Historical connections between English-speaking countriesThe origins of British colonies

Britain came late to the colonial story

India: pepper was more valuable, than gold - spice trade

Vasco Da Gamma cape of good hope

Christopher Colombo was successful west Indian islands, America (Florida), Caribbean (West Indees sugar/luxury) Early 16th c country: English sailors explored the north eastern coast of North America in search of the Northwest Passage to India - between Europe & India there is sg (New Foundland) -- Cod-fishing (tkehal) 1577-80: Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world, claiming California for England - he pirated, robbed wherever he went He was the first Englishman who went to California.

1585-60: First attempt of establishing a colony at Roanoke Island, NC (North Carolina) - after two failed attempts, nobody was motivated. 1600: Foundation of the East India Co to trade with South Asia began importing pepper from North-western India - merchant adventures

The first English colonies in America

1607: Foundation of Jamestown, Virginia -- the first English colony in the South -- tobacco became the main export item (King, James I. didnt like smoking)History of international trade:

After 1610: Settlement of Newfoundland in north-eastern Canada - basis for cod-fishing

1620: The first Puritan settlement in New England - specializing on sea trade + fishing(More religions, they were not coming for business, but for free religion)Massachusetts specialized in international fishing

1630s: Occupation of Barbados and other small islands in the Eastern Caribbean growing sugar cane for the Dutch market, relying on black slaves (sugar =himl as well)

1655: Jamaica, the largest British island in the Caribbean, was conquered from Spain (Cromwell)

The growth of the Empire 1651: The first Navigation Act, intended to exculpate foreign ships from trade between England? and her colonies negative for Dutch even declared war for this

1660: The Royal African Company was created to transport slaves to the West Indies (primary market) and America trading-posts established in West Africa (Guinea & Gold Coast West Nigeria) 1664: The conquest of New York from the Dutch

1670: Hudsons Bay Co. created for fur trade with local Indians

Late 1600s: East India Company begins to import cotton, textile from India (Bombay, Madras, Calcutta)Britain occupied India in a course of time

Wars with France

Colonial conflicts wars were started by other countries 1713: France reorganised the sovereignty of Britain and ceded Nova Scotia (Was of Spanish succession) - Britain occupied Gibraltar (now also British) 1757: The East India Co. defeated the nawab of Bengal a huge Indian country came under British rule - Beginning of British India

1763: After the Seven Years War, France ceded Quebec and New France to Britain - origin of British Canada

The New Empire 1775-83: The 13 North American colonies form an alliance and defeat Britain with French help end of the Old Empire

1788: The first British convicts began to be transported to Botany Bay, Eastern Australia (James Cook realised that its a continent)

1791: Upper & Lower Canada Provinces created out of Quebec with elected assemblies

1815: End of Napoleonic Wars: Britain emerges as the most powerful colonial empire - Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Cape were taken from Holland -- British came out as strong power

Colonial society and economy After 1840, about 50 000 people/year moved to the four major temperate colonies of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Until the end of the century, the majority of the white population of these colonies were British born and thought themselves as British.

The Industrial Revolution made Britain the largest producer in the world and a champion of Free Trade after 1846 -- colonies could trade with other countries outside the Empire.

The Heyday of the Empire 1824: Britain obtained Singapore in the Malacca Straits?, controlling the trade between India & China

1842: Britain defeated China in the Opium War, obtained Hong Kong in the SouthBritain established coastal post offices in China 1849: the British achieved complete control over the whole of India

Political reforms in the colonies After 1842: legislative assemblies were created in Australian colonies

1848 1852: The British recognised two Afrikaner states in South Africa as independent (Orange Free State & Transvaal) 1858: After a mutiny, the East India Company was abolished and a viceroy took over India (viceroy representative of the King)

1867: The Dominion of Canada was formed with 4 provinces a federal government was created

The Race for Africa 1875: The British government bought the majority of the shares of the Suez company - shorter sea route to India secured 1882: Egypt was occupied & made subordinate to Britain, but formally not colonized 1880s -90s: Chartered companies established Nigeria in the west and Kenya, Uganda, Rhodesia in the east of AfricaBr.: If we are there, the French and the German wont get there. -- like in Risiko /a kind of strategy/

