did Britain fall behind in industry? Building plants abroad was profitable thanks to cheap labour and raw materials, while at home equipment was not renewed and goods lost out to German and American ones.
Class activity

“Two parties”: split the class into Conservatives and Liberals and hold a short debate on one issue (for example school reform).

Practice
1
Who formed the government in Britain and what was the monarch’s role?
2
Name the two main British parties and their support base.
3
Which party did B. Disraeli belong to and in which years did he lead the government?
4
Why can exporting capital hurt a country’s own industry?