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1901-1910
Victoria dies and is succeeded by her eldest son Edward VII -
Britain defeats Dutch settlers in Boer War in South Africa
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is formed to campaign for women’s suffrage. Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst soon become the most prominent members
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ending centuries of sporadic conflict and paving the way to future diplomatic and military co-operation
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The most powerful battleship afloat, it raises the bar in the Anglo-German naval arms race
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are held in London. Parliament approves the introduction of means-tested old-age pensions of up to five shillings a week for people over 70 years old
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Parliament approves old age pensions
New legislation gave a weekly means-tested pension of a maximum of five shillings to all those aged over 70. -
1910-1936
Edward VII dies and is succeeded by George V -
means the House of Lords cannot veto legislation passed by the House of Commons in three successive sessions; it also establishes five-yearly parliamentary elections
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A contributory scheme of health insurance is introduced for those in employment, which provided payment for medical treatment.
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is formed in opposition to Liberal proposals for Home Rule for Ireland for the third time
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Major battles and casualties include Ypres (1914, 1915), the Somme, during which the British employed tanks for the first time (1916), Jutland (1916), and Passchendaele (1917). Other key dates include the German U-boat sinking of the Lusitania (1915), Zeppelin raids on British cities(from 1915), conscription (from 1916), entry into the war of the USA (1917), and Armistice on the Western Front 11 am, 11 November 1918
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in response to the invasion of Belgium
Compulsory military service and food rationing introduced -
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Irish Nationalists of the Easter Rising seize key buildings in Dublin, but the rising is crushed
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'Spanish flu' epidemic killed more than 200,000 people in Britain and up to 50 million worldwide.
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is founded, becoming the first independent air force in the world.
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establishes peace in Europe. Lady Astor becomes the first woman to sit as a British MP. Sinn Fein sets up the Dail Eireann (Irish Constituent Assembly) in Dublin proclaiming Ireland’s independence; the British government outlaws the assembly, sparking a two-year war with the IRA
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Lady Astor becomes the first woman to take her seat in parliament
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Women at Oxford University are allowed to receive degrees
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Ramsay MacDonald becomes Britain’s first Labour prime minister, but the party loses the election to the Conservatives later in the year
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Scottish inventor and engineer John Logie Baird gives the first public demonstration of television, leading to the historic trans-Atlantic transmissions of television from London to New York in 1928. The General Strike following cuts in the coal-mining industry lasts just nine days
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Women over the age of 21 are given the vote. The first “talkies” (films with audible dialogue) are shown in Britain. Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
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The Wall Street Crash in America sparks the Great Depression
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is formed to campaign for an independent Scotland
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1936-52
Edward VIII's younger brother, the Duke of York, is crowned king -
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Edward VIII wished to marry American Wallis Simpson. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin advised him that the British people would not accept her because she was a divorcee. Faced with losing the woman he loved, Edward chose instead to abdicate. On 11 December, he broadcast his decision to the nation. He married Wallace Simpson in France in June 1937. They became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
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infamous claim by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain that he returned having achieved “Peace for our time”
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Britain declares war on Germany after the invasion of Poland. The Second World War continues until 1945: key episodes include the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain (1940); entry of the Soviet Union and the USA into the war (1941); the D-Day invasion of France; and surrender of Germany and then Japan (1945)
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lays the foundations for the Welfare State, including the creation of the National Health Service in 1948
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India becomes independent from Britain and is partitioned
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Fifty-nine nations took part, but the defeated powers of Germany and Japan were excluded.
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after Egypt’s decision to nationalize the Suez Canal Company, but the forces withdraw in the face of international pressure. John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger is produced in London
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Britain switches on its first nuclear power station
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The death penalty is abolished
The death sentence for treason and piracy with violence remained on the statute books until 1998 when they were abolished by the Crime and Disorder Act. -
Abortion and homosexuality are legalised
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in a ceremony in Brussels which was attended by Prime Minister Edward Heath in preparedness for membership of the European Communities from 1 January 1973
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Conservative Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain’s first woman prime minister
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Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, marries Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral
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Argentina invades the British territory of the Falkland Islands
is fought against Argentina, resulting in a British victory and the United Kingdom reclaiming the Falkland Islands. -
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The Social Democratic Party (founded 1981) merges with the Liberal Party to form the Social and Liberal Democratic Party, later known as the Liberal Democrats
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The Channel Tunnel linking London and Paris is officially opened – the first land link between Britain and Europe since the last Ice Age
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Britain hands Hong Kong back to China, ending more than 150 years of British rule.
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