Growth, war and autonomy 1989: Sudan was occupied from Egypt and added to the Empire 1899-1902: The Boer War, after years of guerrilla resistance, the Afrikaner republicans were annexed to British South Africa (concentration camps) 1901: The Commonwealth of Australia was created out of six states; it had a representative government, but remained part of the Empire. 1910: The Union of South Africa was createdThe First World War The dominions all voluntarily raised troops and contributed to the war, India (still a colony) also raised a large armed force At Versailles, the four largest dominions and India were represented as the Empire delegation and joined the League of Nations Former German and Turkish colonies were taken over by British as mandates - the Empire grew furtherBetween the World Wars From 1920: Nationalist Congress movement in India began to demand self government and dominion status Statue of Westminster, 1931: It made the Dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, S.Africa, Ireland) politically independent -- British Commonwealth Government of India Act, 1935: elected assemblies and responsible ministers, viceroy responsible for foreign and military policyWorld War II 1939: All the dominions followed by the British declaration of war except Ireland (remained natural) 1940 41: British forces fought the Nazis in Egypt, suppressed pro-German unrest in Iraq and Iran 1942: Japan overran British colonies in the Far East (Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore, Burma) British power and military prestige weakened

Decolonisation alter World War II 1947: The British withdrew from India, which was partitioned -- India and Pakistan, mass emigrations and slaughters 1948: The Irish Republic declared its independence 1952: King Faronk was overthrown in Egypt; in 1956 the Suez Canal was nationalized by L? 1957: Ghana (Gold Coast) is the first African colony to become independent 1961: South Africa becomes independent and establishes apartheid regime

The UK in the early 21st centuryThe Long Rule of Labour 1997: after 18 years of conservative government, Labour won a landslide victory with Tony Blair (43)- changes new ideology that came with him

Unusual Labour leader

Wealthy, middle-class family, public school, Oxford Became PM, when he was 43, the youngest in almost 200 years

Became religious as an adult, converted to Catholicism after leaving office

The New Britain Times New media image of Britain

New Labour: Blairs program of changing Labours profile and appeal by moving to the centre, abandoning traditional left-wing policies B: Lets improve the health care, education -- promised very important constitutional changes

Constitutional Reforms by Labour

Devolution of the UK: 1997 referenda in Scotland and Wales about their own legislature and executive -- new Scottish and Welsh governments since 1999, a significant change of the constitutional makeup of the UKAlec Salmond first minister of Scotland Good Friday Agreement (1998): Settlement of the long-standing Northern Irish conflict - NI Assembly & Executive based on power sharing IRA Nationalist Parliamentary Organization rigid policy towards them

Irish govt. wanted to stop revolution

1992: NI became independent

Set up a unique governmental system in NI

UUP

SDLP

2008: 2 radical parties (opposites) could govern together in cooperation

Martin MagganesThere is no news about NI. no news is good news in NI-- achievement in NI because of Tony Blairs government

Reform of the House of Lords (1999): hereditary peers removed - except 90 elected to stay

Judicial Reforms by Labour

Constitutional Reform Act of 2005: created the Supreme court of the UK, separating jurisdiction from legislative and executive branches (House of Lords and the Lord Chancellor)

Since 2009: Supreme Court headed by President + 11 Justices, Lord Chancellor replaced by Lord Speaker in the House of Lords, Secretary of Justice in the Cabinet (later also called Lord Chancellor)

Education Reforms by Labour Free education until 1997 1998: Uniform means-tested tuition fee of up to 1000 was introduced in higher education -- increased to 3000 limit in 2004, variable by universities (top-up fees) - became very unpopular

After devolution, Scotland abolished tuition fees at Scottish universities (there it is free to study)

Means tested maintenance grants were abolished in England in 1998 (replaced by student loans) but maintained in Wales

UK Economy in 1990s and 2000s

(2008 global crisis) From 1991 to 2008, UK economy grew continuously and was the second largest in Europe after Germany (previously Britain was the 4th largest)Margaret Thatcher Either love her or hate her

Believed in free market and equal opportunities

Privatization -- almost everything were privatized later changed them back nationalization / economic necessity This created unemployment industrial problems Oil exporter Britain (British Oil, British Air, British Telecommunication -- theyre private companies)

Iron Lady

When Tony Blair became PM they did not change the economic policy after ThatcherLabour should accept the new reality, there is no way to go back to nationalization.

