Теория и практика перевода. Терехова Г.В. - 77 стр.

and Southern Netherlands and the princedom of Liège under the rule of King William
I.
        William I promoted the industrialization of the country. To support
mechanized industry, he embarked on large scale infrastructural development and
provided financial assistance to entrepreneurs. His measures met with the approval of
the industrialists of Wallonia and Ghent. In the rest of Flanders non-mechanized rural
industry suffered greatly from the competition represented by new factories, which
caused some dissatisfaction.
        The Catholic Church supported this rural opposition because it refused to
accept a protestant king. Moreover, William I wanted to limit clerical power, which
resulted in catholic distrust.
        The king was not so liberal in political matters. He refused to devolve power
to government ministers, which was what the Liberals demanded. In linguistic
matters, he wanted to impose Dutch in Flanders. The young Walloon and Flemish
upper-classes, which spoke French, were afraid that their career opportunities would
be affected.
        In 1828 Catholics and young Liberals formed a Union which had a joint
programme. Finally, in 1830, tensions in the south rose to such an extent that the area
broke away from the north and formed a new independent Belgian state.
        Belgium's independence (1830 - present time)
        At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, Belgium (The Southern Netherlands) and
the Northern Netherlands (Holland) were united to form one State. This new state
was ruled by King William I. Although his policy was beneficial to the Belgian
bourgeoisie, there was protest. The Catholics objected to the interference of the
protestant king in clerical matters. The Liberals demanded more freedom. In 1828
Catholics and Liberals drew up a concerted programme of demands. The association
between Catholics and Liberals was called unionism.
        After a series of incidents, the revolution erupted in Brussels in 1830. William
I sent in his troops, but they were expelled on September 27th, 1830. The rebels
received support from volunteers outside the city. Following this rising Belgium
separated from the Northern Netherlands. A provisional government declared
independence on October 4th, 1830. On November 3rd of the same year, a National
Congress was elected by an electorate of 30,000 men, who paid a given level of taxes
or who had special qualifications. On February 7th, 1831 the national congress
adopted a constitution which, for its time, was very progressive.
        A diplomatic conference on the future of Belgium opened in London on the
November 4th. The great powers of the time recognized the secession of Belgium
from the (Northern) Netherlands. Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg became the first King of
the Belgians (1831-1865). In 1865 he was succeeded by his son Leopold II (1865-
1909). Under their reign Belgium became the second most important industrial
power.
        Both kings wanted to secure Belgium's economic independence by promoting
colonial expeditions, but they were not successful in this until the end of the 19th
century. It was at this time that Leopold II backed expeditions by Henry Stanley to
the Congo basin. He entered into agreements with local chiefs which resulted in a
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