STUDY PLAN FOR BRITISH HISTORY

PAPER 1
I: GLORIOUS REVOLUTION 1688 89
The Revolution of 1688 89 was spoken by our ancestors as the Glorious Revolution.
Give your views on this stateent an! enuerate the results of this Revolution. "#$$1%
&ote' (vents of )lorious revolution "#$$#%
The year 1688 was a )reat lan!ark in the history of (n)lan!. The stru))le between the
*in) an! the +arliaent en!e! in the victory of the latter. ,oent to analy-e the
results of the )lorious Revolution. "#$$.%
The true )lory of the /ritish Revolution lay in the fact that it was bloo!less0 that there
was no civil war0 no assacre an! no proscription. 1iscuss an! enuerate the result of
Glorious Revolution. "#$$2%
&ever was a kin) stron)er than 3aes455 when he ascen!e! the throne. 5n spite of this0
he lost his throne in recor! tie. This ay see to be stran)e but that was lar)ely !ue to
his own acts of oission. ,oent an! enuerate the causes of the )lorious
Revolution. "#$$6%
6ow !i! the )lorious Revolution in (n)lan! affect the 7ocial0 (conoic0 +olitical an!
cultural life of (n)lish people8 (9plain an! analy-e. "#$$8%
The )lorious Revolution of 1688 was a )reat event in the annals of /ritish 6istory by
which the kin) of (n)lan! becae servant of the people. :naly-e this stateent with
special reference to the result of the Revolution. "#$$8%
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 ushere! in a new era of chan)e0 liberty an!
participation of the people in the !ecision akin) process0 a view hel! by historians.
;ake a ,ritical evaluation of it. "#$$9%
<or any )enerations to coe0 the Revolution of 1688489 was spoken of by our
ancestors as the Glorious Revolution "+rof. Trevelyon%. ,oent on its results. "#$1$%
=hat were the ain ob>ects of the :ct of 7ettleent41?$18 "#$$6%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ (vents of Glorious Revolution
@ ,auses0 ,han)es0 7i)nificance0 Results
@ <orei)n +olicy of =illia 555
@ Ab>ects of the :ct of 7ettleent
II: TREATY OF UTRECHT
&ote' 5n what way can the Treaty of BTR(,6T be re)ar!e! as one of the )reat
lan!arks in /ritish an! (uropean 6istory8 "#$$C%
&ote' The Treaty of Btrecht. "#$$2%
The peace of Btrecht arks the true en! of the 1?th century an! the be)innin) of the
18th0 in the history of (urope. =ars of reli)ion cae to an en! an! wars for tra!e an!
colonial epires took place. :bove all the peace arks the final failure of the plans of
Douis E5F. 6is price was now huble an! the power of <rance was shattere!.
"7outh)ate% ,oent."#$$?%
555' =:R A< 7+:&576 7B,,(775A&
The ost iportant event of the rei)n of Gueen :nne "1?$# 1?1.% was the war of
7panish 7uccession. :naly-e the causes0 events an! results of the war. "#$$#%
The ost iportant event of the rei)n of Gueen :nne was the =ar of 7panish
7uccession which practically occupie! the whole of her rei)n. ,oent an! )ive the
causes of this war."#$$6%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ ,auses0 (vents0 Results
IV: HANOVERIAN SUCCESSION
1escribe the political an! constitutional si)nificance of the 6anoverian succession on the
course of /ritish history. "#$$1% "#$$.% "#$$2%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ 7i)nificance of 6anoverian 7uccession
V: ROBERT WALPOLE
,ritically analy-e the character an! achieveent of Robert =alpole. "#$$#%
Robert =alpole is re)ar!e! as the first +rie ;inister of /ritain. =hy is this so8 =hat
factors facilitate! an! encoura)e! his eer)ence as the first +rie ;inister8 1i! this
have any constitutional iplications8 "#$11%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ ,haracter0 :chieveents
VI: WHIG OLIGARCHY
=hat were the reasons for the supreacy of =hi) oli)archy fro 1?1. 1?6$8 =hat
were the erits an! !eerits of =hi) ascen!ancy8 "#$$#%
&ote' The =hi) Ali)archy. "#$$.% "#$$2%
=hat were the causes of success an! failure of =hi) oli)archy in (n)lan!8 (9plain.
"#$$8%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ Reasons0 causes of success an! failure of =hi) Ali)archy
@ ;erits an! !eerits
VII: WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION
VIII: JENKINS EAR WAR AND SEVEN YEARS WAR
AREA IX: WILLIAM PITT 1!"6#1!6$%
X: GEORGE III PERSONAL RULE
=hat was the Hpersonal ruleI of Geor)e 555. 6ow it was establishe! an! also narrate the
causes of its failure. "#$$?%
=rite critical essay of Geor)e 555 +ersonal Rule8 "#$1$%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ +ersonal Rule of Geor)e 555
@ ,auses of failure
XI: AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
,ritically analy-e the causes an! results of :ericans war of 5n!epen!ence. 6ow !i! the
war affect /ritish colonial policy8 "#$$#%
Give a !etaile! account of the causes of :erican =ar of 5n!epen!ence8
=hat were the results of :erican war of in!epen!ence8 5t is sai! that it not only
liberate! :erica but also /ritain. 1iscuss0 "#$$?%
6ow the :erican =ar of 5n!epen!ence affecte! the /ritish ,olonial 7yste an! to
what e9tent it was responsible for the !e4coloni-ation process8 "#$$9%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ ,auses an! results of :erican =A5
@ (ffects on /ritish ,olonial +olicy
XII: INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION:
=hat were the positive an! ne)ative !iensions of the 5n!ustrial Revolution8 =hat is
your personal view that whether it was boon or bane for the coon an8 "#$$9%
&ote' 7ocial Results of 5n!ustrial Revolution "#$1$%
6ow the 5n!ustrial Revolution affecte! the life of coon an8 ,oent.
=hy !i! the 5n!ustrial Revolution be)in in (n)lan!8 =hat were the iplications of this
!evelopent for (n)lan!Js role in the worl!8 1iscuss. "#$11%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ ,auses of in!ustrial revolution
@ 5pacts on coon an
XIII: FRENCH REVOLUTION
The people of (n)lan! )ot so uch fri)htene! by the !evelopents in <rance that there
prevaile! a sort of panic in the country. Give your views on the effects of <rench
Revolution on (n)lan!. "#$$1%
Give an account of the <rench Revolution fro the Treaty of :;5(&7 to the /attle of
=aterloo. "#$$C%
=hat easures were a!opte! by (n)lan! to check the <rench Revolution for its sprea! in
(urope "1?9C41?9?%. &arrate the easures. "#$$?%
<rench Revolution was a very iportant event in the 6istory not only of <rance but also
for (n)lan!. 6ow !i! the revolution affect the /ritish society an! political thou)ht8
"#$$8%
=hat were the effects of the <rench Revolution on the Dife0 an! Thou)ht of 18th ,entury
(n)lan!8 "#$$9%
=hat was the ipact of the <rench Revolution an! the &apoleonic =ars on /ritish
1. +olitics
#. ;ilitary +ower
C. (conoic 7tren)th
.. 1iploatic role "#$11%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ (ffects of <rench Revolution on (n)lan!
@ ;easures to check the Revolution
XIV: NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
=hy !i! &apoleon attept to inva!e (n)lan! an! what were the causes of his failure 8
"#$$2%
&ote' &apoleon /onaparte "#$$.% "#$$6%
The epire of &apoleon was like a brilliant bubble on the strea of tie critically
e9aine this stateent. "#$$8%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ Reasons of &apoleon invasion in (n)lan!
@ ,auses of failure
XV: WILLIAM PITT& THE YOUNGER
,ritically e9aine the achieveents of +itt the Koun)er with special focus on his
!oestic an! forei)n policy. "#$$8%
&ote' +itt the Koun)er "#$1$%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ 1oestic an! <orei)n +olicy of +itt The Koun)er
@ :chieveents
XVI: CASTLEREAGH AND CANNING
(9plain the forei)n policy of ,annin) an! coparatively hi)hli)ht !ifferent aspects of
the forei)n policies of ,annin) an! ,astlerea)h. "#$$$%
,annin) !ifferent fro ,astlerea)h0 not in his ob>ect0 but in etho!s. Their ob>ective
was the sae0 althou)h their etho!s !ifferent. (9plain the forei)n policy of ,annin) in
coparison to castlerea)h. "#$$1%
1escribe the character of ,annin)0 his Lualities of hea! an! heart an! his achieveents in
various fiel!s. "#$$2%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ <orei)n +olicy of ,annin)
@ ,haracter of ,annin) an! :chieveents
@ ,oparison of forei)n policy of ,annin) an! ,astlerea)h
XVII: PARLIAMENTARY REFORMS ACT
1i! the Refor :ct of 18C# brin) any chan)e in the structure of the /ritish +arliaent8
5f so0 e9plain. "#$$$%
&ote' +arliaentary Refor :ct 18C# "#$$?%
6ow !i! the Refor :ct of 18C# ove /ritain closer towar!s popular )overnent8
15scuss with referene to the provision of the :ct an! the subseLuent popular !ean!s.
"#$11%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ ,han)es brou)ht by :ct
XVIII: 'UEEN VICTORIA
/riefly !iscuss the ain events of the rei)n of Gueen Fictoria fro 18C? to 182$. "#$$$%
"#$$1%
=rite analytically about the policy an! personality of Gueen Fictoria.
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ ;ain (vents of Fictorian Rei)n
@ +olicy an! personality of Fictoria
@ :chieveents an! chan)es of Fictorian (ra
XIX: SIR ROBERT PEEL
=rite an account of the achieveent of 7ir Robert +eel to his country. =hat are his the
so4calle! Three betrayals of his party8 "#$$C%
Robert +eel has ri)htly been calle! the ost liberal of the ,onservatives an! the ost
,onservative of the liberals. ,oent to elaborate his achieveents as the +rie
;inister of Gueen Fictoria. "#$$.% "#$$6%
&ote' 7ir Robert +eel "#$$?%
AREA OF FOCUS:
@ :chieveents of Robert +eel
XX: M()*+,,-.+/0)
@ 18 century Tra!e =ars
@ Fienna 7ettleent
@ +arliaentary Bnion between (n)lan! an! 5relan!
@ ;etho!ist ;oveent
@ ,hartist ;oveent
@ (astern Guestion an! /ritish +olicy
@ Growth of +olitical +arties in /ritain in 18th century
@ Bnion of (n)lan! an! 7cotlan!
:ssala4o4alaikuM
5 woul! su))est you to follow the followin) # books for /ritish 6istory'
1. /ritish 6istory by T6A;:7 "only foun! with Al!4book sellers%
#. ;o!ern /ritish 6istory by &AR;:& DA=(.
These # books are very coprehensive for the # papers of /ritish 6istory.
&o nee! to )o for any Cr! option.
