B5. Scotland.

1/3 of the territory of the B Isles.Population-5mln.It’s the most northern part of the GB.S includes the Hebrids,the Orkney, Shetland Islands.3 regions of S(1)the Highlands(the most unpopulated area,a harsh climate,Ben Nevis-the highest point),(2)the Lowlands(industrial),(3)the Southern Uplands(hills).(1)Many valleys between the hills are fillr with lakes, called Loch Ness. The most important city-Alberdeen, the oil center of S. (2)Here, on the river Clyde, is Glasgow, S’s biggest city. Industries-shipbuilding,iron, steel, heavy and light engineering.S joined to the UK in 1707. Capital-Edinburgh, the cultural center of S.The majority of seats in the S Parliament were won by the Scottish National Party headed by Alex Salmond.The S society isn’t willing to see inderpendant S, the economy is vitally connected with England. The flag-a diagonal white cross against a blue background. St. Andrew is the saint of both S and Russian Marine Force.The emblem is a thistle.

B6. Nothern Ireland is the smallest component of the UK,1/6 of the island of Ireland,contains 6 of 9 counties of the historic province of Ulster-used as equivalent to NI. The climate-mild and damp throughout the year . The country consists mainly of a low, flat plain in the center of which is Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the BI.The capital-Belfast(industrial city- a large port, its chief industries-the production of lines and other textiles,clothing,shipbuilding,engineering).Population-over 1.5mln.The largest industries-agriculture,textile,shipbuilding.The national musical instrumeny-harp. Repeated attempts to restore self-government finally resulted in the establishment in 1998 of the present-day Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly. The Assembly operates on consociational democracy principles requiring cross-community support.The flag is a red cross with a gold crown in the middle(the symbol of union with GB) and a red hand(the emblem of NI).

B 7: English bourgeois revolution

The 17^th century brought changes to people’s attitude to monarchy. The changes were the result of basic controversies in society. Economic causes of the Revolution: 1) contradiction between 2 economic orders: the old feudal and the growing capitalist which was represented by cloth and wool manufacture. 2) new antagonizing classes (businessmen and hired workers, craftsmen and their apprentices, guilds and city cooperation) fought for commercial freedom. Psychological cause: absence of worship for the King James I. from the very beginning he failed to win the people’s sympathy. All through his reign the Commons quarreled with him over raising taxes without the consent of Parliament. The catholic party was also angry with him (he supported protestantism). As a result in 1605 there was a plot against him, known as Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Treason. The conspirators wanted to blow up the Houses of parliament when the king was opening a session with his speech. The plot was discovered and the conspirators executed.

In 1625 the English throne was taken by Charles I. he quarreled with Parliament even more bitterly than his father had done. More than once he dissolved Parliament, but had to summon it again, because he needed money. In 1628 Parliament wanted Charles to sign the Petition of Rights which would give it the right to control the national budget and the law. In return the king dissolved Parliament again and ruled without it for 11 years. He chose Archbishop Laud and Thomas Wentworth, earl of Stratford, as his advisers. The harshness of their rule turned men’s minds against the monarchy.

At the same time the religious group of Puritans appeared. They wanted to make the church modest, to purify it.

The English Bourgeois Revolution had 2 peculiarities: 1) common people were its main motive force; 2) it was led by a block of bourgeoisie and gentry who became a parliamentary opposition to the king. They had no clear-cut program and took the ideology of Puritans. In Parliament the Puritans formed 2 parties: the Presbyterians and the Independents. The latter fought for a decisive overthrow of the monarchy. Oliver Cromwell was their leader.

Stages of the Revolution:

1) Peaceful constitutional: Short Parliament called by Charles I after 11 years of independent rule and dissolved at once; and Long Parliament, summoned to compel the army to meet the attack of Scots. The Puritans being the majority of MPs issued Grand Remonstrance - the document consisting of 204 articles enumerating the things that that king had no power to do.

2) Civil War: the old feudal nobility helped the king to gather troops. Parliament gathered its own army. In 1642 the civil war began between the royalists (cavaliers) and the parliamentarians (roundheads). The latter were supported by the yeomen, navy and great masses of people. Oliver Cromwell, the leader of the roundheads, formed a new model army which was based on strict discipline and strong enthusiasm. His soldiers were called Ironsides. Cromwell won 2 great victories: at Marston Moor in 1642 and at Naseby in 1645. King’s army was destroyed, and Charles I tried and sentenced to death. In 1649 he was beheaded.

3) England was proclaimed Commonwealth (Republic). In the course of time the republican form of government was replaced by the protectorate (In fact, it was military dictatorship) and Oliver Cromwell was proclaimed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. The country was divided into 11 regions, each ruled by governor. The Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland was formed and became a mighty sea power that defeated Holland in the navy war. Cromwell settled the quarrel with Spain for the influence in the West-Indian region. But he was unpopular due to his innovations – forbade to celebrate Christmas and Easter, to play games on Sunday, ignored the common people’s interests. When he died in 1658 Charles II was invited to rule his kingdom and the republic was over.

Significance of the Revolution: the country was united and became 1 of the most powerful in the world, got sea dominance and became wealthy through trade, but appearance of different religions led to religious disagreement, many people were driven off the land as a result of enclosures