A long and illustrious history (Part 3)

1. John Constable (1776-1837) founded the modern Police force in England

• True
• False

John Constable (1776-1837) was a landscape painter most famous for his works of Dedham Vale on the Suffolk-Essex border in the east of England.

2. In which year was the first Union Flag created?

• 1606
• 1707
• 1800
• 1801

The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag because, when the first Union Flag was created in 1606 from the flags of Scotland and England, the Principality of Wales was already united with England.

3. During Queen Elizabeth's reign the British Empire became the largest empire the world had ever seen

• True
• False

During the Victorian period, the British Empire grew to cover all of India, Australia and large parts of Africa. It became the largest empire the world has ever seen, with an estimated population of more than 400 million people.

4. By which year did the English rule an area around Dublin called the Pale?

• 1200
• 1300
• 1400
• 1100

At the beginning of the Middle Ages, Ireland was an independent country. The English first went to Ireland as troops to help the Irish king and remained to build their own settlements. By 1200, the English ruled an area of Ireland known as the Pale, around Dublin. Some of the important lords in other parts of Ireland accepted the authority of the English king.

5. When did English become the official language for documents?

• 1400
• 1451
• 1502
• 1554

By 1400, in England, official documents were being written in English, and English had become the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament.

6. When did the Habeas Corpus Act become law?

• 1679
• 1683
• 1685
• 1687

The Habeas Corpus Act became law in 1679. This was a very important piece of legislation which remains relevant today. Habeas corpus is Latin for 'you must present the person in court'. The Act guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully. Every prisoner has a right to a court hearing.

7. What is Richard Arkwright remembered for?

• Efficiently running factories
• Creating a carding machine
• Cutting hair
• Improving steam power

Born in 1732, Arkwright originally trained and worked as a barber. He was able to dye hair and make wigs. When wigs became less popular, he started to work in textiles. He improved the original carding machine. Arkwright is particularly remembered for the efficient and profitable way that he ran his factories.

8. Which language was spoken by people during the Iron Age?

• Celtic
• English
• Anglo-Saxon
• Norman French

Most Iron age people were farmers, craft workers or warriors. The language they spoke was part of the Celtic language family.

9. Which Armed Force was used in the Battle of Britain?

• Royal Air Force
• Home Guards
• Army
• Royal Navy

The Germans waged an air campaign against Britain, but the British resisted with their fighter planes and eventually won the crucial aerial battle against the Germans, called 'the Battle of Britain', in the summer of 1940. The most important planes used by the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain were the Spitfire and the Hurricane - which were designed and built in Britain.

10. In 1745, who was supported by clansmen from the Scottish highlands and raised an army?

• Bonnie Prince Charlie
• Oliver Cromwell
• Robert the Bruce
• Kenneth MacAlpin

In 1745 there was another attempt to put a Stuart king back on the throne in place of George I's son, George II. Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the grandson of James II, landed in Scotland. He was supported by clansmen from the Scottish highlands and raised an army. Charles initially had some successes but was defeated by George II's army at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Charles escaped back to Europe.

11. Whom did the serfs serve?

• Lords
• Peasants
• Slaves
• Knights

The Normans used a system of land ownership known as feudalism. The king gave land to his lords in return for help in war. Landowners had to send certain numbers of men to serve in the army. Some peasants had their own land but most were serfs.

12. When was a Turing machine invented?

• 1910s
• 1930s
• 1950s
• 1970s

A Turing machine is a theoretical mathematical device invented by Alan Turing (1912-54), a British mathematician, in the 1930s. The theory was influential in the development of computer science and the modern-day computer.

13. St Augustine led missionaries from Rome. Where did he spread Christianity?

• In the South
• In the North
• In the East
• In the West

The Anglo-Saxons were not Christians when they first came to Britain but, during this period, missionaries came to Britain to preach about Christianity. Missionaries from Ireland spread the religion in the north. The most famous of these were St Patrick, who would become the patron saint of Ireland and St Columba, who founded a monastery on the island of Iona, off the coast of what is now Scotland. St Augustine led missionaries from Rome, who spread Christianity in the south. St Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

14. Who developed important Human Nature ideas?

• David Hume
• James Watt
• Adam Smith
• Richard Arkwright

David Hume's ideas about human nature continue to influence philosophers.