/ritish hostory is the sub>est which is still ore scorin) sub>ect then other history
sub>ects 0 Tauseef hai!er "css #$$. #n! postion hol!er% )ot 12# arks in this sub>ect an!
he still a!vise e to )o for this sub>ect.an! his notes are really helpfull for e .
now re)ar!in) books the ebers ha! )iven ri)ht book but i will a!! soe of the '
/ritish 6istory :t a Glance /K 7heikh ;A61 Gayyu.
an! /ritish 6ostory by F.1 ;aha>an.
both are )oo! book an! offcource encarta woul! helps a lot.
T1+ 2//3) 4/5 B5(6()1 H()6/57:
1. 6istory of (n)lan! by +.,. Thoas "&ow available in the arket....co- of !ean! it is
bein) republishe!%
#. ;o!ern /ritish 6istory by &oran Dowe
These two books are sufficient for the papers....but still if soeone is intereste! in
)ainin) e9tra knowle!)e N a )rip on the sub>ect0 the followin) books can be consulte!'
1. /ritish 6istory 5 an! 55 by 7outh)ate
#. /ritish 6istory by 7heikh Gayyu ",aravan has publishe! the new e!ition%
F.1. ;aha>an has copie! +.,. Thoas...... still +.,. ThoasJ is ore !etailale! M
Thanks for appreciation. I tried to answer , the way I myself wanted to be answered
two years ago. In my post I have mentioned the book. However , here again I mention
the books.
For Paper I. P. C Thomas 's ritish History.
It is a very nice book covers the syllab!s of both papers comprehensively. The content ,
lang!age and analysis in it are !p to the standard of the demand of C"" e#aminer.
Partic!larly , it is good for Paper I.
Paper I. P. C Thomas 's book which I mentioned above pl!s ook of ritish History by
$orman %owe or by "o!thgates. oth of these are good. P. C Thomas lacks some
topics in last portion which these books cover nicely. &ither if these two is good. There
come ' or ( )!estions now a days from post world war period for which one needs to
follow either of these two as P. C. Thomas does not provide the sol!tion.
*s well as the preparation of ob+ectives portion of this s!b+ect is concerned , past
papers ob+ectives get repeated very often. I have solved past papers ob+ective of ritish
History Pares I , II since '--- here.
British History
The /ritish (pire was the lar)est epire in history an! for a tie was the foreost
)lobal power. 5t was a pro!uct of the (uropean a)e of !iscovery0 which be)an with the
aritie e9plorations of the 12th century0 that sparke! the era of the (uropean colonial
epires.
/y 19#10 the /ritish (pire hel! sway over a population of about .28 illion people0
appro9iately one4Luarter of the worl!Js population. 5t covere! about C6.6 illion kO
"1..# illion sLuare iles%0 about a Luarter of (arthJs total lan! area. :s a result0 its
le)acy is wi!esprea!0 in le)al an! )overnental systes0 econoic practice0 ilitarily0
e!ucational systes0 sports0 an! in the )lobal sprea! of the (n)lish lan)ua)e. :t the peak
of its power0 it was often sai! that Pthe sun never sets on the /ritish (pireP because its
span across the )lobe ensure! that the sun was always shinin) on at least one of its
nuerous colonies or sub>ect nations. 1urin) the five !eca!es followin) =orl! =ar 550
ost of the territories of the (pire becae in!epen!ent. ;any went on to >oin the
,oonwealth of &ations0 a free association of in!epen!ent states.
O5(8(.) /4 61+ B5(6()1 E9:(5+ 1;9!#1"8$%
The foun!ations of the /ritish (pire were lai! at a tie before /ritain e9iste! as a
sin)le political entity0 when (n)lan! an! 7cotlan! were separate kin)!os. 5n 1.960
*in) 6enry F55 of (n)lan!0 followin) the successes of +ortu)al an! 7pain in overseas
e9ploration0 coissione! 3ohn ,abot to lea! a voya)e to !iscover a route to :sia via
the &orth :tlantic. ,abot saile! in 1.9?0 an! thou)h he successfully a!e lan!fall on the
coast of ,ana!a "istakenly believin)0 like ,hristopher ,olubus five years earlier0 that
he ha! reache! :siaQ.R%0 the voya)e was unprofitable0 an! no attept at establishin) a
colony was a!e. Dack of interest in overseas atters followe! this voya)e0 an!
continue! until well into the rei)n of (li-abeth 50 !urin) the last !eca!es of the 16th
century. (nity an! rivalry between ,atholic 7pain an! +rotestant (n)lan! !urin) the
:n)lo47panish =ars le! to the ,rown sanctionin) (n)lish privateers such as 3ohn
6awkins an! 7ir <rancis 1rake to en)a)e in piratical attacks on 7panish ports in the
:ericas an! shippin) that was returnin) across the :tlantic0 la!en with treasure fro
the &ew =orl!. :t the sae tie0 influential writers such as Richar! 6akluyt an! 3ohn
1ee "who was the first to use the ter P/ritish (pireP% were be)innin) to press for the
establishent of (n)lan!Js own epire0 to rival those of 7pain an! +ortu)al. /y this
tie0 7pain was firly entrenche! in the :ericas0 +ortu)al ha! establishe! a strin) of
tra!in) posts an! forts fro the coasts of :frica an! /ra-il to ,hina0 an! <rance ha!
be)un to settle the 7t. Dawrence River0 later to becoe &ew <rance.
I5+,-.<
Thou)h a relative latecoer to overseas colonisation in coparison to 7pain an!
+ortu)al0 (n)lan! ha! been en)a)e! in a for of !oestic colonisation in 5relan! that
ha! be)un !urin) &oran ties an! accelerate! with the Tu!or re4conLuest of 5relan!
an! ,rowellian conLuest. The +lantations of 5relan!0 run by (n)lish colonists0 were a
precursor to the overseas (pire an! several people involve! in these pro>ects also ha! a
han! in the early colonisation of &orth :erica0 particularly a )roup known as the P=est
,ountry enPwhich inclu!e! 7ir 6uphrey Gilbert0 7ir =alter Ralei)h0 7ir <rancis
1rake0 7ir 3ohn 6awkins0 7ir Richar! Grenville an! 7ir Ralph Dane.
T1+ =F(5)6 B5(6()1 E9:(5+= 1"8$#1!8$%
5n 12?8 7ir 6uphrey Gilbert was )rante! a patent by Gueen (li-abeth for !iscovery an!
overseas e9ploration0 an! set sail for the =est 5n!ies with the intention of first en)a)in)
in piracy an! on the return voya)e0 establishin) a colony in &orth :erica. The
e9pe!ition faile! at the outset !ue to ba! weather. 5n 128C Gilbert ebarke! on a secon!
attept0 on this occasion to the islan! of &ewfoun!lan! where he forally claie! for
(n)lan! the harbour of 7t. 3ohnJs0 thou)h no settlers were left behin!. Gilbert !i! not
survive the return >ourney to (n)lan!0 an! was succee!e! by his half4brother0 =alter
Ralei)h0 who was )rante! his own patent by (li-abeth in 128.0 in the sae year foun!in)
the colony of Roanoke on the coast of present4!ay &orth ,arolina. The colony !i! not
survive !ue to lack of supplies. 5n 16$C0 *in) 3aes F5 of 7cotlan! succee!e! to the
(n)lish throne an! in 16$.0 ne)otiate! the Treaty of Don!on0 en!in) hostilities with
7pain. &ow at peace with its ain rival0 (n)lish attention shifte! fro preyin) on other
nationsJ colonial infrastructure to the business of establishin) its own overseas colonies.
:lthou)h its be)innin)s were hit4an!4iss0 the /ritish (pire be)an to take shape !urin)
the early 1?th century0 with the (n)lish settleent of &orth :erica an! the saller
islan!s of the ,aribbean0 an! the establishent of a private copany0 the (n)lish (ast
5n!ia ,opany0 to tra!e with :sia. This perio!0 until the loss of the Thirteen ,olonies
after the Bnite! 7tates 1eclaration of 5n!epen!ence towar!s the en! of the 18th century
has subseLuently been referre! to as the P<irst /ritish (pireP.
T1+ A9+5(*-)
The ,aribbean initially provi!e! (n)lan!Js ost iportant an! lucrative colonies0 but not
before several attepts at colonisation faile!. :n attept to establish a colony in Guiana
in 16$. laste! only two years0 an! faile! in its ain ob>ective to fin! )ol! !eposits.
,olonies in 7t Ducia "16$2% an! Grena!a "16$9% also rapi!ly fol!e!0 but settleents were
successfully establishe! in 7t. *itts "16#.%0 /arba!os "16#?% an! &evis "16#8%. The
colonies soon a!opte! the syste of su)ar plantations successfully use! by the
+ortu)uese in /ra-il0 which !epen!e! on slave labour0 an! 4 at first 4 1utch ships0 to sell
the slaves an! buy the su)ar. To ensure the increasin)ly healthy profits of this tra!e
reaine! in (n)lish han!s0 +arliaent !ecree! in 1621 that only (n)lish ships woul! be
able to ply their tra!e in (n)lish colonies. This le! to hostilities with the Bnite! 1utch
+rovinces4 a series of :n)lo41utch =ars 4 which woul! eventually stren)then (n)lan!Js
position in the :ericas at the e9pense of the 1utch. 5n 1622 (n)lan! anne9e! the islan!
of 3aaica fro the 7panish0 an! in 1666 succee!e! in colonisin) the /ahaas.
(n)lan!Js first peranent overseas settleent was foun!e! in 16$? in 3aestown0 le! by
,aptain 3ohn 7ith an! ana)e! by the Fir)inia ,opany0 an offshoot of which
establishe! a colony on /eru!a which ha! been !iscovere! in 16$9. The ,opanyJs
charter was revoke! in 16#. an! !irect control was assue! by the crown0 thereby
foun!in) the ,olony of Fir)inia. The &ewfoun!lan! ,opany was create! in 161$ with
the ai of creatin) a peranent settleent on &ewfoun!lan!0 but was lar)ely
unsuccessful. 5n 16#$0 +lyouth was foun!e! as a haven for puritan reli)ious separatists0
later known as the +il)ris. <leein) fro reli)ious persecution woul! becoe the otive
of any (n)lish woul!4be colonists to risk the ar!uous trans4:tlantic voya)e' ;arylan!
was foun!e! as a haven for Roan ,atholics "16C.%0 Rho!e 5slan! "16C6% as a colony
tolerant of all reli)ions an! ,onnecticut "16C9%0 for con)re)ationalists. The +rovince of
,arolina was foun!e! in 166C. 5n 166.0 (n)lan! )aine! control of the 1utch colony of
&ew :ster!a "renae! &ew Kork% via ne)otiations followin) the 7econ! :n)lo4
1utch =ar. 5n 16810 the colony of +ennsylvania was foun!e! by =illia +enn. 5n 1692
the 7cottish parliaent )rante! a charter to the ,opany of 7cotlan!0 which procee!e! in
1698 to establish a settleent on the isthus of +anaa0 with a view to buil!in) a canal
there. /esie)e! by nei)hbourin) 7panish colonists of &ew Grana!a0 as well as by
alaria0 the colony was aban!one! two years later. The 1arien schee was a financial
!isaster for 7cotlan! as a Luarter of 7cottish capital was lost in the enterprise. This
episo!e is viewe! as a a>or factor in persua!in) the 7cottish +arliaent to accept the
ters of the Treaty of Bnion 1?$? as the new *in)!o of Great /ritain woul! take
responsibility for soe of 7cotlan!Js !ebts.. The :erican colonies0 which provi!e!
tobacco0 cotton0 an! rice in the south an! naval ateriel an! furs in the north0 were less
financially successful than those of the ,aribbean0 but ha! lar)e areas of )oo!
a)ricultural lan! an! attracte! far lar)er nubers of (n)lish ei)rants who were also
ore favorable of teperate cliates.
