Significant figures

• Figures significant within colonies, towards independence

  • Gandhi began independence campaign in India using civil disobedience.
  • Nkrumah led Ghana to independence in 1957 through nonviolent actions
  • Kenyatta was the first president of independent Kenya.
  • Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal.
  • Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence.
  • George Washington led America to victory in the independence war.
• Robert Clive- 1725-74

  • 1757- won the battle of plassey which established british control
  • he was in the EIC army and proved to be an effective leader
  • signed treaty of Allahabad- 1756 to claim bengal from Mughal empire
  • dual-government idea meant british had shared control in india and EIC had rights to collect tax
  • 1764-1767- govener and commander in chief of bengal
  • 1770- contributed the great bengal famine by increasing taxes, decreasing wages and failed to respond to drought
• Warren Hastings- 1732-1818


  • 1773-85- first governor general of india
  • He strengthened british control by repairing relationship with india by abolishing the dual-government, reorganising laws and centralising a stable government, alliances with indian princes and deals which meant EIC should focus on trade not politics
  • political rivals blamed him for mismanagement and corruption, in 1787 he faced trials but was found not guilty
• Sir Walter Raleigh- 1553- 1618

  • sea captain for queen elizabeth and james I
  • known as the 'father of american colonies'
  • 1584- colonies in virginia, set up roanoke but failed
  • 1607- set up jamestown which succeeded
• Sir John Hawkings- 1532-95

  • respected english naval commander, merchant, privateer and pirate
  • responsible for building up the elizabeth royal navy, he would design and build ships and he was credited for being a major part in defeating the spanish armada
  • 1562- britains first slave trader, he captured slaves from africa and sold them in america
  • 1564- a secnd voyage since the first was profitable
  • cousin of sir francis drake
• Alfred the great- 871-899

  • focus on education and literacy
  • built first known navy
  • burhs- fortified settlements
  • coins with his face on them- claiming him as the first king of england
  • religion- deal for vikings to convert to christianity
  • danelaw
  • beat vikings in the battle of edington
  • created the doom laws
• Henry II- 1154

  • built and had power over the angevin empire, including: anjou, maine, brittany, normandy, england, ireland, aquitane, touraine
  • he built the empire by inhereted land from his mother and his father, marrying eleanor of aquitane
  • empire significant because- fortification of britain, economy improved through trade and commerce, alliance/relationship with france
• John nicknames


  • Bad King John
  • John Softsword
  • John Lackland
• King John actions- 1199-1216

  • 1202-05- French territory of Anjou, maine, brittany, normandy lost
  • John raises taxes without any consultation, he does this to fund the war effort
  • 1214- battle of bouvine, even with the money he fails to return normandy or any french land to britain
  • 1215- forced to sign magna carta
  • 1216- dies in battle, and while in possesion of land so all of the angevin empire is lost
• why was the magna carta significant?

  • 63 clauses
  • minimised the power that monarchs in england had, huge towards human rights and modern democracy
  • 3 clasues remain today: freedom of the church, right to due legal process and the ancient liberties of the city of london
  • the rest of the clause influenced many laws today, the importnat ones are: The king could not tax anyone without representation inthe government, the law applied equally to everyone, widows gained rights and property rights for any citizen
• Richard lionheart- 1189-1199


  • renowned military leader hwo spent most of his life engaged in war/ battles
  • deeply involved in the third crusades
  • fought defence for england
  • his absence from england left ruling in the hands of his mother and his trusted advisors, however john was very keen to seize the throne that he conspired with phillip of france while richard was away
• Cecil Rhodes- pm of cape colony 1890-96


  • invested in education in both africa and england- rhodes scholarships in oxford and investment for the university of cape town
  • racist beliefs/ social darwanism- promoted by his actions, forcing black people off their land, raising their taxes, made it harder for them to vote
  • development- cape to cairo railway running from south africa to egypt, modern day zimbabwe named rhodesia, built hospitals, roads, schools
  • improved british economy
  • imperialistic views and credited to be the best empire builder
  • De beers diamond company made up 90% of market
• King Cnut- 1016-35


  • Conquered england so that it was a part of the north sea empire
  • Initially tough on english rebels
  • his rule became very peaceful
  • reinstated edgar the peacefuls laws
  • religious man who improved relationship with the church and make donations
  • married emma of normandy which made his rule easier and more popular
  • encuraged trading- brought good wealth to britain