Key Individuals and Chance Events That Shaped Political Change Flashcards

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Who was King John and how did he help lead to Magna Carta in 1215?

King John was a king of England whose heavy taxes and unfair rule angered his barons. Their revolt forced him to accept Magna Carta, which limited the power of the king and said he had to obey the law.

Who was Simon de Montfort and why was his Parliament in 1265 important?

Simon de Montfort was a noble who led a rebellion against King Henry III. In 1265 he called a Parliament that, for the first time, invited knights and townsmen as well as nobles, helping to widen political representation.

How did the Black Death help cause the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381?

The Black Death killed many people, so there were far fewer peasants to work the land. Survivors could demand higher wages, but the government tried to stop this, which helped build anger that led to the Peasants’ Revolt.

Who was Wat Tyler in the Peasants’ Revolt?

Wat Tyler was the main leader of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381. He led peasants to London to demand an end to the poll tax and feudal duties, directly challenging royal authority.

How did the execution of Charles I in 1649 change political power?

Parliament put King Charles I on trial and had him executed in 1649. This showed that a king could be removed by Parliament and weakened the idea that monarchs ruled by divine right.

Who was John Wilkes and why was he important for political rights?

John Wilkes was a radical MP in the 1760s who attacked the king’s government in his newspaper. His arrest led to large protests, and his case helped increase freedom of the press and the right to criticise the government.

How did the Tolpuddle Martyrs help the growth of trade unions?

In 1834 six farm workers from Tolpuddle were jailed for forming a friendly society, which was really a union. Public outrage and a huge petition won their pardon, and their case encouraged other workers to form trade unions.

Who was Emmeline Pankhurst and what did she campaign for?

Emmeline Pankhurst was the leader of the Suffragettes. She used direct and sometimes violent action to demand votes for women, keeping women’s suffrage in the public eye until some women gained the vote in 1918.

How did the First World War help bring about the Representation of the People Act 1918?

During the First World War many men fought and many women did vital war work. After the war, the government rewarded this service by passing the 1918 Act, which gave the vote to most men over 21 and some women over 30.

How did the Second World War lead to the creation of the NHS?

The hardship of the Second World War made people want a fairer society. The 1942 Beveridge Report called for a welfare state, and after the war Aneurin Bevan set up the National Health Service in 1948, giving free health care to everyone.

How did the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 lead to political change?

Stephen Lawrence was a black teenager murdered in a racist attack. Failures by the police led to the Macpherson Report in 1999, which found “institutional racism” in the police and led to changes in policing and race relations laws.

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