<ro the outset0 slavery was a vital econoic coponent of the /ritish (pire in the
:ericas. Bntil the abolition of the slave tra!e in 18$?0 /ritain was responsible for the
transportation of C.2 illion :frican slaves to the :ericas0 a thir! of all slaves
transporte! across the :tlantic. To facilitate this tra!e0 forts were establishe! on the coast
of =est :frica0 such as 3aes 5slan!0 :ccra an! /unce 5slan!. 5n the /ritish ,aribbean0
the percenta)e of the population coprisin) blacks rose fro #2S in 162$ to aroun!
8$S in 1?8$0 an! in the Thirteen ,olonies fro 1$S to .$S over the sae perio! "the
a>ority in the south%. <or the slave tra!ers0 the tra!e was e9treely profitable0 an!
becae a a>or econoic anistay for such cities as /ristol an! Diverpool0 which
fore! the thir! corner of the so4calle! trian)ular tra!e with :frica an! the :ericas.
6owever0 for the transportees0 harsh an! unhy)ienic con!itions on the slavin) ships an!
poor !iets eant that the avera)e ortality rate !urin) the i!!le passa)e was one in
seven. The profits of the slave tra!e an! of =est 5n!ian plantations aounte! to 2S of
the /ritish econoy at the tie of the 5n!ustrial Revolution.
A)(-
:t the en! of the 16th century0 (n)lan! an! the &etherlan!s be)an to challen)e
+ortu)alJs onopoly of tra!e with :sia0 forin) private >oint4stock copanies to finance
the voya)es 4 the (n)lish "later /ritish% an! 1utch (ast 5n!ia ,opanies0 chartere! in
16$$ an! 16$# respectively. The priary ai of these copanies was to tap into the
lucrative spice tra!e0 an! focusse! their efforts on the source0 the 5n!onesian archipela)o0
an! an iportant hub in the tra!e network0 5n!ia. The pro9iity of Don!on an!
:ster!a an! rivalry between (n)lan! an! the &etherlan!s inevitably le! to conflict
between the two copanies0 with the 1utch )ainin) the upper han! in the ;oluccas
"previously a +ortu)uese stron)hol!% after the with!rawal of the (n)lish in 16##0 an! the
(n)lish en>oyin) ore success in 5n!ia0 at 7urat0 after the establishent of a factory in
161C. Thou)h (n)lan! woul! ultiately eclipse the &etherlan!s as a colonial power0 in
the short ter the &etherlan!sJs ore a!vance! financial syste an! the three :n)lo4
1utch =ars of the 1?th century left it with a stron)er position in :sia. 6ostilities cease!
after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when the 1utch =illia of Aran)e ascen!e! the
(n)lish throne0 brin)in) peace between the &etherlan!s an! (n)lan!. : !eal between the
two nations left the spice tra!e of the 5n!onesian archipela)o to the &etherlan!s an! the
te9tiles in!ustry of 5n!ia to (n)lan!0 but te9tiles soon overtook spices in ters of
profitability0 an! by 1?#$0 in ters of sales the (n)lish copany ha! overtaken the
1utch. The (n)lish (ast 5n!ia ,opany shifte! its focus fro 7urat 4 a hub of the spice
tra!e network 4 to <ort 7t Geor)e "later to becoe ;a!ras%0 /obay "ce!e! by the
+ortu)uese to ,harles 55 of (n)lan! in 1661 as !owry for ,atherine !e /ra)an-a% an!
7utanuti "which woul! er)e with two other villa)es to for ,alcutta%.
T1+ R()+ /4 61+ =S+*/.< B5(6()1 E9:(5+= 1!8$#181"%
T1+ L/)) /4 61+ T1(56++. C/,/.(+)
1urin) the 1?6$s an! 1??$s0 relations between the Thirteen ,olonies an! /ritain becae
increasin)ly straine!0 priarily because of resentent of the /ritish +arliaentJs ability
to ta9 :erican colonists without their consent.Q#.R 1isa)reeent turne! to violence an!
in 1??2 the :erican Revolutionary =ar be)an. The followin) year0 the colonists
!eclare! the in!epen!ence of the Bnite! 7tates0 an! 4 with the assistance of <rance 4
woul! )o on to win the war in 1?8C. The loss of the Bnite! 7tates0 at the tie /ritainJs
ost populous colony0 is seen by historians as the event !efinin) the transition between
the PfirstP an! Psecon!P epires0 in which /ritain shifte! its attention away fro the
:ericas to :sia0 the +acific an! later :frica. :!a 7ithJs =ealth of &ations0
publishe! in 1??60 ha! ar)ue! that colonies were re!un!ant0 an! that free tra!e shoul!
replace the ol! ercantilist policies that ha! characterise! the first perio! of colonial
e9pansion0 !atin) back to the protectionis of 7pain an! +ortu)al. The )rowth of tra!e
between the newly in!epen!ent Bnite! 7tates an! /ritain after 1?8C confire! 7ithJs
view that political control was not necessary for econoic success. (vents in :erica
influence! /ritish policy in ,ana!a0 which ha! seen a lar)e influ9 of loyalists !urin) the
Revolutionary =ar. The ,onstitutional :ct of 1?91 create! the provinces of Bpper
,ana!a "ainly (n)lish speakin)% an! Dower ,ana!a "ainly <rench speakin)% to
!efuse tensions between the two counities0 an! ipleente! )overnental systes
siilar to those eploye! in /ritain0 with the intention of assertin) iperial authority an!
not allowin) the sort of popular control of )overnent that was perceive! to have le! to
the :erican Revolution. The future of /ritish &orth :erica was briefly threatene!
!urin) the =ar of 181#0 in which the Bnite! 7tates unsuccessfully attepte! to e9ten! its
bor!er northwar!s. This was the last tie that /ritain an! :erica went to war. The last
a>or territorial !ispute between the two countries0 the Are)on boun!ary !ispute0 was
settle! peacefully in 18.6.
C/9:-.7 R0,+ (. I.<(-
1urin) its first century of operation0 the focus of the (ast 5n!ia ,opany ha! been tra!e0
not the buil!in) of an epire in 5n!ia. 5n!ee!0 the ,opany was no atch for the
powerful ;u)hal (pire0 which ha! )rante! the ,opany tra!in) ri)hts in 161?.
,opany interests turne! fro tra!e to territory !urin) the 18th century as the ;u)hal
(pire !ecline! in power an! the /ritish (ast 5n!ia ,opany stru))le! with its <rench
counterpart0 the Da ,opa)nie franTaise !es 5n!es orientales0 !urin) the ,arnatic =ars
of the 1?.$s an! 1?2$s. The /attle of +lassey0 which saw the /ritish0 le! by Robert
,live0 !efeat the <rench an! their 5n!ian allies0 left the ,opany in control of /en)al an!
a a>or ilitary an! political power in 5n!ia. 5n the followin) !eca!es it )ra!ually
increase! the si-e of the territories un!er its control0 either rulin) !irectly or in!irectly via
local puppet rulers un!er the threat of force of the 5n!ian :ry0 8$S of which was
copose! of native 5n!ian sepoys.
C/.>(*6) -.< E9:(5+
7ince 1?180 transportation to the :erican colonies ha! been a penalty for various
criinal offences in /ritain0 with appro9iately one thousan! convicts transporte! per
year across the :tlantic. <orce! to fin! an alternative location after the loss of the
Thirteen ,olonies in 1?8C0 the /ritish )overnent turne! to the newly !iscovere! lan! of
&ew 6ollan!0 later renae! :ustralia. 5n 1??$0 3aes ,ook ha! !iscovere! the eastern
coast of :ustralia whilst on a scientific voya)e to the 7outh +acific. 5n 1??80 3oseph
/anks0 ,ookJs botanist on the voya)e0 presente! evi!ence to the )overnent on the
suitability of /otany /ay for the establishent of a penal settleent0 an! in 1?8? the first
shipent of convicts set sail0 arrivin) in 1?88. ;atthew <lin!ers prove! &ew 6ollan!
an! &ew 7outh =ales to be a sin)le lan! ass by copletin) a circunavi)ation of it in
18$C. 5n 18#60 :ustralia was forally claie! for the Bnite! *in)!o with the
establishent of a ilitary base0 soon followe! by a colony in 18#9. The colonies later
becae self4)overnin) colonies an! becae profitable e9porters of wool an! )ol!.
A2/,(6(/. /4 S,->+57
Bn!er increasin) pressure fro the abolitionist oveent0 the Bnite! *in)!o outlawe!
the slave tra!e "18$?% an! soon be)an enforcin) this principle on other nations. /y the
i!419th century the Bnite! *in)!o ha! lar)ely era!icate! the worl! slave tra!e. :n
:ct akin) not >ust the slave tra!e but slavery itself ille)al was passe! in 18CC an!
becae law on :u)ust 10 18C..
W-5 ?(61 N-:/,+/.(* F5-.*+
/ritain was challen)e! a)ain by <rance un!er &apoleon0 in a stru))le that0 unlike
previous wars0 represente! a contest of i!eolo)ies between the two nations.QC$R 5t was not
only /ritainJs position on the worl! sta)e that was threatene!' &apoleon threatene!
invasion of /ritain itself0 an! with it0 a fate siilar to the countries of continental (urope
that his aries ha! overrun. The &apoleonic =ars were therefore ones that /ritain
investe! lar)e aounts of capital an! resources to win. <rench ports were blocka!e! by
the Royal &avy0 which won a !ecisive victory over the <rench fleet at Trafal)ar in 18$2.
Averseas colonies were attacke! an! occupie!0 inclu!in) those of the &etherlan!s which
was anne9e! by &apoleon in 181$. <rance was finally !efeate! by a coalition of
(uropean aries in 1812. /ritain an! its epire were a)ain the beneficiaries of peace
treaties' <rance ce!e! the 5onian 5slan!s "inclu!in) ,orfu% an! ;alta "which it ha!
occupie! in 1?9? an! 1?98 respectively%0 7t Ducia an! ;auritius. 7pain ce!e! Trini!a!
an! Toba)oU the &etherlan!s Guyana an! the ,ape ,olony. /ritain returne! Gua!eloupe
an! RVunion to <rance0 an! 3ava an! 7urina to the &etherlan!s.