Growth was attributed to Thatchers pro-market reforms and were mostly maintained by New Labour (privatization of state-owned industries and services, trade unions restricted, etc.)

Since the Global crisis of 2008, economic difficulties: -- state debt - from 37% to 61% of GDP between 2007-11, budget deficit was 11% in 2010, unemployment grew to 2,5M by 2011, the highest since 1994 default -- nem tudja fizetni a tartozsait

bail out anyagilag kisegteni

NHS National Health Service private business Equal access to healthcare main idea of the labour

Hobby horses - NHS + Education they need to be improved

Social Snapshot of the UK

Population was estimated over 61M in 2008 and projected to exceed 65M by 2018 due to birth and immigration both legal/illegal

Most growth occurs in England (51M to 55M) the other countries grow very little (over 80% of the population is English /place of living/)

About 8% of the population belongs to ethnic minorities (mostly the non-white population); the total number grew from 3M to 4,6 M between 1991-2001

Ethnicity

White 92,4% Chinese 0,3%

Black 2%

British Asian 3,9%

The USA in the 21st centuryThe 1990s = CONFIDENCE Roaring decade, good period, no trouble at all Blissful in Am. History, very positive period

Global hegemony: USA won the Cold War+ emerged as the only superpower after the collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellites showdownThey faced down the Soviet Union (they were the first blinking)

Military industry

1980s computer technologies US became the home of computer technologies

Economy, high-tech. industry -- US won the Cold War

Ronald Reagan

Won the war (personally)

US- China economic connection neither could live without the othernr.1 buyer nr.1 market for each other

Refreshing politician, everybody could understand himself

Began a huge military built-up - debt

Huge technical improvements spacecraft

Decade where there was no enemy for Americacommunism

How is US going to handle all these responsibilities gained as they are the only superpowerEconomic prosperity Between 1992-2000 the GDP grew 4% annually, unemployment was steadily below 5%, inflation was c. 2,5%, poverty rate declined from 15% to 11% and the national debt was significally reduced.

Security and confidence:

Americans felt free from nuclear threat, turned away from the world and focused on domestic problems on the top of the world

Clinton achieved everything himself

Easy- going (women cases Monika)

If the Americans feel good, they turn off from the world

Jelcin_Clinton - youtube

Wanted a huge clear and clean victory on Saddam Hussein hero of the decade

Hilary Clinton

She was pushing him on politics

Ambitious, independent minded

Unusual first-lady

Health care free for everybody

Extremely good lawyer

Senator in NYC now

Secretary of State in Obamas campaign

2000s 9/11 and aftermath (Everything was changed) George W. Bush won the election in 2000 after a campaign focusing on domestic issues (closest president election in the last 100 years) ; hardly ever talked about foreign policy (international politics) Image in the guy-next-door talented in a simply way, he couldnt speak more sophisticatedly unlikely president Al Gore was like a college teacher Americans dont like to look up to their leaders

Truly Conservative Christian (1st)

Favourite philosopher Jesus Christ won a lot of votesBilly Gram evangelical teacher - Turn to God, go back to Jesus and well be happy.

Bush alcoholic, drunk too much whiskey

East-coast, West-coast Al Gore won

Southern parts Bush won confidentially

Organisations leader: Osama Bin Laden came from a rich Saudi Arabian family

Sep 11, 2001: The Al Qaeda terror attack in New York and Washington demolished American sense of security and generated fear and desire for revenge -- War on Terror declared by Bush (very controversial outside USA)- unavoidable to produce spectacular respond Iraq and Afghanistan were attacked, although the organisations members were from Saudi Arabia (+) but there was no relation with Iraq despite they were attacked as respond..