15. Women over 30 were allowed to vote as a result of their contribution towards the war effort. Which war was it?

• Crimean war
• Boer War
• First World War
• Second World War

In 1918, women over the age of 30 were given voting rights and the right to stand for Parliament, partly in recognition of the contribution women made to the war effort during the First World War. Shortly before Emmeline's death in 1928, women were given the right to vote at the age of 21, the same as men.

16. Magna Carta is Latin for what?

• The Great Charter
• The British Agreement
• The act of government
• The Bible law

In Latin Magna Carta means the Great Charter

17. What is the origin of Parliament?

• The Church's system of governance
• The King's council of advisers
• The Knights' round table
• The Noblemen's council of governance

In the Middle Ages, Parliament began to develop into the institution it is today. Its origins can be traced to the king's council of advisers, which included important noblemen and the leaders of the Church.

18. When did the English civil war begin?

• 1640
• 1641
• 1642
• 1646

Civil war between the king and Parliament could not now be avoided and began in 1642. The country split into those who supported the king (the Cavaliers) and those who supported Parliament (the Roundheads).

19. What are the parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also known as?

• Formal institutions
• Devolved administrations
• Local authorities
• Political parties

Since 1997, some powers have been devolved from the central government to give people in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland more control over matters that directly affect them. These powers are also known as devolved administrations.

20. What was the name of the movement which protested against the Roman Catholic church during Henry VIII's time?

• The Reformation
• Holy Wars
• Rebellion of the Clans
• Glorious Revolution

During Henry III's reign, the Reformation was happening across Europe. This was a movement against the authority of the Pope and the ideas and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

21. Who developed important Economics ideas?

• Adam Smith
• James Watt
• David Hume
• Richard Arkwright

Many of the great thinkers of the Enlightenment were Scottish. Adam Smith developed ideas about economics which are still referred to today.

22. How long did the Hundred Years War last for?

• 97 years
• 100 years
• 108 years
• 116 years

English kings also fought a long war with France, called the Hundred Years War (even though it actually lasted 116 years). One of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years War was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where King Henry V's vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French. The English left France in the 1450s.

23. What is the name of the first major railway built in Britain?

• The Great Western Railway
• Blue Rail
• Southern Railway
• Victorian Rail

The Great Western Railway is the name of the first major railway built in Britain.

24. The Swinging Sixties was a period of new ideas about politics, philosophy and science

• True
• False

he decade of the 1960s was a period of significant social change. It was known as 'the Swinging Sixties'. There was growth in British fashion, cinema and popular music. Two well-known pop music groups at the time were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. People started to become better off and many bought cars and other consumer goods. It was also a time when social laws were liberalised, for example in relation to divorce and to abortion in England, Wales and Scotland.

25. The Union Jack is comprised of four countries' crosses. They are: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

• False
• True

One symbol of the union between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland was a new version of the official flag, the Union Flag. This is often called the Union Jack. The flag combined crosses associated with England, Scotland and Ireland. It is still used today as the official flag of the UK.

26. When did the 'Battle of Agincourt' take place?

• 1415
• 1613
• 1200
• 1716

One of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years War was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where King Henry V's vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French. The English left France in the 1450s.

27. Which sport often refers to the phrase 'rain stopped play'?

• Cricket
• Rugby
• Football
• Tennis

You may come across expressions such as 'rain stopped play', 'batting on a sticky wicket', 'playing a straight bat', 'bowled a googly' or 'it's just not cricket', which have passed into everyday usage. The most famous cricket competition is the Ashes, which is a series of Test matches played between England and Australia.

28. Which of the following is associated with the Elizabethan period in England?

• Scientific movement
• Women rights
• Growing patriotism
• Civil wars

The Elizabethan period in England was a time of growing patriotism: a feeling of pride in being English. The Elizabethan period is also remembered for the richness of its poetry and drama, especially the plays and poems of William Shakespeare.

