Transcript Wales- Cymru - University of Ottawa

Wales- Cymru
Identity and nationalism
Wales (2)-Modern Period
• Growth in Welsh nationalism and national
consciousness.
• 1936-the burning of the bombing school in
Penyberth. (Saunders Lewis, D.J.Williams, Lewis
Valentine).
Wales- Cymru
After survival- growth
Wales-Cymru
• 1536 Act of Union
• 1546 First printed book in Welsh.
• 1567 Translation of Prayer Book and New
Testament into Welsh.
• 1588: Translation of the whole Bible into
Welsh- its influence.
William Morgan and translation of
Bible into Welsh
Wales -Modern Period
• 1707 Edward Lhuyd’s Archaeologia
Britannica. Beginnings of Celtic Studies.
• Mid 18th century- the beginnings of Welsh
non-conformity. Howel Harris. Rejection of
Anglicanism.
• 1737-61: the circulating schools of Griffith
Jones
• 1743 The Methodist Association in Wales
Welsh Chapels
Wales
• Beginnings of industrialisation in Wales 1757.
• Iron works,
• coal-mining,
• tin works.
• Dowlais,
• Merthyr Tudful,
Collier and pit-pony
Wales -Modern Period
• Beginnings of industrialization in Wales:
• The first iron-works in 1757 in Hirwaun, south
Wales.
• The centre of Welsh culture and history
shifts to the south-east, the iron works and
then the coal industry.
Wales (2)-Modern Period
• Wales had by then (late 18th century and 19th
century) become a non-conformist Protestant
nation, largely Welsh-speaking (only) and for
most of the population living in an industrialized
environment (after 1860).
The Methodist Revival
• Key names: Howell Harris, Daniel Rowlands
and the most prominent: William Williams
Pantycelyn. (often just called Pantycelyn).
• Methodism in Wales was a break with
Anglicanism (not officially until the early 19th
century). It was an evangelical form of
Protestantism inspired by the works of Calvin.
The Methodist Revival
• Pantycelyn was a great writer of religious poems (we
would call them hymns) still popular today.
• Another great eighteenth century Welsh religious writer
was Ann Griffiths (1776-1805), who died shortly after
childbirth at the early age of 29.
• Following her death her hymns were written down by
her maid’s husband. They are love-songs, full of
vividimages and meatphors, reflecting a deep
knowledge of the Bible and the beliefs of the Nonconformists (all the non-Anglican versions of
Protestantism).
The Methodist Revival
• By the nineteenth century, Welsh
Nonconformity was no longer a radical force in
religious terms, but rathera social force and
institution that dominated Welsh all aspects of
Welsh culture.
• Religious leaders were now the leaders of society
in Wales and they disapproved of the older folk
culture of Wales.
Rediscovering roots: Iolo
Morgannwg
• Iolo Morgannwg (1747-1826) was a prolific poet and
keen promoter of ancient Welsh history.
• He claimed to have ‘discovered’ many poems by the
14th century poet Dafydd ap Gwilym in local
manuscripts but they were many invented.
• He felt that Glamorganshire, his placeplace, deserved a
rich literary history, and so he partly invented it!
Wales -Modern Period
• First census in Wales 1801- population of Wales
587,000.
• Separation of Welsh Methodists from the
Church of England (Anglicans).
• Merthyr Riots 1831. Beginnings of unionisation.
• Rebecca Riots 1839-44.
Wales (2)-Modern Period
• 1865- a contingent of Welsh people leave for
Patagonia in Argentina, founding the still
existing and thriving Welsh settlements in South
America.
• 1872 –The University of Wales opens (in
Aberystwyth).
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
CYMRU/WALES (4)
Wales -Modern Period
• 1886- the Cymru Fydd movement is founded.
• 1898-the foundation of the South Wales Miners’
Federation. The ‘FED’.
• 1916-Lloyd George becomes first Welsh primeminister of the UK.
• 1925 Plaid Cymru is founded. The National Party
of Wales.
