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Year 7

Edward I's failure to unite all of Britain

I can explain what stopped Edward uniting all of Britain.

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Year 7

Edward I's failure to unite all of Britain

I can explain what stopped Edward uniting all of Britain.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Edward I had failures in his campaign to unify Britain.
  2. Edward I had successes in his campaign to unify Britain.
  3. Edward faced resistance from the Welsh and Scottish.
  4. The success of Scottish and Welsh resistance was affected by how united people were in resisting Edward.

Keywords

  • Brutality - brutality is behaviour that is very cruel or violent

Common misconception

There is a belief that Edward I's military strength alone was sufficient to ensure long-term control and unity of Britain.

Edward I's approach was often brutal leading to ongoing resistance and ultimately limiting his ability to achieve lasting unification.


To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: Edward I's failure to unite all of Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils will benefit from access to the materials from the other lessons in this unit so that they can make a full judgement about why Edward I was unable to unite all of Britain in this lesson.
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Teacher tip
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What was an important outcome of Edward's brutal campaign in Scotland?
the division among the Scottish clans
the end of Scottish resistance
Correct answer: the strengthening of a common Scottish identity
Q2.
Why was Stirling Bridge important?
Correct answer: It was the first bridge across the River Forth.
It was the longest bridge in medieval Europe.
It was the only bridge connecting Scotland and England.
Q3.
Match the following words to their correct definitions.
Correct Answer:guerilla ,a small military force making unexpected attacks
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a small military force making unexpected attacks

Correct Answer:outlaw ,a person who has broken the law and lives separately from society
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a person who has broken the law and lives separately from society

Correct Answer:causeway ,a raised path, especially across a wet area
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a raised path, especially across a wet area

Correct Answer:chainmail ,a material made of small metal rings for armour
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a material made of small metal rings for armour

Q4.
Edward’s brutal campaign in Scotland later earned him the nickname ‘ of the Scots.’
Correct Answer: Hammer, hammer
Q5.
Why was the Battle of Stirling Bridge an important victory for the Scottish resistance?
It ended English claims over Scotland.
It led to the capture of Edward I and the defeat of his army.
Correct answer: It strengthened Scottish resistance against English rule.
Q6.
In 1306, Robert the murdered a rival Scottish claimant and declared himself king of Scotland.
Correct Answer: Bruce, bruce

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word best describes Edward I’s excessively violent tactics in warfare, showing no feelings for others?
Correct answer: brutality
recklessness
fearlessness
Q2.
When did Edward's military campaigns against the Scots tend to be unsuccessful?
Correct answer: when Edward was fighting a war in another country
when Edward personally led his army
when the English used guerrilla tactics
Q3.
What was a major challenge Edward faced after his initial success in uniting England, Wales and Scotland under his rule?
economic crises in the united territories
Correct answer: ongoing rebellions led by Robert the Bruce
resistance from the French monarchy
the outbreak of a widespread famine
Q4.
Edward came close to securing a united Britain. If he had only relaxed his iron grip, a union of England, Wales and may have developed.
Correct Answer: Scotland, scotland
Q5.
Why was Scottish resistance to Edward I more successful than Welsh resistance?
Edward's brutality was more severe in Wales than Scotland.
Correct answer: Scottish leaders were more united in resistance.
Resistance in Wales did not have a leader.
Q6.
Which actions demonstrate Edward I's effective leadership towards uniting Britain?
Edward charged rebel leaders with treason.
Correct answer: Edward cooperated with other leaders.
Edward relied solely on military force to maintain control.
Correct answer: Edward ruled with parliament.