29. What religion did Queen Elizabeth I practise?

• Atheist
• Protestant
• Catholic
• Sikh

Queen Elizabeth I was a Protestant. She re-established the Church of England as the official Church in England. Everyone had to attend their local church and there were laws about the type of religious services and the prayers which could be said, but Elizabeth did not ask about people's real beliefs. She succeeded in finding a balance between the views of Catholics and the more extreme Protestants.

30. After Cromwell defeated Charles II at Worcester, where did Charles II hide?

• In an oak tree
• In a field
• In a lake
• In a house

The Scots had not agreed to the execution of Charles I and declared his son Charles II to be king. He was crowned king of Scotland and led a Scottish army into England. Cromwell defeated this army in the Battles of Dunbar and Worcester. Charles II escaped from Worcester, famously hiding in an oak tree on one occasion, and eventually fled to Europe.

31. Who became Prime Minister during WWII?

• Winston Churchill
• Margaret Thatcher
• Robert Walpole
• Tony Blair

Hitler invaded Poland and took control of Belgium and the Netherlands. At this time of national crisis, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister.

32. Who had a great influence on the English language?

• William Shakespeare
• Wilfred Owen
• David Lean
• Oliver Cromwell

Shakespeare had a great influence on the English language and invented many words that are still common today.

33. When did William of Orange invade England?

• 1688
• 1692
• 1696
• 1684

In 1688, important Protestants in England asked William to invade England and proclaim himself king.

34. Where was Emmeline Pankhurst born?

• London
• Manchester
• Glasgow
• Aberdeen

Emmeline Pankhurst was born in Manchester in 1858. She set up the Women's Franchise League in 1889, which fought to get the vote in local elections for married women.

35. When Queen Anne died, a German, George of Hanover, became the next King of England

• True
• False

When Queen Anne died in 1714, Parliament chose a German, George I, to be the next King, because he was Anne's nearest Protestant relative. An attempt by Scottish Jacobites to put James II's son on the throne instead was quickly defeated.

36. Who invented the World Wide Web?

• Sir Tim Berners-Lee
• Sir Robert Watson-Watt
• Mo Farah
• Winston Churchill

The inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee (1955-), is British. Information was successfully transferred via the web for the first time on 25 December 1990.

37. When did the American colonies declare independence?

• 1776
• 1779
• 1781
• 1783

In 1776, 13 American colonies declared their independence, stating that people had a right to establish their own governments. The colonists eventually defeated the British army and Britain recognised the colonies' independence in 1783.

38. Where was Isaac Newton born?

• England
• Wales
• Scotland
• Ireland

Born in Lincolnshire, eastern England, Isaac Newton first became interested in science when he studied at Cambridge University.

39. Who designed the new St Paul's?

• Sir Christopher Wren
• Gertrude Jekyll
• Robert Adam
• Sir Edwin Lutyens

In 1666, a great fire destroyed much of the city, including many churches and St Paul's Cathedral. London was rebuilt with a new St Paul's, which was designed by a famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren.

40. Which country (or colony) did NOT gain its independence from the British Empire in 1947?

• Sri Lanka
• India
• Pakistan
• The British West Indies

In 1947, independence was granted to nine countries, including India, Pakistan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Other colonies in Africa, the Caribbean (e.g. The British West Indies) and the Pacific achieved independence over the next 20 years.

41. Why was Mary known as 'Bloody Mary'?

• She persecuted Protestants
• She fought in numerous battles
• She killed her father
• She put her sister in prison

Mary was a devout Catholic and persecuted Protestants.

42. What did the Chartists campaign for?

• Every man to have a vote
• Anyone to be able to stand as an MP
• Elections every 5 years
• Open ballots

In the 1830s and 1840s, a group called the Chartists campaigned for reform. They wanted six changes: for every man to have the vote;elections every year;for all regions to be equal in the electoral system; secret ballots; for any man to be able to stand as an MP; for MPs to be paid.

43. What does the York Minster have?

• Stained Glass
• Stained Bricks
• Stained Limestone
• Stained Wood

York Minster had windows of stained glass, telling stories about the Bible and Christian saints.