B5(6-(.@) =I9:+5(-, C+.6057= 181"#191;%
/etween 1812 an! 191.0 a perio! referre! to as /ritainJs Piperial centuryP by soe
historians0 aroun! 1$ illion sLuare iles of territory an! rou)hly .$$ illion people
were a!!e! to the /ritish (pire. Fictory over &apoleon left /ritain without any serious
international rival0 other than Russia in central :sia an!0 unchallen)e! at sea0 /ritain
a!opte! the role of )lobal policean0 a state of affairs later known as the +a9 /ritannica.
A)(-
Bntil its !issolution in 18280 the /ritish (ast 5n!ia ,opany was key in the e9pansion of
the /ritish (pire in :sia. The ,opanyJs :ry ha! first >oine! forces with the Royal
&avy !urin) the 7even KearsJ =ar0 an! the two continue! to cooperate in arenas outsi!e
of 5n!ia' the eviction of &apoleon fro ()ypt "1?99%0 the capture of 3ava fro the
&etherlan!s "1811%0 the acLuisition of 7in)apore "1819% an! ;alacca "18#.% an! the
!efeat of /ura "18#6%.QC6R <ro its base in 5n!ia0 the ,opany ha! also been en)a)e!
in an increasin)ly profitable opiu e9port tra!e to ,hina since the 1?C$s. This tra!e0
technically ille)al since it was outlawe! by the Gin) !ynasty in 1?#90 helpe! reverse the
tra!e ibalances resultin) fro the /ritish iports of tea0 which saw lar)e outflows of
silver fro /ritain to ,hina. 5n 18C90 the sei-ure by the ,hinese authorities at ,anton of
#$0$$$ chests of opiu sparke! the <irst Apiu =ar0 an! the sei-ure by /ritain of the
islan! of 6on) *on) "then a inor outpost% as a base. The en! of the ,opany was
precipitate! by a utiny of sepoys a)ainst their /ritish coan!ers over the ruoure!
intro!uction of rifle cartri!)es lubricate! with anial fat. Bse of the cartri!)es0 which
reLuire! bitin) open before use0 woul! have been in violation of the reli)ious beliefs of
6in!us an! ;uslis "ha! the fat been that of cows or pi)s0 respectively%. 6owever0 the
5n!ian Rebellion of 182? ha! causes that went beyon! the intro!uction of bullets' at stake
was 5n!ian culture an! reli)ion0 in the face of the stea!y encroachent of that of the
/ritish. The rebellion was suppresse! by the /ritish0 but not before heavy loss of life on
both si!es. :s a result of the war0 the /ritish )overnent assue! !irect control over
5n!ia0 usherin) in the perio! known as the /ritish Ra>. The (ast 5n!ia ,opany was
!issolve! the followin) year0 in 1828.
T1+ C-:+ C/,/.7
The 1utch (ast 5n!ia ,opany ha! foun!e! the ,ape ,olony on the southern tip of
:frica in 162# as a way station for its ships travellin) to an! fro its colonies in the (ast
5n!ies. /ritain forally acLuire! the colony0 an! its lar)e :frikaner "or /oer% population
in 18$60 havin) occupie! it in 1?92 after the &etherlan!s was inva!e! by <rance. /ritish
ii)ration be)an to rise after 18#$0 an! pushe! thousan!s of /oers0 resentful of /ritish
rule0 northwar!s to foun! the Transvaal an! the Aran)e <ree 7tate !urin) the Great Trek
of the late 18C$s an! early 18.$s.
T1+ S0+A C-.-,
5n 18?20 the ,onservative )overnent of /en>ain 1israeli0 bou)ht the in!ebte!
()yptian ruler 5sailJs ..S sharehol!in) in the 7ue- ,anal for W. illion to secure
control of this strate)ic waterway0 a channel for shippin) between the Bnite! *in)!o
an! 5n!ia since its openin) si9 years earlier un!er (peror &apoleon 555. 3oint :n)lo4
<rench financial control over ()ypt en!e! in outri)ht /ritish occupation in 188#.
T1+ S*5-92,+ 4/5 A45(*-
5n 18?2 the two ost iportant (uropean hol!in)s in :frica were <rench controlle!
:l)eria an! the Bnite! *in)!oJs ,ape ,olony. /y 191. only (thiopia an! the republic
of Diberia reaine! outsi!e foral (uropean control. The transition fro an Pinforal
epireP of control throu)h econoic !oinance to !irect control took the for of a
PscrableP for territory by the nations of (urope. The Bnite! *in)!o trie! not to play a
part in this early scrable0 bein) ore of a tra!in) epire rather than a colonial epireU
however0 it soon becae clear it ha! to )ain its own :frican epire to aintain the
balance of power. :s <rench0 /el)ian an! +ortu)uese activity in the lower ,on)o River
re)ion threatene! to un!erine or!erly penetration of tropical :frica0 the /erlin
,onference of 188.82 sou)ht to re)ulate the copetition between the powers by
!efinin) Peffective occupationP as the criterion for international reco)nition of territorial
clais0 a forulation which necessitate! routine recourse to are! force a)ainst
in!i)enous states an! peoples. The Bnite! *in)!oJs 188# ilitary occupation of ()ypt
"itself tri))ere! by concern over the 7ue- ,anal% contribute! to a preoccupation over
securin) control of the &ile valley0 lea!in) to the conLuest of the nei)hbourin) 7u!an in
189698 an! confrontation with a <rench ilitary e9pe!ition at <asho!a "7epteber
1898%. 5n 19$# the Bnite! *in)!o coplete! its takeover of what is to!ay 7outh :frica.
This ha! be)un with the anne9ation of the ,ape in 1?92 an! continue! with the conLuest
of the /oer Republics in the late 19th century0 followin) the 7econ! /oer =ar. ,ecil
Rho!es was the pioneer of /ritish e9pansion north into :frica with his privately owne!
/ritish 7outh :frica ,opany. Rho!es e9pan!e! into the lan! north of 7outh :frica an!
establishe! Rho!esia. Rho!esJ !rea of a railway connectin) ,ape Town to :le9an!ria
passin) throu)h a /ritish :frica coverin) the continent is what le! to his copanyJs
pressure on the )overnent for further e9pansion into :frica. /ritish )ains in southern
an! (ast :frica propte! Rho!es an! :lfre! ;ilner0 the Bnite! *in)!oJs 6i)h
,oissioner in 7outh :frica0 to ur)e a P,ape4to4,airoP epire linkin) by rail the
strate)ically iportant ,anal to the ineral4rich 7outh0 thou)h Geran occupation of
Tan)anyika prevente! its realisation until the en! of =orl! =ar 5. 5n 19$C0 the :ll Re!
Dine tele)raph syste counicate! with the a>or parts of the (pire. +ara!o9ically0
the Bnite! *in)!o0 the staunch a!vocate of free tra!e0 eer)e! in 191. with not only
the lar)est overseas epire thanks to its lon)4stan!in) presence in 5n!ia0 but also the
)reatest )ains in the Pscrable for :fricaP0 reflectin) its a!vanta)eous position at its
inception. /etween 1882 an! 191. the Bnite! *in)!o took nearly C$S of :fricaJs
population un!er its control0 copare! to 12S for <rance0 9S for Gerany0 ?S for
/el)iu an! 1S for 5taly' &i)eria alone contribute! fifteen illion sub>ects0 ore than in
the whole of <rench =est :frica or the entire Geran colonial epire.
H/9+ 50,+ (. ?1(6+#)+66,+5 */,/.(+)
The Bnite! *in)!oJs epire ha! alrea!y be)un its transforation into the o!ern
,oonwealth with the e9tension of 1oinion status to the alrea!y self4)overnin)
colonies of ,ana!a "186?%0 :ustralia "19$1%0 &ew Xealan! "19$?%0 &ewfoun!lan!
"19$?%0 an! the newly4create! Bnion of 7outh :frica "191$%. Dea!ers of the new states
>oine! with /ritish statesen in perio!ic ,olonial "fro 19$?0 5perial% ,onferences0 the
first of which was hel! in Don!on in 188?. The forei)n relations of the 1oinions were
still con!ucte! throu)h the <orei)n Affice of the Bnite! *in)!o' ,ana!a create! a
1epartent of (9ternal :ffairs in 19$90 but !iploatic relations with other )overnents
continue! to be channelle! throu)h the Governors4General0 1oinion 6i)h
,oissioners in Don!on "first appointe! by ,ana!a in 188$ an! by :ustralia in 191$%
an! /ritish le)ations abroa!. /ut the 1oinions !i! en>oy a substantial free!o in their
a!option of forei)n policy where this !i! not e9plicitly conflict with /ritish interests'
,ana!aJs Diberal )overnent ne)otiate! a bilateral free4tra!e Reciprocity :)reeent
with the Bnite! 7tates in 19110 but went !own to !efeat by the ,onservative opposition.
5n !efence0 the 1oinionsJ ori)inal treatent as part of a sin)le iperial ilitary an!
naval structure prove! unsustainable as the Bnite! *in)!o face! new coitents in
(urope an! the challen)e of an eer)in) Geran 6i)h 7eas <leet after 19$$. 5n 19$9 it
was !eci!e! that the 1oinions shoul! have their own navies0 reversin) an 188?
a)reeent that the then :ustralasian colonies shoul! contribute to the Royal &avy in
return for the peranent stationin) of a sLua!ron in the re)ion.
W/5,< W-5 I 191;#1918%
/ritainJs !eclaration of war in 191. on Gerany an! its allies0 :ustro46un)ary an! the
Attoan (pire0 also coitte! the colonies an! 1oinions0 which provi!e! invaluable
ilitary0 financial an! aterial support !urin) the war. 7oon after the outbreak of
hostilities0 GeranyJs overseas colonies in :frica were inva!e! an! occupie!0 thou)h
Geran forces in Geran (ast :frica reaine! un!efeate! !urin) the war. 5n the +acific0
:ustralia an! &ew Xealan! occupie! Geran &ew Guinea an! 7aoa respectively. The
contributions of :ustralian an! &ew Xealan! troops !urin) the 1916 /attle of Gallipoli
a)ainst the Attoan (pire ha! a )reat ipact on the national conscious at hoe0 an!
arke! a watershe! in the transition of :ustralia an! &ew Xealan! fro colonies to
nations in their own ri)ht. The countries continue to coeorate this occasion on
:&X:, 1ay. ,ana!ians viewe! the /attle of Fiy Ri!)e in a siilar li)ht. 5n 191?0 the
5perial =ar ,abinet was set up0 with representation fro each of the 1oinion +rie
;inisters0 to coor!inate iperial policy.
T1+ I.6+5#?-5 :+5(/< 1918#19$9%
The afterath of =orl! =ar 5 saw the last a>or e9tension of /ritish rule0 with the
Bnite! *in)!o )ainin) control throu)h Dea)ue of &ations ;an!ates in +alestine an!
5raL after the collapse of the Attoan (pire in the ;i!!le (ast0 as well as in the forer
Geran colonies of Tan)anyika0 7outh4=est :frica "now &aibia% an! &ew Guinea "the
last two actually un!er 7outh :frican an! :ustralian rule respectively%. The 19#$s saw a
rapi! transforation of 1oinion status. :lthou)h the 1oinions ha! ha! no foral
voice in !eclarin) war in 191.0 each was inclu!e! separately aon) the si)natories of the
1919 peace Treaty of Fersailles0 which ha! been ne)otiate! by a /ritish4le! unite!
