1.Brief Outline of the History of Great Britain
-Who inhabited British Isles in the Pre-Celtic period ? (before 800 B.C.)
The Iberians and the Beaker Folk, some monuments built by them have been preserved, such as Stonehenge - big circular standing stones near Salisbury in the south of England.
-When did the first Celtic tribes arrive to the British Isles ?
The Goidelic are believed to arrive between 800 and 700 B.C., they were followed by the Brythons - after whom the country was called Britain. They spoke Goidels or Gaels from which the present Welsh, Scottish and Irish languages developed.
-When did the first Roman invasion start and by whom was led?
The first Roman invasion in 55 B.C. was led by Julius Caesar, but Britain was conquered under Emperor Claudius only in A.D. 43. The Roman legions withdrew in 407. Some their roads are still in use and there are remains of Hadrian’s Wall in the north. The Latin word "castra" survives in names of some towns (Doncaster, Leicester, Manchester)
-Who occupied Britain after the withdrawal of Roman legions?
In the middle of the 5th century waves of Germanic tribes - Jutes, Angles and Saxons drove the Celtic people into the mountains. They had to fight with the Danes, who came from Scandinavia. Alfred the Great stopped the Danish advance.
-Who was William the Conqueror ?
William, Duke of Normandy led a successful French invasion and defeated the Saxon King Harold in the Battle of Hastings (1066). He brought feudalism and French language to the country. Between the 11th and 15th century the modern English language started to develop.
-What were the most important events during the Tudor Period (1485 - 1603) ?
King Henry VIII carried out the Reformation, he broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, founded the Church of England and proclaimed himself the head of the Church. His daughter Elizabeth I supported trading expeditions, which were combined with piracy (Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh). In 1588 the British destroyed the Spanish fleet and England became one of the world s leading powers.
-Who became King of England when Elizabeth I had died ?
James VI of Scotland, son of Queen s cousin Mary Stuart became James I of England. He started the Stuarts Dynasty. Later the conflict between the second Stuart king Charles I and parliament led to the Civil War. (1640) King Charles I was sentenced and executed. Oliver Cromwell established a republic, but in 1660 the monarchy was restored.
-Who was William of Orange ?
In 1688 the parliament offered the crown to William of Orange. When he landed in Britain , King James II escaped and William and his wife Mary were proclaimed king and queen. These events are called the Glorious Revolution.
-The period between 1760 - 1850 is called the Industrial Revolution. Which important inventions were developed during this period ?
Important technological inventions (steam engine - James Watt, loom - Edmund Cartwright, locomotive - George Stephenson) caused changes in economy and social structure. Two classes - bourgeoisie an proletariat developed. -Who were Admiral Nelson and Duke of Wellington ?
Anglo - French rivalry culminated in Napoleonic Wars. (1803 - 1815) Admiral Nelson was the commander in the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) and Duke of Wellington led the British troops at Waterloo. France was defeated and Britain strengthened its position, Britain gained the control of the seas, and "ruled the waves" until World War II.
-How would you characterise the Victorian Era (1837-1901) ?
Besides being the biggest industrial power, Britain became also the biggest financial, commercial and colonial power in the world. This early era was a period of the biggest colonial expansion in India and Africa. Many things introduced in this period remained until the present, for example use of postage stamps, the underground railway, some kinds of modern sports a.s.o. The scientifical development is represented by Charles Darwin s work On the Origin of Species (1859).
-What results did World War I bring for England ?
Britain s colonial empire became bigger than ever before, but the U.S.A. overtook the role of the world leading power.
Later Britain lost some of her territories (Ireland, India).
- Who was Sir Winston Churchill ?
In May 1940 British Prime Minister Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill. He offered the British people "nothing but blood, toil, tears and sweat" but gave them confidence in final victory.
2. Over the Map of Great Britain
-What parts does Great Britain consist of ?
British Isles lie north of Europe between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, they are divided into two independent states: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and The Republic of Ireland. Britain consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Besides those two main islands the British territory comprises more than 5 000 smaller islands (Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Orkneys, Shetlands a.s.o.)
-How would you characterise the relief of Great Britain ?
The relief of GB can be roughly divided into two main regions: lowland Britain and highland Britain. The dividing line between the two regions runs from Newcastle upon Tyne in the north to Exeter in the south - east. Highland Britain lies to the north west of this line. Highland Britain comprises Highlands of Scotland, the Pennines - called the "Backbone of England", the Cumbrian Mountains (Lake District), and the Welsh Mountains (Cambrian Mountains). The highest peak in GB is Ben Nevis in Scotland (1342 m). The lowland Britain is a rather rolling than flat plain with low limestone or chalk hills.