Wales -Modern Period
• Growth in Welsh nationalism and national
consciousness.
• 1936-the burning of the bombing school in
Penyberth. (Saunders Lewis, D.J.Williams, Lewis
Valentine).
Wales -Modern Period
• Saunders Lewis”s Fate of the Language” radio
lecture in 1962.
• 1962- the formation of the Welsh Language
Society (non-violent pressure group, civil
disobedience).
The Trefechan Bridge Protest
1963
Wales -Modern Period
• Period of civil disobedience by members of the
Welsh Language Society. Two major campaigns:
– Road signs in Welsh.
– The creation of a Welsh-language television channel.
– http://cymdeithas.org/english/
Tryweryn- 1963-5
Gwynfor Evans
Wales -Modern Period
• 1964-Creation of the Welsh Office, and James
Griffiths appointed first Secretary of State for
Wales.
• 1967-first Welsh Language Act.(‘equal status’in
law-courts)
• 1973-Kilbrandon Commission recommends
creation of regional parliament for Wales.
Wales -Modern Period
• Period of civil disobedience by members of the
Welsh Language Society. Two major campaigns:
– Road signs in Welsh.
– The creation of a Welsh-language television channel.
Wales -Modern Period
• 1979- first referendum on Welsh parliament
(assembly).
• 1982-Welsh-language television channel (S4C)
set up.
• 1988- creation of the Welsh language board as a
consultative body.
Wales -Modern Period
• 1991- census reveals increase in numbers of
those able to speak Wales.
• 1993-Second Welsh Language Act passed.
• 1999 – Welsh National Assembly opens in
Cardiff.
• 2011- Appointment of first Language
Commissioner
Second referendum
• In July 1997, the British Government published
a White Paper, A Voice for Wales, which outlined
proposals for devolution in Wales.
• A referendum was held on 18 September 1997.
It was very close: 559,419 for and 552,698
against. Just over half the electorate voted.
The National Assembly for Wales
• The establishment of the national Assembly for
Wales in May 1999 changed the nature of
politics in Wales by creating a new style of
government in which decisions and policies
were focused on Wales.
• Wales remains part of the UK.
• New powers.
Welsh Assembly (in Cardiff)
Y Senedd
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales
• The establishment of the National Assembly
for Wales in May 1999 changed the nature of
politics in Wales by creating a new style of
government in which decisions and policies
were focused on Wales.
• Wales remains part of the UK.
• New powers.
• http://www.assemblywales.org/sen-home.htm
Wales -Modern Period
• 1991- census reveals increase in numbers of
those able to speak Wales. How?
• 1993-Second Welsh Language Act passed.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Langu
age_Act_1993
The 1993 Language Act
• 'in the course of public business and the administration of
justice, so far as is reasonably practicable, the Welsh and
English languages are to be treated on the basis of
equality.'
• Basically the Act did three things:
• set up the Welsh Language Board, answerable to the
Secretary of State for Wales, with the duty of promoting the
use of Welsh and ensuring compliance with the other
provisions.
• gave Welsh speakers the right to speak Welsh in court
proceedings
• obliged all organisations in the public sector providing
services to the public in Wales to treat Welsh and English
on an equal basis
New Language Act 2011
• LCO (Legislative Competence Order)
• Proposed new measure on the Welsh
Language had been expected by summer
2010.
• http://www.assemblywales.org/lco-ld7372e.pdf
Second referendum
• In July 1997, the British Government
published a White Paper, A Voice for Wales,
which outlined proposals for devolution in
Wales.
• A referendum was held on 18 September
1997. It was very close: 559,419 for and
552,698 against. Just over half the electorate
voted.
Y Senedd
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales
• The establishment of the National Assembly
for Wales in May 1999 changed the nature of
politics in Wales by creating a new style of
government in which decisions and policies
were focused on Wales.
• Wales remains part of the UK.
• New powers.
• http://www.assemblywales.org/sen-home.htm