(pire !ele)ation. 5n 19## 1oinion reluctance to support /ritish ilitary action
a)ainst Turkey influence! the Bnite! *in)!oJs !ecision to seek a coproise
settleent. The Dea)ue of &ations !epute! forer Geran colonies to coe un!er the
control of the Bnite! *in)!oJs colonies. <or e9aple0 &ew Xealan! took over the
an!ate of =estern 7aoa0 :ustralia that of Rabual an! 7outh :frica that of Geran
7outh4=est :frica. <ull 1oinion in!epen!ence was foralise! in the 19C1 7tatute of
=estinster' each 1oinion was henceforth to be eLual in status to the Bnite! *in)!o
itself0 free of /ritish le)islative interference an! autonoous in international relations.
The 1oinions section create! within the ,olonial Affice in 19$? was up)ra!e! in 19#2
to a separate 1oinions Affice an! )iven its own 7ecretary of 7tate in 19C$. ,ana!a le!
the way0 becoin) the first 1oinion to conclu!e an international treaty entirely
in!epen!ently "19#C% an! obtainin) the appointent "19#8% of a /ritish 6i)h
,oissioner in Attawa0 thereby separatin) the a!inistrative an! !iploatic functions
of the Governor4General an! en!in) the latterJs anoalous role as the representative of
the hea! of state an! of the /ritish Governent. ,ana!aJs first peranent !iploatic
ission to a forei)n country opene! in =ashin)ton0 1, in 19#?' :ustralia followe! in
19.$. ()ypt0 forally in!epen!ent fro 19## but boun! to the Bnite! *in)!o by treaty
until 19C6 "an! un!er partial occupation until 1926% siilarly severe! all constitutional
links with the Bnite! *in)!o. 5raL0 which becae a /ritish +rotectorate in 19##0 also
)aine! coplete in!epen!ence ten years later in 19C#.
T1+ I5()1 F5++ S6-6+
5t was to be provi!e! un!er the 6oe Rule :ct 191.0 but the onset of =orl! =ar 5
!elaye! its ipleentation in!efinitely. :t (aster 1916 an unsuccessful are! uprisin)
was sta)e! in 1ublin by a i9e! )roup of nationalists an! socialists. <ro 1919 the 5rish
Republican :ry fou)ht a )uerrilla war to sece!e fro the Bnite! *in)!o. This
:n)lo45rish =ar en!e! in 19#1 with a staleate an! the si)nin) of the :n)lo45rish
Treaty. The treaty confire! the !ivision of 5relan! into two states. ;ost of the islan!
"#6 counties% becae the 5rish <ree 7tate0 a !oinion within the /ritish ,oonwealth.
;eanwhile0 the si9 counties in the north with a a>ority +rotestant counity reaine!
a part of the Bnite! *in)!o as &orthern 5relan!. The <ree 7tate evolve! into the
Republic of 5relan!0 which with!rew fro the ,oonwealth when enacte! in 19.9.
5relan!Js ,onstitution claie! &orthern 5relan! as a part of the Republic until 1998. The
issue of whether &orthern 5relan! shoul! reain in the Bnite! *in)!o or >oin the
Republic of 5relan! has !ivi!e! &orthern 5relan!Js people an! was a factor in a lon) an!
bloo!y conflict known as the Troubles. The /elfast :)reeent of 1998 brou)ht about a
ceasefire between ost of the a>or or)anisations on both si!es.
D+*/,/.()-6(/. -.< <+*,(.+ 19;"#199!%
Thou)h the Bnite! *in)!o an! its (pire eer)e! victorious fro =orl! =ar 550 the
econoic costs of the war were far )reater than those of =orl! =ar 5. The Bnite!
*in)!o was heavily bobe!. The Bnite! *in)!oJs alrea!y weakene! coercial an!
financial lea!ership were further un!erine!0 hei)htenin) the iportance of the
1oinions an! the Bnite! 7tates as a source of ilitary assistance.The rise of anti4
colonial nationalist oveents in /ritish colonies an! the chan)in) econoic situation
of the worl! in the first half of the #$th century challen)e! an iperial power now
increasin)ly preoccupie! with issues nearer hoe. Aver the ne9t two !eca!es ost of the
forer colonies woul! becoe in!epen!ent.
T1+ D/9(.(/.)
The Bnite! *in)!oJs !eclaration of hostilities a)ainst Gerany in 7epteber 19C9 !i!
not autoatically coit the 1oinions. :ll e9cept 5relan! !eclare! a state of hostility
with Gerany. The 5rish <ree 7tate ha! ne)otiate! the reoval of the Royal &avy fro
the Treaty +orts the year before0 an! chose to reain le)ally neutral throu)hout the war.
:ustralia went to war un!er the /ritish !eclaration0 thou)h :ustralian prie inister
3ohn ,urtinJs unprece!ente! action in 19.# of successfully !ean!in) the recall for
hoe service of :ustralian troops that ha! been eararke! for the !efence of /ritish4hel!
/ura !eonstrate! that 1oinion )overnents coul! no lon)er be e9pecte! to
subor!inate their own national interests to /ritish strate)ic perspectives. :fter the war0
:ustralia an! &ew Xealan! >oine! with the Bnite! 7tates in the :&XB7 re)ional security
treaty in 1921 "althou)h the B7 repu!iate! its coitents to &ew Xealan! followin) a
1982 !ispute over port access for nuclear vessels%. The Bnite! *in)!oJs pursuit "fro
1961% an! attainent "in 19?C% of (uropean ,ounity ebership weakene! the ol!
coercial ties to the 1oinions0 en!in) their privile)e! access to the B* arket. 5n
3anuary of 19.?0 ,ana!a becae the first 1oinion to create its nationals as citi-ens in
a!!ition to their status as /ritish sub>ects "which was retaine! until 19??%. ,ana!a
becae le)ally in!epen!ent after the passin) by the /ritish +arliaent of the ,ana!a :ct
198#0 effectin) the patriation of the national constitution.
E.< /4 B5(6()1 R-B
The /ritish (pire lost its ost valuable colony when the /ritish Ra> cae to an en! in
:u)ust 19.? after a forty year4lon) capai)n by the 5n!ian &ational ,on)ress0 first for
self4)overnent an! later for full soverei)nty. :nother or)ani-ation0 calle! the ;usli
Dea)ue0 le! a successful oveent for the creation of a separate ;usli4state calle!
+akistan "later (ast +akistan )aine! in!epen!ence an! cae to be known as /an)la!esh%.
The +artition of 5n!ia resulte! in assive population e9chan)es an! wi!e4sprea! violence
an! riots costin) hun!re!s of thousan!s of lives an! creatin) the 1oinion of +akistan
"later 5slaic Republic of +akistan% an! the Bnion of 5n!ia "later Republic of 5n!ia%.
P-,+)6(.+
The Bnite! *in)!oJs +alestine ;an!ate en!e! in 19.8 in with!rawal an! open warfare
between the territoryJs 3ewish an! :rab populations.
A)(-
/ura achieve! in!epen!ence "19.8% outsi!e the ,oonwealthU /ura bein) the first
colony to sever all ties with the /ritishU ,eylon "19.8% an! ;alaya "192?% within it.
7in)apore becae in!epen!ent in two sta)es. The /ritish !i! not believe that 7in)apore
woul! be lar)e enou)h to !efen! itself a)ainst others alone. Therefore0 7in)apore was
>oine! with ;alaya0 7arawak an! &orth /orneo0 7abah to for the <e!eration of
;alaysia upon in!epen!ence fro the (pire. This short4live! union was !issolve! in
1962 when 7in)apore left ;alaysia an! achieve! coplete in!epen!ence0 althou)h the
Bnite! *in)!o continue! to offer protection throu)h the <ive +ower 1efence
:rran)eents. 5n 198.0 the Bnite! *in)!o en!e! the protectorate status of /runei0
althou)h the /ritish :ry continues to aintain a presence in the 7ultanate at the reLuest
of the Governent of /runei.
T1+ S0+A C5()()
/ritainJs liitations were e9pose! by the 7ue- ,risis of 1926 in which the Bnite! 7tates
an! the 7oviet Bnion oppose! the /ritish0 <rench an! 5sraeli intervention in ()ypt. The
/ritish +rie ;inister0 :nthony (!en ha! infuriate! his B7 counterpart0 +resi!ent
1wi)ht 1. (isenhower0 by his lack of consultation0 an! (isenhower refuse! to back the
invasion. :nother of (isenhowerJs concerns was the possibility of a wi!er war with the
7oviet Bnion after &ikita *hrushchev threatene! to intervene on the ()yptian si!e.
(isenhower also applie! financial levera)e by threatenin) to sell B7 reserves of the
/ritish poun! an! thereby precipitate a collapse of the /ritish currency. Thou)h the
invasion force ha! succee!e! in its ob>ective of recapturin) the ,anal0 /ritain was force!
into a huiliatin) with!rawal of its forces !ue to B& intervention an! B7 political
pressure. The 7ue- ,risis arke! a turnin) point in the history of /ritain an! its (pire'
/ritain coul! no lon)er act unilaterally an! was !epen!ent on its alliance with the Bnite!
7tates.
T1+ M+<(6+55-.+-.
: )uerrilla war wa)e! by Greek ,ypriot a!vocates of union with Greece en!e! "196$% in
an in!epen!ent ,yprus0 althou)h the Bnite! *in)!o !i! retain two ilitary bases 4
:krotiri an! 1hekelia. The ;e!iterranean islan!s of ;alta an! Go-o were )iven
in!epen!ence fro the Bnite! *in)!o in 196..
A45(*-
The en! of /ritainJs (pire in :frica cae rapi!ly' GhanaJs in!epen!ence "192?% after a
ten4year nationalist political capai)n was followe! by that of &i)eria an! 7oalilan!
"196$%0 7ierra Deone an! Tan)anyika "1961%0 B)an!a "196#%0 *enya an! Xan-ibar
"196C%0 The Gabia "1962%0 Desotho "forerly /asutolan!% "1966%0 /otswana "forerly
/echuanalan!% "196?%0 an! 7wa-ilan! "1968%. /ritish with!rawal fro the southern an!
eastern parts of :frica was coplicate! by the re)ionJs white settler populations' *enya
ha! alrea!y provi!e! an e9aple in the ;au ;au Bprisin) of violent conflict
e9acerbate! by white lan!ownership an! reluctance to conce!e a>ority rule. =hite
inority rule in 7outh :frica reaine! a source of bitterness within the ,oonwealth
until the Bnion of 7outh :frica left the ,oonwealth in 1961. :lthou)h the white4
!oinate! <e!eration of Rho!esia an! &yasalan! en!e! in the in!epen!ence of ;alawi
"forerly &yasalan!% an! Xabia "the forer &orthern Rho!esia% in 196.0 7outhern
Rho!esiaJs white inority "a self4)overnin) colony since 19#C% !eclare! in!epen!ence
with their B15 rather than subit to the ie!iate a>ority rule of black :fricans. The
support of 7outh :fricaJs aparthei! )overnent0 an! the +ortu)uese rule of :n)ola an!