-What are the main rivers and lakes in GB ?
British rivers are not long, but comparatively deep. Some of them are navigable for small steamers (the Severn and the Thames, the Avon and the Tyne in England, the Clyde and the Forth in Scotland. You can find lakes mainly in the Lake District in England (Lake Windermere and Lake Derwentwater) and in Scotland (Loch Lomond and Loch Ness known for its "Loch Ness monster", which is attractive for tourists
-How would you characterise climate in Britain ?
Britain has a temperate, humid climate. Characteristic features are mild winters, not very hot summers, abundant rain, frequent changes of the weather.
-What is the population of GB and where do people mostly live ?
The total population of GB is about 57 million citizens. The average population density is about 230 million citizens per square km, but in highland Britain there are very sparsely populated areas, whereas most of citizens live in cities and conurbation in lowland Britain. The biggest cities are London - the capital of GB, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool and others.
-Do you know any important ports in GB ? Why are they important ?
There are about 200 ports in Britain, the principal are:
London, Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth in the south east, Liverpool and Manchester (an inland port, reached via ship canal) in the north west, Cardiff and Swansea in Wales , Glasgow in Scotland and Belfast in Northern Ireland. The ports provide cheap export and import of goods and raw materials from the whole world.
-GB is a well developed country, is it rather an industrial or an agricultural country ?
The manufacturing industry and services are the most important branches of Britain s economy. On the other hand less than 2.5 per cent of population work in agriculture.
-What are the main natural resources in GB ?
Among main natural resources rank quality coal in England and Wales and petroleum and natural gas in the North Sea. Other resources are less important for example limestone, chalk and sandstone.
3. Education in Great Britain and in the U.S.A.
-When do children in GB start school ?, Describe primary education system .
Children in GB start school at the age of 5 years. Primary school is divided into infant schools for children between 5 to 7 and junior schools for children aged 7 to 11. Children in infant schools are taught elementary subjects - reading, writing and arithmetic (3 R) but most of the time they spend on games and training in good habits. In the junior school the curriculum includes other subjects e.g. English, mathematics, history, science, geography, and physical training.
-What kinds of secondary education in GB can pupils receive at state schools ?
About 80 % of pupils attend comprehensive schools. They are
non-selective schools, which provide secondary education for all the children. Besides comprehensive schools there are selective grammar schools for gifted children with good results at primary school.
-Another kind of secondary education is provided by public schools, are these schools state or private ?
They are private schools and they are mostly boarding schools. Some of public schools have a high reputation, the most known are for instance: ETON, WINCHESTER, RUGBY, HARROW and many others. These schools are not subsidised by the state, therefore the school fee is very expensive.
-What are the final examinations at secondary schools ?
Students can take final examinations at the age of 16 - these examinations are called CSE - Certificate of Secondary Education, or at the age of 18 - GCE - General Certificate of Education. There are two levels of examinations "O" level - ordinary level, and "A" level - advanced level. To enter a university "A" level examinations are required.
-What kinds of universities in GB do you know ?
The most known universities in GB are the Oxford University and the Cambridge University. They were founded in the 12th and 13th century. Despite the high fees, the competition for admission is extremely fierce, only one of ten candidates can be taken on the basis of his successful entrance examination. Some scholarships are provided for the most gifted students.
Provincial (Civic) Universities ("Redbrick") were established mostly in 18th and 19th centuries. The most known are Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester and Sheffield.
After 1960 some new universities were opened: Sussex, York, Essex a.s.o. they are not called provincial, but national universities.
-What are the stages of education in the U.S.A. ?
1) Elementary school between ages of 6 and 12
2) Secondary education between ages of 12 and 18 (Junior High School - up to age of 15, Senior High School - up to age of 18). High Schools are comprehensive non-selective schools for all children.
3) Higher education at Junior Colleges between ages of 18-20. Junior Colleges are mostly local colleges established in many smaller communities, which enables students to spend their first two years in their home town.
4) Universities and colleges (state or private) provide professional education. The most famous as well as the most expensive universities are Harvard University (the oldest university in the U.S.A. - founded in 1636), Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Massachusetts University of Technology (M.I.T.).
4. Brief Outline of the History of the U.S.A.
-When and by whom was America discovered ?
America was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. His intention was to sail to India. When he landed he thought he was in India and therefore he called the natives Indians.
-When was established the first English colony ?
