When and how did the British monarchy start losing its power? How did the British monarch become the powerless figure head of the present day?
If memory serves from my schooldays in the UK during the 1970s, the monarchy's loss of power can be simplified (oversimplified?) into 5 events:Magna Carta 1215The monarchy basically started losing material power with King John of England signing the Magna Carta [1215], which led to the rule of constitutional law in England. Translation: the beginning of the end of absolutism in royal rule in England. This was just 149 years after the Norman Conquest under William I.English Civil War 1642-51Commonwealth of England/The Protectorate 1651-60The monarchy continued to lose power by turns in the years since Magna Carta, culminating in the English Civil War. The Commonwealth of England (later, the Protectorate for the whole of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland) replaced the monarchy under Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland. (We can safely generalise Charles I was a British monarch, even though history books conventionally identify him as "of England.")The Restoration 1660With the end of the Commonwealth/Protectorate in 1658-60, the monarchy was restored under King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland. However, Parliament limited Charles II's royal prerogative powers on constitutional grounds that he had no right to arbitrarily suspend laws enacted by Parliament. Translation: further loss of royal power.The Glorious Revolution 1688King James II of England and Ireland (and as James VII of Scotland) was overthrown by Parliamentary forces in a joint operation with Dutch forces under William of Orange, who then became "King Billy": William III of England, Scotland and Ireland (in addition to being Stadtholder of various areas in the Dutch Republic). But during William III's reign (jointly with Mary II), there was resistance to his/their validity to the throne (which is too involved to explain here).United Kingdom 1707-1800 / 1801-1927 / 1921-todayThe most prominent political feature of the UK that diluted the power of the monarchy was the Reform Act 1832 refashioned the British electoral system and extended the franchise. Translation: more power to the people and parliament.There are other important events in between those above, of course, but those are the ones most UK-educated people tend to remember at any given moment.
What ever happened to the student I used to be?
I think you have to be a little more grateful that you're so intelligent and try to make use of it. If you don't use it now in school, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. I used to barely pass subjects (except for english!) last year, but now I have to work extremely hard to just get 80s. I'm not trying to motivate you by showing you that people have it worse, not like that father who tries to discipline his kids by telling them that there are people starving in China... but I'm just trying to say that you should do it if you can do it. Set a high goal and score above it. I suggest that you set a long term career goal and think of all the people you will disappoint if you fail. That's what I do to motivate myself. I didn't have much to say here because I have never been through what you're going through. But (i know this sounds corny) if you believe in yourself, you will find yourself doing whatever you set your mind to. I hope you do get motivated and topping class. Oh, and IMO, social stats isn't that important. Once you start topping classes, you get that respect again from everyone even though you're not a stud. I've been told that social stats and all sorta diminish after high school. Let's hope I've been told right. Good luck