;o-abiLue helpe! support the Rho!esian re)ie until 19?90 when a)reeent was
reache! on a>ority rule0 en!in) the Rho!esian /ush =ar an! creatin) the new nation of
Xibabwe.
T1+ C-5(22+-.
;ost of the Bnite! *in)!oJs ,aribbean territories opte! for eventual separate
in!epen!ence after the failure of the =est 5n!ies <e!eration "19286#%' 3aaica an!
Trini!a! an! Toba)o "196#% were followe! into statehoo! by /arba!os "1966% an! the
saller islan!s of the eastern ,aribbean "19?$s an! 198$s%0 :nti)ua an! /arbu!a bein)
the last in &oveber 1981. The Bnite! *in)!oJs last colony on the :erican ainlan!0
/ritish 6on!uras0 becae a self4)overnin) colony in 196. an! was renae! /eli-e on 1
3une 19?C0 achievin) full in!epen!ence in 1981.
R/*3-,,
:s !ecolonisation an! the ,ol! =ar were )atherin) oentu !urin) the 192$s0 an
uninhabite! rock in the :tlantic Acean0 Rockall0 becae the last territorial acLuisition of
the Bnite! *in)!o. ,oncerns that the 7oviet Bnion i)ht use the islan! to spy on a
/ritish issile test propte! the Royal &avy to lan! a party an! officially clai the rock
in the nae of the Gueen in 1922. 5n 19?# the 5slan! of Rockall :ct forally
incorporate! the islan! into the Bnite! *in)!o.
T1+ F-,3,-.<) W-5
5n 198#0 the Bnite! *in)!oJs resolve to !efen! her reainin) overseas territories was
put to the test when :r)entina inva!e! the <alklan! 5slan!s0 actin) on a lon)4stan!in)
clai that !ate! back to the 7panish (pire. The Bnite! *in)!oJs ultiately successful
ilitary response to retake the islan!s !urin) the ensuin) <alklan!s =ar propte!
hea!lines in the B7 press that Pthe (pire strikes backP0 an! was viewe! by any to
have contribute! to reversin) the !ownwar! tren! in the B*Js status as a worl! power.
T1+ H-.</>+5 /4 H/.8 K/.8
5n 199?0 the Bnite! *in)!oJs last a>or overseas territory0 6on) *on)0 becae a
7pecial :!inistrative Re)ion of the +eopleJs Republic of ,hina un!er the ters of the
7ino4/ritish 3oint 1eclaration a)ree! soe thirteen years previously.
L+8-*7
The Bnite! *in)!o retains soverei)nty over fourteen territories outsi!e of the /ritish
5sles0 collectively nae! the /ritish overseas territories0 which reain un!er /ritish rule
!ue to lack of support for in!epen!ence aon) the local population or because the
territory is uninhabite! e9cept for transient ilitary or scientific personnel. /ritish
soverei)nty of two of the overseas territories0 Gibraltar an! the <alklan! 5slan!s0 is
!ispute! by their nearest )eo)raphical nei)hbours0 7pain an! :r)entina respectively.
;ost forer /ritish colonies "an! one forer +ortu)uese colony% are ebers of the
,oonwealth of &ations0 a non4political0 voluntary association of eLual ebers0 in
which the Bnite! *in)!o has no privile)e! status. The hea! of the ,oonwealth is
currently Gueen (li-abeth 55. <ifteen ebers of the ,oonwealth continue to share
their hea! of state with the Bnite! *in)!o0 the ,oonwealth reals. ;any forer
/ritish colonies share or share! certain characteristics'
The (n)lish lan)ua)e as either the ain or secon!ary lan)ua)e.
: !eocratic parliaentary syste of )overnent o!elle! on the =estinster
syste.
: le)al syste base! upon (n)lish law. The 3u!icial ,oittee of the +rivy
,ouncil0 one of the Bnite! *in)!oJs hi)hest courts of appeal0 still serves as the
hi)hest court of appeal for several forer colonies.
: ilitary0 police an! civil service base! upon /ritish o!els.
The iperial syste of easureent "The Bnite! 7tates0 5n!ia0 ,yprus an!
/ura are the only forer /ritish colonies not to have officially a!opte! the
etric syste%.
(!ucational 5nstitutions such as boar!in) schools an! universities o!elle! on
A9for! an! ,abri!)e.
1rivin) on the left han! si!e of the roa!0 with soe e9ceptions ainly in &orth
:erica an! &orth :frica.
+opularity of ru)by union an!Yor cricket0 as well as relate! sports.
7everal on)oin) conflicts an! !isputes aroun! the worl! can trace their ori)ins to bor!ers
inherite! by countries fro the /ritish (pire' the Guatealan clai to /eli-e0 the
*ashir conflict0 the 5sraeli4+alestinian conflict0 an! within :frica0 where political
boun!aries !i! not reflect hoo)enous ethnicities or reli)ions. The /ritish (pire was
also responsible for lar)e i)rations of peoples. ;illions of people left the /ritish 5sles0
with the foun!in) settler populations of the Bnite! 7tates0 ,ana!a0 :ustralia an! &ew
Xealan! coin) ainly fro /ritain. Tensions reain between the ainly /ritish4
!escen!e! populations of ,ana!a0 :ustralia an! &ew Xealan! an! the in!i)enous
inorities in those countries. /ritish settleent of 5relan! continues to leave its ark in
the for of a !ivi!e! ,atholic an! +rotestant counity. The akeup of /ritain itself
was irreversibly chan)e! after the 7econ! =orl! =ar with ii)ration to the Bnite!
*in)!o fro the colonies that it was busy )rantin) in!epen!ence to.
*nswers of some general .!eries regarding ritish History.
This post may be helpf!l regarding deciding to opt ritish history or not.
First of all let me give yo! a brief sketch of this s!b+ect. . H is a very interesting
s!b+ect , f!ll of knowledge as it is the history of that nation which r!led this world for
for long time in the modern times. . *nd the history of this nation act!ally makes !s
abreast with the evol!tion of h!manity over the past / cent!ries.
I answer here few of the )!estions which are !s!ally in the minds of *spirants
regarding ritish History.
0hat are the positives of this s!b+ect 1
First of all it is a stable s!b+ect in terms of scores. If it does not give 23- , it wont
restrict yo! !nder 2-- either. 0ith a better preparation , having good aptit!de of
history , one can cross 23- in it. However , if one does not catch the moon of 23-
marks , at least one fells in the stars of 2'-42(- marks. !t it depends on one's
preparation and aptit!de.
*nother good thing abo!t this s!b+ect is that its 5C.s keep on getting repeated .
Therefore , if one prepares mc)s from past ten years papers , one is in )!ite better
position to cross (-6/- in 5C.s portion. Here on this prestigio!s for!m I have solved
the mc)s of the past papers of this s!b+ect since '---. Here i provide the link for that
thread . They can be of good help in this regard.
ritish history Past papers 5C.s
*nother good thing abo!t this s!b+ect is that it is very interesting and f!ll of knowledge
. This partic!lar aspect keeps one's interest in this s!b+ect intact and one does not get
bored while st!dying. This is a very important thing abo!t it. 7nless a s!b+ect catches
the attention , it gets to!gh to spend time with that.
0hat are the negatives abo!t this s!b+ect1
0ell I personally feel that there are no negative things abo!t this s!b+ect. However ,
one can say that this s!b+ect is not that m!ch scoring as is Islamic history. "econdly ,
few people do not have aptit!de for history s!b+ects , they sho!ld abstain from opting
it.
0hich books sho!ld be cons!lted for . H
8eading two books which i mention below is considered s!fficient for the preparation
of this s!b+ect. However , few aspirants also take help from a third book by "o!thgate.
ritish history by P. C Thomas 9 * very good book which covers paper one very
convincingly.
ritish History by $orman %owe . This book is partic!larly cons!lted for Paper of
ritish history.
ritish history by "o!thgate . This book is !sed by few aspirants for even better
preparation . !t first two !s!ally are felt s!fficient.
How m!ch time is re)!ired for the preparation of ritish history1
0ell this s!b+ect can be prepared in fifteen days . However, s!b+ect re)!ires at least
one and half month for a better and convincing preparation. Tho!gh it is a very
interesting s!b+ect, yet any history s!b+ect takes times for its preparation as few things
one has to memori:e. . .
Is there any need of cons!lting some teacher or academy for the preparation
of this s!b+ect 1
The answer to this )!estion is an emphatic $;.
<o! do not need to cons!lt teacher for t!ition at all. <es seeking the g!idance of some
senior wo!ld prove helpf!l.
0ill it remain a scoring s!b+ect in the coming years 1
Tho!gh C"" is most !ncertain and !npredictable e#am and nothing co!ld be g!essed
abo!t it , yet keeping in view its past record, one can say that It is most likely to remain
stable s!b+ect and wont at least ditch the aspirants if not gave very high scores .
Therefore , one can term it stable and safe s!b+ect.
How to take the start for the preparation of ritish History 1
First of all go thro!gh the whole of the syllab!s . I mean take a f!ll reading of this
s!b+ect and grasp a good idea abo!t the content and s!b+ect matter of this s!b+ect . In
this way, not only yo! wo!ld be familiar with the s!b+ect b!t also yo! wo!ld be able to
check yo!r aptit!de for this s!b+ect . 8emember , yo! have to spend a good )!antity of
time with a s!b+ect in css. therefore, one sho!ld opt that s!b+ect for which one has the
aptit!de and interest . "o that the time with that s!b+ect passes witho!t getting fed !p
and witho!t getting bored. *fter yo! have gone thro!gh the whole syllab!s and have
checked yo!r aptit!de for this s!b+ect take the final decision.
$ow when yo! have taken the decision to give it a go , see past years papers and restart
st!dying and preparing this s!b+ect keeping in view the aspects most disc!ssed in past
papers and prepare it with yo!r special foc!s on the demands of the e#aminer. =ive
more attention to the things asked fre)!ently in the past papers . The Paper * f ritish
History, yo! wo!ld find like a sweet Candy. Paper demands some more attention as
compared to Paper *.
.C :1' Roan eperor ,lau!ius inva!es /ritain
2$ :1' the Roans foun! Don!iniu in /ritain
8$ :1' the Roans inva!e ,ale!onia "7cotlan!%
1##' 6a!rianJs =all is built alon) the northern frontier to protect fro the /arbarians
C1. :1' /ritish bishops are suone! to the council of :rles
C2$' the issionary &inian establishes the church ,an!i!a ,asa at =hithorn in
Galloway0 7cotlan!
