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Description
This module provides an introduction to the political, economic, social and cultural history of Britain between 1850 and 1997.
Britain鈥檚 position in the world is a key theme of the module. In 1850, the British empire was expanding; from the mid-twentieth, decolonisation and its aftermath fundamentally shaped British society, culture and politics. The two world wars鈥攂oth closely entwined with the history of the British empire鈥攆orm key turning points in modern British history and significantly impacted Britain鈥檚 place in the world as well as domestic politics and society.
In domestic politics, we examine the birth of mass democracy, the rise of working-class politics and the growth of women鈥檚 suffrage campaigns, as well as the development of the welfare state and 鈥榳arfare state鈥�. In economics, we explore both industrial revolution and recurrent ideas about British economic 鈥榙ecline鈥�.
Britain has always been a 鈥榝our nations鈥� country; the ethnic make-up of society also changed substantially across the period, with Irish, Jewish and new commonwealth migration. Ideas about race and its relationship to national identity changed significantly between 1850 and the late twentieth century, and are key topics for this module. Changes in race, class and gender are, thus, key themes in the module, alongside broader cultural trends such as demographic change, secularisation, the development of mass consumerism, and the decline of deference.
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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