Chapter 3 — A Long and Illustrious History
A Global Power
The Act of Union and the First Prime Minister
- Act of Union (1707): united the kingdoms of England and Scotland, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain
- Sir Robert Walpole became the first British Prime Minister (1721–1742)
- This happened because King George I (a German) relied on ministers due to his poor English
The Slave Trade and Abolition
- British ships carried enslaved people from West Africa to plantations in the Americas
- William Wilberforce was the leading campaigner against slavery
- 1807: Slave trading made illegal
- 1833: Emancipation Act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire
- After abolition, 2 million Indian and Chinese workers were employed as labourers
The Huguenots
- French Protestants fleeing persecution who settled in England (pre-1720)
- Many were skilled craftsmen and contributed to British industry
The Enlightenment (1700s)
- Development of new ideas about politics, philosophy, and science
- Key thinkers:
- Adam Smith — economics (The Wealth of Nations)
- David Hume — philosophy
- Both were influential Scottish thinkers
The Industrial Revolution (mid-1700s to 1800s)
- Britain produced over half the world's supplies of cotton cloth, coal, and iron
- Development of machinery and steam power
- Workers moved from countryside to towns and cities
- Key figures:
- Richard Arkwright — efficient and profitable factory owner
- George and Robert Stephenson — pioneers of railway engines
- Isambard Kingdom Brunel — engineer (bridges, trains, tunnels, ships)
- Sake Dean Mahomet — set up the first curry house in Britain and introduced shampooing
The Victorian Age (1837–1901)
- Queen Victoria reigned for almost 64 years
- Britain became the largest empire in world history
- The British Empire covered vast territories across the globe
- Significant social reforms and scientific progress occurred during this era
Key Battles of the Era
| Battle | Year | Key Figure | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of Trafalgar | 1805 | Lord Nelson | Defeated French and Spanish fleet |
| Battle of Waterloo | 1815 | Duke of Wellington | Defeated Napoleon |
| Boer War | 1889–1902 | — | War in South Africa |
Test yourself
Check your understanding with these quick questions.
1.What did the Act of Union of 1707 do?
2.Who was the first British Prime Minister?
3.When was slavery abolished throughout the British Empire?
4.What was the Enlightenment?
5.Which of these was NOT a feature of the Industrial Revolution?