.1$ :1' the Roans with!raw fro /ritain0 an! /ritain !isinte)rates in clans of ,elts
"/ritons0 :n)les0 +icts0 7cots% as well as Geranic people ":n)les0 7a9ons0 3utes0 etc%
.2$' 7a9ons inva!e (n)lan!0 while the rest is split aon) =elsh kin)!os of Rhe)e!0
Go!o!!in an! 7trathcly!e
.2$' the 7a9on invasion propts Roan4/ritish inhabitants of /ritain to i)rate to
northern <rance "/rittany%
.22' the 7a9on lea!er 6en)ist takes over the kin)!o of *ent an! foun!s their capital at
,anterbury
.?6' the 7a9on lea!er :elle foun!s the kin)!o of 7usse9 "7outh 7a9ons%
2$C' ost 7cots leave 5relan! an! buil! the kin)!o of 1alria!a in :r)yll on the west
coast of 7cotlan!
2C#' the 7a9on ,er!ic foun!s the kin)!o of =esse9 "=est 7a9ons%
2.$' the onk Gil!as writes the P1e (9ci!io /ritanniaeP
2..' ,iaran foun!s the onastery of ,lonacnoise in 5relan!
22$' the 7a9on kin)!os of (ast 7a9ons "(sse9% an! ;i!!le 7a9ons ";i!!lese9% are
establishe!
26C' the 5rish onk ,olubanus foun!s the onastery of 5ona off the coast of 7cotlan!0
soon to becoe the ain center of the ,oluban school
29$' (n)lan! is !ivi!e! aon) several kin)!os "*ent0 &orthubria0 ;ercia0 =esse90
etc%
29?' +ope Gre)ory 5 !ispatches :u)ustine to (n)lan! with forty onks
7ee the tieline of ,hristianity
6$$' Taliesin an! :neirin write poes in ol! =elsh in 7trathcly!e
6$1' :u)ustine converts kin) (thelbert of *ent an! establishes the see of ,anterbury
with hiself as its first archbishop
6$1' kin) :ethelbert of *ent proul)ates the first (n)lish co!e of law
6#?' +ope Gre)ory 5 sen!s the 5talian onk +aulinus to foun! the see of Kork an!
convert kin) (!win of &orthubria
6CC' !urin) the rei)n of the 7a9on kin) Aswal! conversion of &orthubria is coplete!
6C2' ,yne)ils0 kin) of =esse90 converts to ,hristianity
6C2' 5ona bishop :i!an foun!s a onastic counity in the islan! of Din!isfarne off the
coast of 7cotlan!
66.' the syno! of =hitby brin)s the ,eltic "(n)lish% church into confority with Roe
66.' 5ona onk =ilfri! is appointe! bishop of Kork
668' the onk Theo!ore of Tarsus is appointe! archbishop of ,anterbury
6?$' the :n)losa9ons convert to ,hristianity
6?.' /ene!ict /iscop foun!s the onastery of =earouth in &orthubria
681' /ene!ict /iscop0 a native :n)losa9on0 foun!s the onastery of 3arrow in
&orthubria
682' kin) 5ne of =esse9 conLuers 7usse90 1evon an! ,ornwall
682' the !efeat of kin) (c)fri! en!s the !oination of &orthubria over (n)lan!
68?' the Fikin)s "1anes% !estroy the onastery of =hitbey in (n)lan!
69$' (n)lish issionary =illibror! evan)eli-es in 6ollan! an! 1enark
?C1' /e!e of 3arrow "&orthubria% writes the P(cclesiastical 6istory of the (n)lish
+eopleP
?2?' the kin)!o of ;ercia !oinates (n)lan! un!er kin) Affa
?9C' Fikin)s "1anes% rai! the onastery of Din!isfarne an! !estroy the onastery of
3arrow
8#2' the 7a9on kin) ()bert 555 of =esse9 conLuers *ent an! ;ercia0 thus rei)nin) over
all of (n)lan!
8C$' P6istoria /rittonuP by &ennius
8C1' Fikin)s "&orse% inva!e 5relan! an! foun! 1ublin
8C.' Fikin)s "1anes% rai! (n)lan!
8.C' *enneth ;ac:lpin unites the 7cots an! +icts in 7cotlan!
862' the Fikin)s "1anes% inva!e (ast :n)lia
86?' the Fikin)s "1anes% un!er 5varr the /oneless establish a kin)!o in Kork0
&orthubria
8?1' :lfre! becoes kin) of =esse9
8?8' =esse9 kin) :lfre! !efeats the Fikin)s "1anes%
896' :lfre! occupies Don!on an! pushes the 1anes outsi!e =esse9 an! ;ercia to the
north of (n)lan!
899' :lfre!Js son (!war! becoes kin) of =esse9
9$Z' The P/eowulfP is written
91$' :lfre!Js son (!war! !efeats the 1anes an! anne9es to =esse9 every town south of
the river 6uber
9#.' (!war!Js son :ethelstan becoes kin) of =esse9
9#?' =esse9 kin) :ethelstan conLuers ost of (n)lan!0 e9cept the five borou)hs of
Deicester0 Dincoln0 &ottin)ha0 1erby an! 7tafor!
9C?' :ethelstan !efeats the 1anes at the battle of /runanbur)h an! establishes the
kin!)o of (n)lan!
929' (!)ar the +eaceful becoes the first kin) of a unite! (n)lan!
968' /rian /oru e9pels the Fikin)s fro 5relan!
1$$$' ? illion people live in <rance0 ? illion in 5beria0 2 illion in 5taly0 . illion in
Gerany0 # illion in /ritain
1$$2' ;alcol 55 kills *enneth 555 an! becoes *in) of 7cotlant
1$1C' the 1anish chieftain 7ven! <orkbear! "7ven! 5% inva!es (n)lan!
1$16' the 1anish kin) ,anute "*nut% 55 !efeats the =esse9 kin) (!un! at the battle of
:lney an! anne9es ;ercia
1$1?' (!un! of =esse9 !ies an! ,anute anne9es =esse9
1$1?' ,anute converts to christianity
1$#8' ,anute0 alrea!y kin) of (n)lan! an! 1enark0 conLuers &orway
1$C.' kin) 1uncan of 7trathcly!e conLuers ost of 7cotlan!
1$C2' ,anute !ies0 leavin) 1enark an! (n)lan! to 6ar!acnut an! &orway to 7wein
1$.$' ;ac/eth kills 1uncan an! becoes *in) of 7cotlant
1$.#' 6ar!acnut !ies su!!enly an! (!war! the ,onfessor0 heir to both =esse9 an!
;ercia0 re)ains the throne of (n)lan! to the :n)losa9ons
1$62' =estinster :bbey is inau)urate!
1$66' (!war! the ,onfessor !ies0 leavin) no 7a9on heir0 the &orwi)ian 6aral! 555
6arraa!e inva!es northern (n)lan! an! is !efeate! an! kille! at the battle of 7tafor!
/ri!)e by 6arol! Go!winson of (n)lan!0 who is in turn !efeate! at the battle of 6astin)s
by =illia of &oran!y "the ,onLueror%0 who thus en!s the :n)lo47a9on rule of
(n)lan! an! unites (n)lan! an! &oran!y
1$?$' Danfranc0 an 5talian lawyer0 becoes :rchbishop of ,anterbury0 establishin) the
priacy of the see of ,anterbury over Kork
1$?#' =illia 5 the ,onLueror inva!es 7cotlan!
1$?8' =illia 5 or!ers the construction of the Tower of Don!on
1$86' the P1oes!ay /ookP is copile! for ta9ation purposes
1$8?' =illia 5 the ,onLueror !ies an! is succee!e! as kin) of (n)lan! by his son
=illia 55 Rufus0 while his other son Robert becoes !uke of &oran!y
11$$' =illia Rufus is assassinate! an! is succee!e! by 6enry 50 son of =illia the
,onLueror0 who fi)hts with +ope +asLuale 55 on the issue of lay investiture "the kin)
elects the bishops%
11$?' the ,oncor!at of Don!on fin!s a coproise between 6enry 5 an! +ope +asLuale
55 on the issue of lay investiture "the kin) elects the bishops%
11$6' 6enry 5 !efeats an! captures his brother Robert0 !uke of &oran!y
111C' the or!er of 7t 3ohn is foun!e!
111.' ;atil!a ";au!%0 !au)hter of kin) 6enry 5 of (n)lan!0 arries eperor 6einrich F
11#.' 1avi! becoes *in) of 7cotlan! an! e9ten!s his rei)n
11#9' eperor 6einrich F !ies an! epress ;atil!a arries Geoffrey the 6an!soe0
,ount of :n>ou
11C$' Geoffrey of ;onouth creates the yth of :rthur
11C9' ;atil!a clais the throne of (n)lan!
11.1' ;atil!a is briefly Lueen of (n)lan! before bein) usurpe! of the throne
112C' 6enry of :n>ou0 son of ;atil!a an! husban! of (leanor of :Luitaine0 inva!es
(n)lan!0
112.' 6enry 55 +lanta)enet is crowne! kin) of (n)lan!0 establishin) the +lanta)enet
!ynasty over (n)lan!0 /ur)un!y an! :Luitaine
112.' an (n)lishan is electe! +ope :!rian 5F
116.' 6enry 55Js constituion of ,laren!on liits the authority of the +ope over (n)lish
atters
11?6' 6enry 55 establishes the Pcoon lawP of (n)lan!
1189' Richar! 5 P,oeur !e DionP0 son of 6enry 550 becoes kin) of (n)lan! an!
continues the rule of the +lanta)enets
1189' the thir! ,rusa!e is le! by kin) Richar! of (n)lan!0 kin) +hilippe :u)uste 55 of
<rance0 an! eperor <rie!rich /arbarossa
119.' *in) Richar! the Dion46earte! of (n)lan!0 taken prisoner upon the return fro the
,rusa!es0 ackowle!)es hiself kin) +hilippe :u)uste 55Js vassal0 thus losin) all <rench
possessions of the +lanta)enets
1199' 3ohn Dacklan!0 son of 6enry 550 becoes kin) of (n)lan!
1#$$' the 3ews are e9pelle! fro (n)lan!
1#$C' +hilippe :u)uste 55 of <rance conLuers &oran!y an! e9pels the (n)lish
1#$9' ,abri!)e Bniversity is foun!e!
1#1.' pope 5nnocent 5550 the claiant <rie!rich 55 an! <rench kin) +hilippe :u)uste
!efeat Geran eperor Atto 5F an! (n)lish kin) 3ohn at the battle of /ouvines0 an!
<rie!rich 55 ascen!s to the throne of Gerany
1#12' kin) 3ohn 5 Dacklan! is force! by the (n)lish barons to si)n the P;a)na ,artaP0 a
constitution that )rants ri)hts to the nobility0 the cler)y an! the townspeople
1#16' 6enry 555 becoes kin) of (n)lan!
1#62' 7ion !e ;ontfort0 lea!er of the barons0 suons popular representatives to
+arliaent
1#?#' (!war! 5 becoes kin) of (n)lan!
1#8C' the first echanical clock in the worl! is installe! in an (n)lish onastery
"1unstable%
1#8.' (!war! 5 anne9es =ales
1#9$' (!war! 5 e9pells all 3ews fro (n)lan!
1#92' (!war! 5 inau)urates the first representative parliaent0 the P;o!el +arliaentP0
which features bishops0 abbots0 peers0 kni)hts an! town representatives
1#96' (!war! 5 of (n)lan! anne9es 7cotlan!
