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The American colonies declare their independence from Britain.
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The British fleet defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar.
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Queen Victoria is crowned queen. The Victorian Era begins.
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The outbreak of the First World War. UK enters hostilities against Germany. Grueling trench warfare in Belgium and France.
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War ends in November with armistice. The number of UK war dead runs to several hundred thousand.
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the UK agrees to the foundation of the Irish Free State after three-years Irish war of independence. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK.
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First government led by the Labour Party under Ramsay MacDonald.
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Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, in Munich. Chamberlain says he has averted war with Germany.
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Germany invades Poland. UK declares war on Germany.
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The UK becomes a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
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The UK joins the European Economic Community.
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The Conservative politician Margaret Thatcher becomes prime minister. She begins to introduce free-market policies.
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John Major re-elected as prime minister.
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UK forces take part in the air war against Yugoslavia and the consequent multinational force in Kosovo.
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Gordon Brown succeeds Tony Blair as prime minister and Labour leader.