Parliament, Empire and Industry

When TV correspondents report on important events in the UK, they often do so with the famous skyline of the Houses of Parliament, also called the Palace of Westminster, in the background. The building itself is actually not as old as it looks – it was built in the 19th century, but in an older Gothic style. Today Westminster is seen as the centre of political power in Britain. However, this was not always so. Once it was little more than an administrative tool of the monarch. The struggle for parliamentary power is one of the defining developments of British history and one that laid the foundations of modern democracy.

Read more in Access to English: Social Studies, pp. 26-36. Then do the tasks in the textbook and on this website.

Modern-day Guy Fawkes Night celebrations (5 November) - see page 28. Modern-day Guy Fawkes Night celebrations (5 November) - see page 28.

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