44. The Protestants formed their own churches during the Reformation

• True
• False

At the same time the Reformation was happening across Europe. This was a movement against the authority of the Pope and the ideas and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestants formed their own churches. They read the Bible in their own languages instead of in Latin; they did not pray to saints or at shrines; and they believed that a person's own relationship with God was more important than submitting to the authority of the Church. Protestant ideas gradually gained strength in England, Wales and Scotland during the 16th century.

45. What event is known as the evacuation of 300,000 people from the beaches?

• The Dunkirk spirit
• The Battle of Britain
• D-Day
• The Blitz spirit

Many civilian volunteers in small pleasure and fishing boats from Britain helped the Navy to rescue more than 300,000 men from the beaches around Dunkirk. The evacuation gave rise to the phrase 'the Dunkirk spirit'.

46. Where was one of the Anglo Saxon kings buried with treasure and armour?

• Suffolk
• London
• Kent
• Newcastle

The burial place of one of the kings was at Sutton Hoo in modern Suffolk. This king was buried with treasure and armour, all placed in a ship which was then covered by a mound of earth. Scotland and Wales remained free of Anglo Saxon rule.

47. Which of these was said by Winston Churchill?

• Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few' only
• We shall never surrender' only
• I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat' only
• All of the these

All of these are examples of his speeches.

48. Who established the Church of England?

• Henry VIII
• Henry VII
• The Pope
• St George

To divorce his first wife, Henry VIII needed the approval of the Pope. When the Pope refused, Henry established the Church of England. In this new Church, the king, not the Pope, would have the power to appoint bishops and order how people should worship.

49. Whose powers were increased by the Bill of Rights of 1689?

• Prisoners'
• King's
• Slaves'
• Parliament's

The Bill of Rights, 1689, confirmed the rights of Parliament and the limits of the king's power. Parliament took control of who could be monarch and declared that the king or queen must be a Protestant. A new Parliament had to be elected at least every three years.

50. Where was William Shakespeare born?

• Stratford upon Avon
• Berkshire
• London
• Essex

Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

51. What proportion of the population died because of the Black Death?

• One third
• One fourth
• One fifth
• One half

One third of the population of England and a similar proportion in Scotland and Wales died because of the Black Death.

52. What was the estimated population of the British Empire?

• 400 million
• 350 million
• 300 million
• 250 million

During the Victorian period, the British Empire grew to cover all of India, Australia and large parts of Africa. It became the largest empire the world has ever seen, with an estimated population of more than 400 million people.

53. When did Ireland split into 2 countries?

• 1922
• 1925
• 1934
• 1949

Ireland became two countries in 1922.

54. Who developed ideas about economics during the Enlightenment period which are still referred to today?

• Adam Smith
• James Watt
• David Hume
• Isaac Newton

Many of the great thinkers of the Enlightenment were Scottish. Adam Smith developed ideas about economics which are still referred to today. David Hume's ideas about human nature continue to influence philosophers. Scientific discoveries, such as James Watt's work on steam power, helped the progress of the Industrial Revolution.

55. When was the first coin in Britain made?

• The Iron age
• The Stone age
• The Gold age
• The Middle ages

The Iron Age people made the first coins to be minted in Britain, some inscribed with the names of Iron Age kings.

56. How many counties in Ireland remained in the UK under Northern Ireland?

• 3
• 6
• 9
• 12

In 1921 a peace treaty was signed and in 1922 Ireland became two countries. The six counties in the north which were mainly Protestant remained part of the UK under the name Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland became the Irish Free State. It had its own government and became a republic in 1949.

57. The Civil War in 1642 split the country into which two groups?

• The Roundheads and the Cavaliers
• House of York and House of Lancaster
• House of Commons and House of Lords
• The landowners and the slaves

Civil war between the king and Parliament could not now be avoided and began in 1642. The country split into those who supported the king (the Cavaliers) and those who supported Parliament (the Roundheads).

58. In 1913, the British government promised 'Home Rule' for Ireland, why was this postponed?

• The outbreak of World War I
• The English people complained
• The Scottish people also wanted to self-govern
• It was opposed by Catholics

In 1913, the British government promised 'Home Rule' for Ireland. It was opposed by the Protestants in the north of Ireland, who threatened to resist Home Rule by force. The outbreak of the First World War led the British government to postpone any changes in Ireland. Irish Nationalists were not willing to wait and in 1916 there was an uprising (the Easter Rising) against the British in Dublin. A guerilla war against the British army and the police in Ireland followed. In 1921 a peace treaty was signed and in 1922 Ireland became two countries.

