Concetti Chiave
- The Edwardian era, named after Edward VII, was marked by social reform and relative peace but later faced political and social unrest.
- After Edward VII's death, George V's reign saw increased taxation and parliamentary conflicts, leading to significant political changes like the Parliament Act.
- The suffragette movement, led by Mrs. Pankhurst, used militant tactics to secure women's voting rights, achieving success gradually from 1918 to 1928.
- The Irish struggle for independence involved violent clashes, resulting in the creation of the Irish Free State in 1921, but left Northern Ireland under British control.
- Post-WWI, the rise of totalitarian regimes contrasted with Britain's democratic stance, leading to the Second World War to protect democracy.
The definition "Edwardian era" derives from the name of Queen Victoria's son, Edward, who succeeded to the throne when his mother died in 1901. The period of his reign was one of relative calm and a period of social reform started in the field of education and welfare. This period was considered an idyllic era of peace and prosperity.
After the death of Edward VII, George V ascended the throne: in his reign all the turmoil came to the surface. The reforms carried out in the preceding years led to an increase in taxation and conflict in parliament ending with a Parliament Act which deprived the House of Lords of the veto power over financial matters.
The suffragette movement, founded in 1903 by Mrs Pankhurst and her daughter, gathered force and used militant and violent tactics. In 1918 they obtained the right to vote for women over 30 and in 1928 the suffrage was granted to women over 21. In Ireland, support for Home Rule, that is, the right of the people to control their own affairs, had grown the late 19th century. Southern Catholics wanted an independent republic of Ireland, wholly separated from Britain, this was opposed by the Unionist in the north and by the conservative party. This contrast claim gave rise to a rebellion which was crushed, but the problem wasn't solved as the IRA (Irish Republican Army) resorted to terrorist tactics.
This historical period was characterized by the first World War which gave the illusion that the Irish question problems could be solved peacefully. War had a bad impact on the British population: many young men died. The political settlement resolving how the Treaty of Versailles at the end of First World War, was unsatisfactory for all European countries involved in it because it left too many problems unresolved. After this war Britain had to face another war with the Irish Republican Army which ended with a treaty that created the Irish Free State in 1921 but kept Ulster under British rule. This was followed by a bitter civil war.
There were also problems in the Empire. The colonies claimed their independence and Ireland declared itself autonomous but united by a common allegiance to the crown and associated to the British Commonwealth of Nations. In India Gandhi started a non-violent protest against Britain. The economic difficulties created a fertile climate for the rise of totalitarianism: Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy and Franco in Spain. In Britain there was democracy. The Second World War was fought to defend democracy against totalitarianism.
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Qué caracteriza a la era eduardiana?
- ¿Qué cambios políticos ocurrieron tras la muerte de Eduardo VII?
- ¿Cómo evolucionó el movimiento sufragista durante este período?
- ¿Qué impacto tuvo la Primera Guerra Mundial en el Reino Unido?
La era eduardiana se caracteriza por ser un período de calma relativa y reformas sociales en educación y bienestar, considerado una época idílica de paz y prosperidad.
Tras la muerte de Eduardo VII, se produjeron conflictos en el parlamento que llevaron a un Acta del Parlamento que privó a la Cámara de los Lores del poder de veto sobre asuntos financieros, y se desarrolló el sindicalismo con enfrentamientos violentos entre capital y trabajo.
El movimiento sufragista, fundado por Mrs. Pankhurst y su hija en 1903, utilizó tácticas militantes y violentas, logrando en 1918 el derecho al voto para mujeres mayores de 30 años y en 1928 para mujeres mayores de 21 años.
La Primera Guerra Mundial tuvo un impacto negativo en la población británica, con muchas bajas jóvenes, y dejó problemas sin resolver que llevaron a conflictos posteriores, como la guerra con el IRA y la creación del Estado Libre de Irlanda en 1921.
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