In 1584 Sir Walter Raleigh established the first English colony and called it Virginia in honour of the "virgin - queen", Elizabeth I. The first colonists were mostly adventurous gentlemen unable to work hard, therefore the colony failed. In 1620 a group of Puritan refugees from England - Pilgrim Fathers came to the North America s coast (present Massachusetts) in their ship called Mayflower. They established a settlement called Plymouth, after the English port, where they started. They were hard-working, thrifty and enterprising. Their settlement was prosperous.
Which holiday is connected with Pilgrim Fathers ?
The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by Pilgrim Fathers in 1621. They celebrated the first successful harvest following the winter of starvation.
-Who did the English have to fight with to get the North American territory ?
The 18th century is characterised by continual wars between the English and the French. The French were defeated and the English gained the whole territory east of Mississippi except New Orleans.
-What was the main reason of the American Revolution (the War of Independence) ?
The English colonists were prohibited to trade directly with the French and Spanish settlements. The British government imposed high taxies and duties on tea, paper, lass and other goods. Colonists had to pay costs for English troops stay. The organisation "Sons of Liberty" developed.
-What happened in Boston in 1773 ?
In 1773 the "Sons of Liberty" dressed like Indians attacked three English ships and threw the tea into the sea. This event is called "Boston Tea Party". In 1774 the first continental congress met in Philadelphia and created the first unofficial American government.
-When was the Declaration of Independence adopted by the
Congress ? What did the Declaration cause ?
On July 4th Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence (the author was Thomas Jefferson) and the War of Independence started.
-What was the result of this war ?
In the beginning the American suffered many defeats, but they won the decisive battles at Saratoga in 1777 and at Yorktown (Virginia) in 1781.
-What important document was adopted in 1789 ?
The Constitution adopted in 1789 was the most democratic in the world. George Washington became the first American president.
-How would you characterise the period after the War of Independence ?
This period can be characterised as the period of the territorial expansion. The U.S.A. bought Louisiana from France - 2 -
for 15 million dollars in 1803 (Louisiana purchase) and Florida from Spain for 5 million dollars. In 1845 the U.S.A. annexed Texas and conquered some Mexico s territory on the Pacific coast.
-What caused the Civil War ?
With the territorial expansion the disputes between the North and the South developed. The Southerners wanted to introduce slavery on the new territories, while Northerners wanted all the new territories to be free. Eleven southern states split from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The Civil War started in 1861 in Charleston.
-What is it the Emancipation Proclamation ?
In 1863 Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, by which he abolished the slavery. The war ended on April 1st 1865, when Northern troops conquered Richmond - the capital of Confederacy. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14th in a theatre.
-The period after the Civil War is called the period of reconstruction, describe the development in the U.S.A. in this period.
The period is characterised by an enormous economic growth, the U.S.A. became the most powerful nation in the world. Civil War abolished slavery and opened the way for a free capitalist development. In 1867 the U.S.A. bought Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars. Over 20 million skilled workers immigrated to the U.S.A. during this period.
-What were the results of the World War I for the U.S.A. ?
The position of the U.S.A. strengthened by World War I. The post war period was a period of prosperity, which came to a sudden end as a result of the Great Crash on the Wall Street in 1929. It was the beginning of the deep world-wide economic crisis - called the Great Depression.
-What is it the New Deal ?
In 1932 F.D. Roosevelt was elected president. He introduced measures, which were called the New Deal. Industrial enterprises, banks and farmers received government subsidies. Public works (dams, railways, power plants) provided work for the unemployed.
-When did the U.S.A. enter World War II ? What event finished the war ?
The U.S.A. entered the war in 1941 after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. The war finished by dropping the A-bomb on Hiroshima on August 6th 1945.
-Who was J.F. Kennedy ?
Under the J.F. Kennedy administration , there were good prospects for improving East-West relations. But Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas (Texas) in 1963.
-Who was Ronald Reagan ?
The president Reagan s policy in 1980 s contributed to the collapse of communism in East Europe.
5. Over the map of the U.S.A.
-What is the location of the U.S.A. ?
The U.S.A is bordered by Canada in the North by the Atlantic Ocean in the East, by Pacific Ocean in the West and by Mexico in the South. The U.S.A. is composed of 50 states joined in a federal republic. Besides 48 continental states there are two separated states Alaska and Hawaii.
-How could you briefly describe the relief of the U.S.A ?
The continental United States consists of an eastern highland (the Appalachians) interior plains, and western highland. The Appalachians run roughly parallel to the Atlantic coast. The highest point is Mt. Mitchell 2 036 m. They are bordered in the east by coastal Atlantic plain. Interior plains include Central Lowland (west of Appalachians up to the Missouri River) and Great Plains - an endless monotonous open space up to the Rocky Mountains.