59. During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, the English government encouraged Scottish and English Protestants to settle in which Irish province?

• Pale
• Ulster
• Grimsby
• Dublin

During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, many people in Ireland opposed rule by the Protestant government in England. There were a number of rebellions. The English government encouraged Scottish and English Protestants to settle in Ulster, the northern province of Ireland, taking over the land from Catholic landholders.

60. Who was the monarch when the Book of Common Prayer was written to be used in the Church of England?

• Henry VII
• Henry VIII
• King Richard III
• Edward VI

Henry VIII was succeeded by his son Edward VI, who was strongly Protestant. During his reign, the Book of Common Prayer was written to be used in the Church of England. A version of this book is still used in some churches today.

61. When did the Vikings first attack Britain?

• AD 789
• AD 798
• AD 897
• AD 879

The Vikings came from Denmark and Norway. They first visited Britain in AD 789 to raid coastal towns and take away goods and slaves.

62. When did the English Civil war begin?

• 1642
• 1640
• 1588
• 1598

Civil war between the king and Parliament began in 1642. The country split into those who supported the king (the Cavaliers) and those who supported Parliament (the Roundheads).

63. What country did Britain fight against during the Crimean War?

• Turkey
• India
• Russia
• France

From 1853 to 1856, Britain fought with Turkey and France against Russia in the Crimean War. It was the first war to be extensively covered by the media through news stories and photographs. Many soldiers died from illnesses they caught in the hospitals, rather than from war wounds. Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross medal during this war.

64. How many Houses did the Scottish Parliament have in the middle ages?

• 3
• 4
• 2
• 6

In the middle ages the Scottish Parliament had three Houses, called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy.

65. In 1284 King Edward I of England introduced the Statute of Rhuddlan, which annexed Wales to the Crown of England.

• True
• False

In 1284 King Edward I of England introduced the Statute of Rhuddlan, which annexed Wales to the Crown of England.

66. What county does Stonehenge stand in?

• Wiltshire
• Lothians
• Berkshire
• Lancashire

Stonehenge, still stands in what is now the English county of Wiltshire. Stonehenge was probably a special gathering place for seasonal ceremonies.

67. What was the longest British War with France called?

• The Hundred Years War
• The Battle of Bannockburn
• The Battle of the Boyne
• The Battle of Trafalgar

English kings also fought a long war with France, called the Hundred Years War (even though it actually lasted 116 years). One of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years War was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where King Henry V's vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French. The English left France in the 1450s.

68. Which patron Saint has a white cross on a blue ground?

• St George
• St Andrew
• St Patrick
• St David

The Union Flag consists of three crosses: The cross of St George, patron saint of England, is a red cross on a white ground; The cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground; The cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.

69. Which TWO of these aircrafts were used by Britain in WWII?

• Hurricane
• Mig-21
• F-22
• Spitfire

The most important planes used by the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain(1940) were the Spitfire and the Hurricane - which were designed and built in Britain.

70. What is the 'Divine Right of Kings?

• The King was Appointed by God
• Reduced the power of the nobles
• Reduced the power of the King
• Increased power of the parliament

Divine Right of Kings' is the idea that the king was directly appointed by God to rule. The king should be able to act without having to seek approval from Parliament.

71. The British constitution is described as 'unwritten'

• True
• False

The British constitution is not written down in any single document, and therefore it is described as 'unwritten'. This is mainly because the UK, unlike America or France, has never had a revolution which led permanently to a totally new system of government. Our most important institutions have developed over hundreds of years.

72. What was Isaac Newton famous for?

• Explaining gravitation
• Splitting the atom
• Cloning a sheep
• Discovering penicillin

His most famous published work was Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), which showed how gravity applied to the whole universe. Newton also discovered that white light is made up of the colours of the rainbow. Many of his discoveries are still important for modern science.