Saddam Hussein (Iraq) Iraq vs. Iran

GWB used 9/11 for something else get rid of SH

Export of democracy to Iraq Lets do democracy there Nation Building

Oct 2001: Invasion of Afghanistan began to oust the Taliban regime which harboured Osama

March 2003: Invasion of Iraq arguing that Saddam Hussein secretly owns WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction)Mission Accomplished

exit strategy How to get out from Iraq without losing what youve achieved?

Domestic consequences/AmE patriotism is the love for your country; nationalism is not American thing/ USA PATRIOT ACT (Oct 2001): authorized FBI and other agencies to extensive surveillance of suspected terrorists and immigrants (wiretapping, intercepting electronic communication, etc.) It also strengthened the border security and ordered stronger control over immigrants (secure visas) as well as indefinite detention of suspected aliens.

It defined acts of terrorism and prescribed strict penalties for any terrorism related activity-- in order to prevent other terrorist attack

New Federal Department

Department of Homeland Security (Nov 2002): absorbed the Immigration and Nationalization Service, Border Patrol, Custom Service, Coast Guard and Secret Service.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement: law enforcement agency for homeland security

The largest reorganisation of federal government since 1947, when the Department of Defence was created

Impact of 9/11

Surge of patriotic fervour: Bushs approval went above 90%, the public demanded revenge and mocked European countries who refused to join. Support the troops signs in the front of the homes, etc.

Loss of security: fear of another terrorist attack gripped the nation for years (airport security control, alerts, suspicion of foreigners, etc.)

US image tarnished: sympathy soon evaporated other invasion of Iraq, lack of success exposed weakness of the UA military

Economic and political impact

9/11 was followed by a brief recession, then growth continued until the banking crisis of 2008

The Bush administration spent enormous amounts on War on Terror while introducing tax cuts on the wealthy budget deficit began to grow

Despite international unpopularity, Bush secured his re-election in 2004, based on his military successes

Substandard mortgages = risky

By the time of 2008 -- Bush was in a serious financial crisis

Obama campaign on changes

Growing political tension: under Bush, Republicans moved to the right -- moderate centre missing Pic. Bush and his 2nd inauguration, 2005

Obama and Crisis Management

Obama made history as the first non-white president elected in 2008 His election coincided with the global financial crisis that severely shook US economy(billions of $s spent on these: GM must survive; bail out govt. guarantees that major banks, factories, companies wont collapse) In the last 3 years, US public debt began to grow exponentially, provoking sharp conflicts between Republicans and Democrats

Tea Party: Radical conservative right wing movement with libertian anti-federal government agenda (smaller taxes + less expenditures)

Brief introduction to IRELAND

Irish people

Friendlier than the English, more outgoing, drinking, dancing, singingIrish pubs

Geography

The most westerly island of the European continental shelf located on the periphery of Europe

John M Synge: The Playboy of the Western World -- in Irish context keleti puszta rural, poorer part of Ireland -- for us: it means prosperity & urban life

C. 83.000 sqkm slightly smaller than Hungary

Surface: central flatland surrounded by low hills and mountains along the coast (tallest peak is 1.040 m in the southwest

Impact of the ice age: valleys, loughs (lakes), bogs (mocsr/lp) wetland, peat (tzeg, product of bogs) rszben elszenesedett nvnyi maradvny Climate temperate and rainy: cold summers, mild winters, many short rivers, Gulf Stream (Golf ramlat)

Curiosity: no snakes live on the island

Larger units:

1. Connacht

2. Leinster -- used to be smaller kingdoms

3. Munster

Capital: Dublin located east (like London); on a river (like London); close to the continent (like London)

Big Cities: Cork, Wexford, Galway Many Irish names became commonplace in British culture (like Limerick)

Closest neighbour: Scotland /England is more far away/

Society:

Population: ~6M for the whole island; 4.24 M for the Republic of Ireland (in contrast it was over 8M in 1841!) Great Irish Famine (1. Starving 1M ppl died

2. Massive emigration because of it

Irish culture spread with the emigrants.Irish heritage is a popular thing today in America.Since WW II Irish origins are popular and shown.

