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The Norman Conquest was when William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England and defeated King Harold’s army at the Battle of Hastings. William was then crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066. This marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England. It completely changed English society, culture and government, then introducing Norman rule, French language influences, new laws and feudal land systems. -
In 1215, a group of powerful English barons forced King John to agree to a document called the Magna Carta (Great Charter) at Runnymede, near the Thames River. It limited the king’s power and protected certain rights of nobles and free men. It became a symbolic foundation for constitutional law and individual rights in England and later influenced democracies worldwide. -
Martin Luther's document criticizing the Catholic Church's practices, particularly indulgences, which sparked the Reformation. It started major religious change in Europe, leading to the creation of Protestant churches and weakening the authority of the Catholic Church. -
King Henry VIII declared himself Head of the Church of England, breaking from the Pope and Rome. It made the English monarch leader of the national church, reshaping religion and politics in England. -
Passed under King Henry VIII, the Acts of Union legally incorporated Wales into England. English law replaced Welsh law, and Wales was given representation in the English Parliament. Wales lost its political independence and became fully controlled by England. While it gained parliamentary representation, the Welsh language was excluded from official use, weakening Welsh culture and identity for centuries.
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Mary I became Queen of England in 1553 and tried to restore Catholicism. She persecuted Protestants and had many of them executed, which earned her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” Her violent religious policy increased tensions and made Catholicism unpopular, leading Elizabeth I to firmly re-establish Protestantism after 1558.
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A significant event where Mary was executed for plotting against Elizabeth I, highlighting the tensions between Catholics and Protestants. -
A pivotal naval battle where England defeated Spain, solidifying Elizabeth I's reign and marking a turning point in English history. -
The first permanent English settlement in North America, which struggled initially but later thrived due to tobacco cultivation. -
A war between King Charles I and Parliament over who should control the government. The Parliamentarians won, and Charles I was tried and executed in 1649. It was the first time a reigning king was executed by his own people, marking a major shift toward limiting royal power and strengthening parliamentary democracy.
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The overthrow of King James II, leading to the establishment of William and Mary as monarchs and the signing of the Bill of Rights. -
An act that limited the powers of the monarchy and established the rights of Parliament and individuals, marking the transition to a constitutional monarchy. -
In 1707, England and Scotland signed the Act of Union, uniting their Parliaments and creating the Kingdom of Great Britain, with a single Parliament in Westminster. Scotland lost its independent Parliament but kept its legal system, Church and education system. The Union strengthened trade and security but remains controversial and is still debated today. -
In 1800, Great Britain and Ireland were united under one Parliament, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after a failed Irish rebellion in 1798. The Union increased Irish resentment toward British rule and eventually led to the partition of Ireland in 1921, with only Northern Ireland remaining in the UK. -
Before 1832, the British electoral system was highly unfair. Many industrial cities had no MPs, while small villages (“rotten boroughs”) were overrepresented. The First Reform Act redistributed seats and extended voting rights to the middle class, especially property-owning men. It was the first step toward a more democratic political system.
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The Second Reform Act of 1867 extended the right to vote to urban working-class men. The number of voters almost doubled. This reform is important because it gave political influence to the working class and forced political parties to consider social and economic issues.
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The Third Reform Act of 1884 granted voting rights to rural working-class men, including farm workers. It made the electoral system fairer between towns and countryside. This reform is important because it brought Britain close to universal male suffrage and strengthened democracy.
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All men and women over 30 were allowed to vote. It rewarded wartime sacrifice and expanded democracy. -
This law gave women the same voting rights as men (vote at 21). It completed the process of universal suffrage in Britain and established full political equality between men and women. -
After referendums, devolved institutions were created: the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, and the Northern Ireland Assembly (Good Friday Agreement). Power was transferred from Westminster to regional governments, allowing them to manage local issues (education, health, transport). Devolution reshaped UK politics and raised questions about independence. -
The act ended the rule of male primogeniture, allowing the eldest child to inherit the throne regardless of gender. It also allowed the monarch to marry a Roman Catholic. It modernised the monarchy and promoted gender equality.