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Topic title: Power to the People (Part 1): How did Parliament overcome the power of the Monarchy?

Year group: 8

When taught: October to December

What are we learning?

  •  The development of parliament’s authority and power over the Monarchy over time.
  • Beginning with events such as the signing of Magna Carta and Simon de Montfort’s Great Council, through the English Civil War and to the Glorious Revolution
  • We will study Oliver Cromwell’s republic and look at historical interpretations
  • Historical skills such as significance, legacy, turning points and interpretations

Why is this important to know?

  • This is crucial to understand how Britain today is run as a Constitutional Monarchy. It helps us to understand power and authority and how this developed and changed through time.
  • There are a number of highly significant events, often seen as turning points, which are key to understanding British history.
  • We also get to see some local history and its role in the bigger events, such as the Battle of Evesham and Battle of Stow.
  • It will help us to develop key skills in history such as evaluating significance and interpretations.

Where does this link into our past and future learning?

  •   This links to our previous study of Medieval history, such as the Norman Conquest and helps to see the development of Kingship and the Monarchy. It also links to our learning of the Age of  Discovery and how change occurred in the Tudor and Stuart time periods.
  • Our next topic looks specifically at the later development of democracy and rights in Britain, giving more power to the ordinary person.
  • This topic deepens skills such as evaluating significance and analysing interpretations which are used again in future topics in Key Stage 3 and beyond.

How will we be assessed on this topic?

  • There will be an assessed task looking at historical interpretations of Oliver Cromwell. You will be asked to explain and then to evaluate (check and judge) whether the historian’s views are correct or not.

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic? What are teachers hoping to see?

  •  Attention to detail and use of specific examples.
  • Using correctly key terms such as Constitutional (see below).
  • Giving balanced answers that look at different viewpoints.
  • At the highest level, pupils will begin to discuss how power changed over time and to make real judgements on the extent of change/significance of key events.
  • An enthusiasm to read beyond the subject to gain more depth about each key event studied.

What key words are there in this topic?

Quizlet: Click here 

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

  • Read in more depth about some of the individual events and people in this topic, such as Simon de Montfort, Oliver Cromwell or the English Civil War.
  • Visit local sites on the Battle of Evesham
  • There are some excellent weblinks on your knowledge organiser.

Supporting document/links:

  • You will be given a knowledge organiser at the start of the topic.