Religion: ~80% Catholic in the Republic; the rest mostly Anglican (mostly in the east, Dublin and area)Anglo Irish: slightly pejorative meaning -- youre not quite as Irish as real ones (so Catholic)Irish rejected Protestantism.-For Irish: Catholicism = nationalism (part of the national heritage)

Language

Irish Gaelic is spoken by ~260.000 mostly along the west coast, but its the official language of the Republic.But in everyday life, everybody uses English, even these ~260.000 speakers.

Government

Republic of Ireland declared in 1949 when the country became independent of the UK.

1922: Ireland was partitioned: Northern Ireland was separated

Irish Free State (southern part)-- full autonomy; but formally still belonged to British Empire under the Queen1801: UK GB & Ireland;

1922: UK GB & Northern IrelandTrianon feeling for people of Irish Free State

amoun de Valera:

Irish nationalist, dominant figure of that time

NI is part of the Republic, cant be divided!

He wanted to get it back.

Ireland is indivisible Parliamentary democracy with bicameral legislature1. Dail: lower house with 166 elected TOs (=MPs)

2. Seanad: upper house (like Senate), partly appointed, partly delegated, with limited powers (similar to House of Lords)

President elected by direct vote for 7-year term, has monthly representative role Taoiseach /tisx(ch)/ = PM head of the government

Two parties are presentedEarly history

~6000 before present: the melting of the ice sheets raised sea levels and Ireland (for 5-6m!) separated from the rest of Europe

Celts settled in Ireland from ~500B.C.Iron age came with them, they had better weapons than other ppl who used bronze big stone megaliths are pre-celtic (like Stonehenge) Ireland was never invaded by Rome, so it remained free from Roman influences

After 400 A.D., the decline of Roman power, Irish invaded south-western Scotland -- Scots (Dal Rita : a kingdom)The two countries have same cultural origins! Similar names (Mc), languages- cultural links and similarities

~432: Patrick, a Christian missionary arrives -- patron saint, Ireland converted to ChristianityEarly Medieval Ireland After the 6th c: monastic Christianity thrives in Ireland, spreading over to Scotland as well From 790s: Viking invasions began along the coast, targeting monasteries (from Norway)

841: Vikings settled at Dublin, founding the city

c. 950: Vikings raids and invasions were over, but they remained in and around Dublin, trading with the Continent -- stronger links to the world

1002-1014: Brian Borm, a legendary (famous) native king dominated the whole of the island ruled in regional kingdom; Great King over the others

Established himself as a dominant person on the island; Had ambitions

Great old king of Ireland Because of him -- the name Brian became popularV: constant threat for Ireland Small kingdoms Ireland was divided Rural country at that time V traded relations with other countriesNorman invasions 1106: Beginning of the Irish church reform: the first archbishop is consecrated -- introduction of dioses (pspksg) and parishes on the Continental modelarch dioses 1166: The defeated and exiled king of Leinster fled to England and asked for Henry IIs help

1169: The first Norman (English) invasion of Ireland -- Pope declared Henry II lord of Ireland in 1172 and Irish kings recognised him -- political importance

Ireland was not occupied as a whole occupied just some areas established aristocratic families, who remained there primary language was French, stillLate Medieval Ireland King John(Lackland) Magna Carta

1204: Dublin Castle was built by King John and became the seat of English government in Ireland

By c. 1250: Normans held about of Ireland

1315: Robert Bruce, brother of the Scottish king, was invited to be high king and defeat the Normans -- he was killed in 1318 Gaelic revival late 14th 15th c. Anglo-Irish lords (outsiders like Scottish) lose much territory and influence English rule restricted to the Pale (territory)

Tudor Conquest and plantations 1541: After quelling a rebellion, Henry VIII was declared by the Irish Parliament King of Ireland

1560: Irish Act of Supremacy and Uniformity: Anglican practices extended to Ireland, provoking widespread resistance Ethnic + religious conflicts 1594-1603: Hugh ONeills rebellion, a failed effort to force the English from Ireland

1610: The first great plantation of Ulster began Protestant English and Scottish Settlers occupied confiscated land of Catholics Ulster Scots Presbyterian Protestants -- Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland SEPARATION

