Historical connections between English-speaking countries

The 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 South
Britain 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 Africa
Br.: 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 created
The 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 further
Between 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 policy
World 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 century

The 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 UK
Alec 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 Magganes
There 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
Thatcher
Labour 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 century

The 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 showdown
They 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 other
nr.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 America
communism
How is US going to handle all these responsibilities gained as they are the only
superpower
Economic 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 votes
Billy 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
o Substandard mortgages = risky
o By the time of 2008 -- Bush was in a serious financial crisis
o Obama campaign on changes
o Growing political tension: under Bush, Republicans moved to the right --
moderate centre missing
o 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, singing

Irish 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
3. Munster

-- used to be smaller kingdoms

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 Queen
1801: UK GB & Ireland;
1922: UK GB & Northern Ireland
Trianon 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 legislature
1. 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 presented
Early 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
Christianity
Early 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 popular

V: constant threat for Ireland

Small kingdoms Ireland was divided
Rural country at that time V traded relations with other countries
Norman invasions
1106: Beginning of the Irish church reform: the first archbishop is consecrated --
introduction of dioses (pspksg) and parishes on the Continental model
arch 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, still
Late 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 measures
Catholicism 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
o 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:
o Atlantic coast
o St. Lawrence Lowlands
o Canadian Shield (alfld around Hudson Bay)
o Great Central Plains
o Pacific Mountains
o 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 years
Today: 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:

o 4% First Nations (Native Americans)

o 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)
o House of Commons (308 members) elected from electoral districts with a
simple majority
o 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, 1867
almost 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
o Question about the union of Canada; Civil War -- about the union/unity of
USA
-- won the unionist
--one way decision no way back
o In case of Canada its not so simple
o British level of control symbolic, but still its there
o 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. approval

The 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 against
After 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% YES
When 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
o Not much rain during the summer
o 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 Minister
Federal 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, Tasmania
Territories:
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory

Aborigines
Among the oldest indigenous in the world, have been living in Australia for 40-50.000
years
o Primitive- considered by others
o They didnt count as inhabitants
o Over 200 different languages and cultures, out of which c. 20 are spoken by larger
o
o
o

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 lives

o
Aboriginal rights
Their voting rights were not guaranteed until 1962 and they were included in Censuses
only after 1967
obvious 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
o Educational achievement is poor
o 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