Country & Culture week 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Stonehenge was built on Salisbury Plain sometime between 5.000 and 4.300 years ago. It is one of the most famous and mysterious archaeological creations in the world. Stonehenge appears to function as a clock and we know it was used by druids for ceremonies marking the passing fo the seasons. But how could they have made it?

Hadrian's Wall was built by the Romans in the second century across the northern border of their province of Britannia (which is nearly the same as the present English-Scottish border) in order to protect it from attacks by the Scots and the Picts. The wall is now a popular walking tour for tourists. 

Watch this video, What is Magna Carta? 

Watch this cartoon on the importance of Magna Carta, and why it was needed to stop King John

Robin Hood is a legendary folk hero. Since King Richard I, was fighting crusades abroad, England was ruled by his brother King John. He was unpopular because of the taxes he raised. According to legend, Robin Hood lived with his 'merry men' in Sherwood Forest, outside Nottingham, stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. He was constantly hunted by the local sheriff but never captured. Robin Hood remains a popular figure in Nottingham, where you can spot him everywhere. 

War of the Roses
Find information on the War of the roses.
Answer questions like, who was involved, what happened, how did it start, when and where did it take place?

Feel free to use these sources

Source 1 

Source 2 

Watch this video on Henry VIII and his six wives

Watch this video on Henry VIII and the Church of England

Henry VIII is one of the most well-known monarchs in English history, He was a natural leader, but not really interested in the day-to-day running of government. In the 1530s, Henry used Parliament to pass laws which swept away the power of the Roman church. That's strange because Henry was previously against protestantism, for which the pope gave him the title Fidei Defensor (defender of the faith). F.D. still appears on British coins today

Which mnemonic device (ezelsbruggetje) is used for Henry VIII's six wives?

1. Divorced, Died, Beheaded, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived
2. Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced Beheaded, Survived
3. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived, Divorced, Beheaded, Died
4. Beheaded, Divorced, Died, Beheaded, Divorced, Survived

Read this article on Elizabeth 1 

Read this article to learn more about Queen Victoria

Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, was the first of three long-reigning queens in British history (Can you guess the others?). She never married and became known as 'the virgin queen'. The area which later became the state of Virginia in the USA was named after her by one of the many English explorers (Sir Walter Raleigh) 

The 13 stripes on the American flag represent the original 13 British colonies, and the stars stand for the 50 states of the Union. The colour white stands for purity and innocence, red symbolises valour and the blue represents perseverance and justice. 

These were the original British colonies, that ultimately with the Declaration of Independence formed the United States of America.  Most of the colonies had a head of state which was appointed by the British monarchy and all states had a court which ruled according to British law. 

Watch this video on the Boston Tea party

People gathered together in Boston to taunt (provoke or tease) British officers. Only 4 colonists were shot. But why would they call it a massacre if only 4 people died? The colonists used the word 'massacre' to show the British government was evil, and hoped to stage a revolt (to rebel) against them. 

Watch this video about Paul Revere, an important figure in American history

Poem

Why should I do this? Reading, and actively working on expanding your vocabulary will help your future understanding of texts, especially if you want to go to HBO 

Watch this video on the Declaration of Independence

These are three of the founding fathers; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. George Washington was a military general and became America's first President, serving two terms. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin both worked on the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was the third President of America and Franklin is known as a scientist who invented the lightning rod and bifocals

Write a summary of the video on the previous slide (about the Declaration of Independence), and share your opinion on the last question in the video.

Watch this mini-biography of America's greatest president, Abraham Lincon

Read this brief overview of the American Civil War OR Read these Civil War facts. If this topic interests you, feel free to read both. 

The Civil War was fought between the South (the confederation, left flag) and the North (the Union, right flag). Abraham Lincoln was president of the Union and Jefferson Davis was the president of the confederation. Slavery was the key topic of the Civil War. The Union wanted to see them freed but the South had too much invested in them. 

What is the Emancipation Proclamation? Read the article

You just read about Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

Summarize in your own words what this document did and what it meant for the citizens of America