Religious Wars 1641: Great rebellion in Ulster against the protestant settlers and Parliament, joined by Old Irish and English Catholic landowners

Oliver Cromwell became the boss

1649: Cromwells brutal invasion of Ireland, massacring civilians in Drogheda & Wexford -- Catholic landowners replaced by Protestants, harsh anti Catholic measuresCatholicism as such was forbidden!Social devision was not the case before 2 societies: 1. Poor catholic mess 2. Elite 1689: James II, after fleeing from England, landed in Ireland -- 1690: Battle of the Boyne, victory of William III of Orange over James

symbolic event in Irelands history; victory of Protestants strengthened the rules of protestant views

Orange Order explicit organisation in every July celebrated the Battle of the Boyne victory marching season

Protestant Ascendancy (18th c.) =domination Two societies: a wealthy, land-owning Anglo-Irish Protestant elite (10.000 families) & a mostly poor, suppressed Catholic majority (75% of the population)

Penal laws (punishing): Catholics were excluded from positions, from voting and from owning lands

Catholicism remained stubborn and slowly rebuilt its infrastructure (parishes, seminaries, etc.)

1782-83 Irish patriots achieve full self-government under British government -- doesnt satisfy lower classes

Irish patriotic movement idea: to establish a kind of autonomous Ireland /from England/

Ireland should be self-governing

Rebellion & Union

1791: United Irishmen, a radical group for Irish independence, was formed, led by Wolfe Tone 1793: Relief Act, Catholics can vote and own land again

1798: United Irishmens rebellion for independence were suppressed by the British

1800: Union of Great Britain & Ireland was passed -- Irish Parliament abolished, United Kingdom created (100 Irish MPs out of 658)

Irish tried failed

glorious episodes of failure

Union meant free trade as well

Irelands parts like Dublin also benefited from this

Great Famine & Catholic revival After the Union, Irish society was increasingly divided along sectarian lines: Protestants supported the Union, Catholics opposed it

1823: Catholic Association formed by Daniel OConnell -- HoC (House of Commons) passed Emancipation Act in 1829 and OConnell became first Catholic MP.

Equality of Catholicism

1845: The potato blight (vsz) ruined the crop and mass starvation began next year at least 800.000 died by 1849, 2M emigrated

Population reduced from 8M to as a consequence of the Potato Famine

Brief Survey of CANADA

Geography Second largest country in the world after Russia over 9.9M sq km! (Equal to Europe!)

But 1/8 of the territory is habitable and 1/12 is cultivable -- small population compared to size : c. 32M in 2006

Territories:

Atlantic coast

St. Lawrence Lowlands

Canadian Shield (alfld around Hudson Bay)

Great Central Plains

Pacific Mountains

Arctic Region Natural habitat is varied: forests, lakes, prairies, mountains, rich wildlife

Hunting

Great Lakes (4)

St. Lawrence River valley

Core of Heartland / Canada around/near Ontario

St. Lawrence Lowland: population is concentrated here -- 2 individual regions: Ontario + Quebec (2 provinces of St. Lawrence Lowlands) Divided into 10 provinces British Columbia western part (like California for USA) climate similar to Seattle & SF

Hockey national game

Western Canada + Eastern Canada; but there is not really Middle Canada

Country succeeded to remain 1 country, its not divided; although Am. tried to conquer 2x

Problem: religion -- French Catholics vs. Puritans

Invasion of Canada never worked out.Population 60% lives St. Lawrence Lowlands in Quebec & S. Ontario -- economic and cultural centre of the country

Other population: British Columbia (14%) on the Pacific Coast; Alberta (12%) on the western plains

Largest Cities: Toronto (5M); Montreal (3,6M); Vancouver (2,3M); Ottawa (1,1M); Calgary (1,1M); Edmonton (1M); Quebec (7-800.000)

Dynamic growth: 14M in 1951 -- +3-4M / every 10 yearsToday: 34M growing and changing (the composition of society) -- because of the continuous immigration

Languages 2 official languages: English; French Languages used at home (2006): E (67%); F (22%); other (11%)

Mother tongues (2006): E (58%); F (22%); other (19%) --- largest: Chinese (3%) Quebec is the only prominently French-speaking province: c. 80% is native French (c. 6M)

Two official languages -- all federal government employees are expected to be fluent in both. (Liberal French politicians became PMs)

Quebec has only 1 official language: French

Ethnic origins (2006 census) 10M declared themselves of Canadian origin (partly or fully) 6.5M English origin (c. 21%)

5M French (c. 16%%)

Visible minorities Canadian expression for groups of non-European descent

Their proportion is c. 20% of the population in 2006:

4% First Nations (Native Americans)

16% Other (4% S.Asian, 4% Chinese, 2,5% Black)

60% of immigrants came from Asia, primarily from China, India and Philippines

By 2030 c 1/3 of the population will belong to visible minority groups!

Constitution and Government Mixture of Br and Am --- constitutional monarchy Canada is a monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, who is represented by the Governor General in Canada

Parliament resides in Ottawa (like Br) and consists of (like Am)

House of Commons (308 members) elected from electoral districts with a simple majority

Senate (105 members) representing the 10 provinces

Executive power is exercised by the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister (they don1t have a President ()

Federal Structure Canada consists of 10 provinces + 3 territories -- Constitution Act, 1867almost full power on their own Each province has a unicameral legislature called assembly and a separate government led by premiers

Federal powers are stronger than in the US: eg. The Criminal Code (BTK) and marriage laws are uniform all over Canada, but decentralization has been growing since 1960 Question about the union of Canada; Civil War -- about the union/unity of USA -- won the unionist --one way decision no way back

In case of Canada its not so simple

British level of control symbolic, but still its there

Canada independent, but needs a constitution they had one in Br., they brought it home Constitution Act, 1982: patriation of the British Act on Canada + Charter of Rights and Freedoms (similar to Am. Bill of Rights)-- from then on constitutionally separated from Br., only sharing the Queen-- they may pass a law without Br. approvalThe Quebec Problem Quebec nationalism and separatism emerged in 1960s -- Parti Qubcois (PQ) founded in 1968 In 1976, PQ won a majority in the Quebec Assembly -- held a referendum in 1980 about sovereignty association - 60% voted againstAfter the failure of the referendum PQ was still popular

Quebec didnt agree to Constitution Act -- independence movement boosted again Second referendum in 1995 about independence -- 50.6% NO; 49.4% YESWhen does Quebec start separate again?

Clarity Act, 1999: Set up rules for any future independence referendum and divisibility of Quebec

-- Special problem that does not exist in USA.

Famous Canadians: Acting: Leslie Nielsen, Christopher Plummer, D/K Sutherland, Dan Aykroyd, Michal J. Fox, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Hayden Christensen, Ryan Gosling, William Shatner, Rachel McAdams

Music: Cline Dion, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber, Glenn Gould, Leonard Cohen

Sports: Wayne Gretzky (hockey), Donovan Bailey (sprinter)

Culture: Margaret Atwood (writer) Handmades Tale; Alice Monroe, Marshall McLuhan (Comm.theroy)

Bowling for Columbine (Kla Puska Sltkrumpli)school shooting Columbine

AUSTRALIA Geography 6th largest country in the world c. 7.6M sq km! (about of Europe, roughly equal to continental US)

But: c. 70% of its territory is either desert or semiarid (below 500mm rain/year) -- small population compared to size: c. 22M in 2009

Oldest continent: surface untouched by glaciers or volcanic activity for millions of years, separated from other continents for 50M years -- 80% of its animal and plant species are unique! Rocky landscape; surface mostly: sand Because Australia used to be a desert for a long time.Dont have Sahara feeling; sand + plants they had enough time to accommodate-- weird desert + sand is reddish with rocks + some vegetation + some animals: rabbits, marsupial mammals (ersznyes emls) pouch (erszny); kangaroo, coala; most types of snakes Topographical map Great Dividing Range; Salty lakes; Tasmania; nordly edge is very close to the Equator rainforest Climatic map Equatorial Reliability of Summer rainfall

Not much rain during the summer

During the winter almost nothing at all

Population 60% of the population live in the southeaster parts, in Victoria, New South Wales & Tasmania economic, political, cultural centre of the country

If we add Adelaide (S.A) and Brisbane (Queensland) to this area, the rest of Australia has only 10% of the total population

Largest cities: Sydney (4,5M) Melbourne (4M) Brisbane (2M) Perth (1,7M) Adelaide (1,2M) Canberra (capital, 350.000) Dynamic growth: Population grew from 5M; (in 1919 to 22 in 2009); about 6M immigrants arrived since 1945 + large birth rate

Population density map

Ethnicity and Languages Most common language used at home (2008): English (84%), Italian, Greek, Chinese, (each below 2%)

About 24% of Australians were born overseas (2001); largest source is the UK, followed by New Zealand, Italy, China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Greece.

1788-1848 -- Anglo-Celtic deported criminals (Br.prisoners) Classic early problem for women valuable commodity

White Australian policy: preference for Anglo-Celtic immigrants before WW II & for white immigrants between 1945- 1960; ended in 1973

Populate or Parish - population became diverse, but it is still more white than US and more English speaking than Canada

Constitution and government

Similar to Canada

The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of the state, who is represented by the Governor General

Parliament resides in Canberra & consists of a

1. House of Representatives 150 (members), elected from electoral divisions allocated around the states

2. Senate (76 members), representing the 6 states + 2 territories Executive power is exercised by the Cabinet headed by the Prime MinisterFederal Structure Australia consists of 6 states & 2 territories -- Constitution Act, 1901.

Each state has a bicameral parliament with a lower house called assembly and an upper house called council and governments led by premiers /like PM miniszterelnk; (each state has a governor) / Queen appointed them as Gov- General

States were separate colonies before 1901: therefore they have a large degree of autonomy

Australia Act, 1986: Severed constitutional ties between the UK and Australia Queen E. is a separate monarch of Australia

Two main states:

Victoria, New South Wales + Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, TasmaniaTerritories:

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

Aborigines Among the oldest indigenous in the world, have been living in Australia for 40-50.000 years Primitive- considered by others

They didnt count as inhabitants

Over 200 different languages and cultures, out of which c. 20 are spoken by larger groups

Small groups, really isolated from others

There are 500.000 aborigines today -- (2-3% of the population)(Native Am. wasnt counted in Censuses)

Similarly here, no political rights, wasnt treated like humans or part of Australian society

outback -- over there, where nobody livesAboriginal rights Their voting rights were not guaranteed until 1962 and they were included in Censuses only after 1967obvious racism against black (aborigines are mostly black) First Aboriginal politicians gained their position in the 1970s In 1992, The High Court invalidated the terra nullis concept, accepting Aboriginal land rights

In 1999, Parliament passed a Motion of Reconciliation apologising for the historic mistreatment of Aboriginals

Educational achievement is poor

Alcohol abuse high level of alcoholism

2 crazes: cricket; Australian football (similar to rugby, but more brutal)

Australian movie industry Famous (&good) actors: Mel Gibson (MadMax), Paul Hogan, Russel Crowe, Geoffrey Rush, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, Hugo Weaving, Heath Ledger, Guy Pierce, Errol Flynn (Robin Hood)

Famous directors: Peter Weir, Baz Luhrmann (Moulain Rouge, Romeo+Juliet, Australia)

Famous movies: MadMax Series, Crocodile Dundee, Priscilla Queen of the Desert (about a group of drug queens), Shine, Australia

Other famous Australians Sports: Donald Bradman (Cricketer) The Great Australian /like Pusks csi for H./, Evonne Goolagong (Aboriginal tennis player, former nr.1), Cathy Freeman (Aboriginal runner 400m) -- Olympic light in Sydney

Music: BeeGees (pop), AC/DC (hard rock), INXS (rock), Nick Cave (dark rock), Kylie Minogue (pop)

Culture: Patrick White (Nobel Prize in Lit, 1973) /like Kertsz Imre for H/, Colleen McCullough (writer) Tvismadarak, Thomas Keneally (writer) Schindlers Ark (Schinler listja)

Music: Botany Bay; Waltzing Matilda; Down Under

Billabong is the desert where youve water

Steve Irwin