1C$6' 7cottish kin) Robert /ruce rebels to the (n)lish
1C$?' (!war! 55 becoes kin) of (n)lan!
1C1.' Robert /ruce !efeats (!war! 55 at the battle of /annockburn an! re)ains
7cotlan!Js in!epen!ence
1C#?' (!war! 55 is !epose! by the parliaent an! replace! with his son (!war! 555
1C#8' ,harles 5F0 the last ,apetian kin) of <rance !ies0 his !au)hter 3eanne is
!isLualifie! fro occupyin) the <rench throne0 an! (!war! 555 of (n)lan! clais the
<rench throne0 whereas the <rench nobility chooses +hilip of Falois
1CCC' (!war! 555 inva!es 7cotlan!
1CC.' the first )unpow!er is anufacture! in (n)lan!
1CC?' +hilippe F5 of <rance an! (!war! 555 of (n)lan! )o to war over <rance "P6un!re!
KearsJ =arP%
1C.$' (n)lish kni)hts an! bur)esses >oin in the 6ouse of ,oons
1C.6' superior weaponry an! strate)y allows (!war! 555Js uch saller (n)lish ary of
160$$$ to !efeat +hilip F5Js lar)er <rench ary of 8$0$$$ at the /attle of ,recy in
northern <rance !urin) the P6un!re! KearsJ =arP0 thus acceleratin) the shift fro
kni)hts on horseback to fire power
1C.8' the pla)ue "P/lack 1eathP% reaches (n)lan! "1.2 people will !ie0 out of a
population of . illion%
1C26' (n)lan! captures the <rench kin) an! one thir! of <rance at the battle of +oitiers
1C6.' ,harles F liberates <rance fro (n)lan!
1C?1' Robert 550 )ran!son of Robert /ruce0 establishes the 7tuart line on the 7cottish
throne
1C81' the A9for! theolo)ian 3ohn =yclif !enies that the substance of brea! an! wine are
iraculously chan)e! !urin) the (ucharist
1C81' +opular riots erupt a)ainst a new ta9 "the PGreat RevoltP%
1C9.' Richar! 55 inva!es 5relan!
1C99' 6enry /ollin)broke0 the son of the richest an "3ohn of Gaunt% overthrows
Richar! 55 an! becoes kin) 6enry 5F
1.$1' 6enry 5F issues a statute le)ali-in) the persecution of PhereticsP "ainly Dollar!s%
1.1C' 6enry F succee!s his father to the throne of (n)lan!
1.12' 6enry F of (n)lan! allies with /ur)un!y0 !efeats the <rench at the battle of
:)incourt0 takes prisoner the !uke of Arleans an! procee!s to reconLuer &oran!y fro
<rance
1.#$' (n)lan! sei-es northern <rance
1.##' 6enry F5 becoes kin) of (n)lan!
1.#9' the <rench ary0 le! by 3eanne !J:rc0 triuphs at Arleans
1.C1' the (n)lish burn 3eanne !J:rc at the stakes
1.C1' 6enry F5 of (n)lan! is crowne! kin) of <rance in +aris
1.2$' 3ack ,a!eJs popular rebellion of peasants an! workers a)ainst ta9es an! oppression
1.2#' 6enry F5 of (n)lan! )oes a!
1.2C' <rance e9pels the (n)lish "en! of the P6un!re! KearsJ =arP with (n)lish !efeat%
1.22' The royal houses of Kork an! Dancaster fi)ht a civil war "P=ar of the RosesP% to
succee! the a! 6enry F5
1.61' (!war! 5F of Kork !eposes 6enry F5 Dancaster an! lets Richar! &eville run the
country on his behalf
1.?1' (!war! 5F !efeats ;ar)aret of :n>ou while both the rene)a!e Richar! &eville an!
6enry F5 are ur!ere! by his en
1.8C' (!war! 5F !ies an! his brother Richar! becoes re)ent for the infant princes0 but
then crowns hiself as Richar! 555 an! ur!erin) both of (!war! 5FJs chil!ren
1.82' 6enry F55 Tu!or of Dancaster0 supporte! by ,harles F555 of <rance0 !efeats an!
kills Richar! 555 of Kork0 en!in) the Korkist !ynasty an! inau)uratin) the Tu!or !ynasty
on the throne of (n)lan!
1.86' 6enry F55 arries (li-abeth of Kork0 thus unitin) houses of Kork an! Dancaster
1.96' the 5talian e9plorer 3ohn ,abot sails fro (n)lan! to ,ana!a "thinkin) he has
reache! :sia% on behalf of the kin) of (n)lan!
1.9?' 3ohn ,abot !iscovers &ewfoun!lan!
1.9?' 6enry F55 !efeats the last preten!er to the throne an! restores peace to the
kin)!o
12$9' 6enry F555 becoes kin) of (n)lan!
1218' Thoas ;ore publishes PBtopiaP
12#9' 6enry F555 accepts the +rotestant Reforation
12CC' 6enry F555 arries :nne /oleyn an! is e9counicate! by +ope ,leent F55
12C.' 6enry F555 !eclares hiself supree hea! of the ,hurch of (n)lan!
12C2' Thoas ;ore is behea!e! in Tower of Don!on for refusin) to subit to 6enry
F555
12C6' 6enry F555 !irects the !issolution of the (n)lish onasteries un!er the !irection of
Thoas ,rowell
12.$' Thoas ,rowell is e9ecute!
12..' 6enry F555 an! eperor *arl F inva!e <rance
122C' ;ary 50 !au)hter of 6enry F555 an! ,atherine of :ra)on0 becoes Lueen of
(n)lan! an! returns (n)lan! to ,atholicis0 while hun!re!s of +rotestants are burne! at
the stakes
1228' (li-abeth 50 !au)hter of 6enry F555 an! :nne /oleyn0 becoes Lueen of (n)lan!
an! (n)lan! becoes +rotestant a)ain an! ,atholics are persecute!
126C' The :n)lican ,hurch is officially foun!e! "on pre!estination an! thr re!eein)
power of faith alone%
126?' ;ary 7tuart of 7cotlan! is !epose! an! her son 3aes F5 becoes kin) of
7cotlan!
12?6' the first /ritish theater opens in Don!on
128$' <rancis 1rake sails aroun! the worl!
1286' <rancis 1rake sails to the =est 5n!ies
128?' (n)lan! e9ecutes ;ary 7tuart0 forer Lueen of 7cotlan! an! heir to the (n)lish
throne0 the for conspirin) a)ainst Lueen (li-abeth 5
128?' <rancis 1rake !estroys the 7panish fleet at ,a!i-
1288' +hilip 55 of 7pain !eclares war a)ainst (li-abeth 5 of (n)lan! to protect 7panish
possessions in :erica fro (n)lish buccaneers0 but the 7panish :ra!a is !efeate! by
the (n)lish fleet of <rancis 1rake
129#' the /ritish +arliaent !efines the statute ile as 8 furlon)s0 8$ chains0 C#$ ro!s0
1?6$ yar!s or 2#8$ feet
1299' the (ast 5n!ia ,opany is establishe!
16$1' 3aes Dancaster lea!s the first /ritish car)o to the (ast 5n!ies "the trip takes 1.
onths one way% an! establishes a /ritish factory at /anta
16$C' 3aes F5 of 7cotlan! becoes kin) 3aes 5 of (n)lan!
16$?' 3ohn 7ith foun!s the colony of Fir)inia
16$9' (n)lan! conLuers the /eru!as in :erica
161.' the 7cottish atheatician 3ohn &apier coins the wor! Plo)arithP an! publishes
the first lo)arithic table
1618' after the P1efenestration of +ra)ueP0 (n)lan! enters the PThirty KearsJ =arP
a)ainst the 6absbur) epire
16#$' (n)lish pil)ris aboar! the P;ayflowerP lan! at +lyouth Rock on ,ape ,o!0
;assachusetts
16#$' <rancis /acon publishes the P&ovu Ar)anonP to ar)ue that truth shoul! be foun!
via epirical observation
16#1' Thoas :rcher publishes the first perio!ical paphlet "pre!ecessor of the
newspaper%
16#2' ,harles 50 *in) of (n)lan! "to 16.9%U ,harles 5 arries 6enrietta ;aria0 sister of
Douis E555 of <ranceU !issolves +arliaent which fails to vote hi oney
16#8' 3ohn <elton assassinates Geor)e Filliers0 the !uke of /uckin)ha
16C$' (n)lan! si)ns peace treaties with <rance an! 7pain an! aban!ons the PThirty
KearsJ =arP
16.#' a civil war opposes kin) ,harles 5 an! the +arliaent
16.2' Aliver ,rowellJs &ew ;o!el :ry !efeats kin) ,harles 5
16.8' the P+eace of =estphaliaP en!s the Thirty KearsJ =ar
16.9' ,rowell crushes a ,atholic uprisin) in 5relan!
16.9' the 1i))ers proul)ate a vision of a society free fro private property an!
coerce
16.9' ,harles 5 is e9ecute! an! ,rowell !eclares the ,oonwealth "the onarchy is
suspen!e!%
1621' ,rowell !efeats 7cotlan!
1621' Thoas 6obbes publishes the PDeviathanP
162C' =hen the parliaent fails to approve refors by one vote0 ,rowell aboliushes
parliaent an! has hiself noinate! Dor! +rotector of (n)lan!0 =ales0 7cotlan! an!
5relan!
1622' /ritain conLuers 3aaica fro 7pain
1628' Aliver ,rowell !ies
.
1629' (n)lan! an! <rance !efeat 7pain
166$' ,harles 55 resues the onarchy "en! of the ,oonwealth%
166#' <oun!in) of the Royal 7ociety of 7cience
166.' (n)lan! sei-es &ew :ster!a fro the 1utch an! chan)es its nae to &ew
Kork
1662' the pla)ue reaches Don!on
1666' the fire of Don!on burns the ol!est part of the city0 inclu!in) 7t +aulJs cathe!ral
1666' 5saac &ewton !evelops calculus
1668' (n)lan!0 &etherlan!s an! 7we!en for the PTriple :llianceP a)ainst <rance
16?$' 6u!sonJs /ay ,opany is foun!e!
16?2' the Royal Abservatory opens at Greenwich
16??' =illia 5550 kin) of the &etherlan!s0 arries ;ary0 heir to the (n)lish throne
16?9' petitioners "P=hi)sP% call for a new +arliaent while royalists "PToriesP% si!e with
kin) ,harles 55
1682' ,harles 55 !ies an! his ,atholic brother 3aes 55 becoes kin) of (n)lan! an! of
7cotlan!
168?' 3aes 55 issues the P1eclaration of Diberty of ,onscienceP but favors ,atholicis
an! insists on the !ivine ri)hts of the royalty
168?' 5saac &ewton publishes the P+hilosophiae &aturalis +rincipia ;atheaticaP
1688' (n)lan! "ainly the +rotestants% rise up a)ainst 3aes 55 the ,atholic kin) an!
!rive hi into e9ile "P(n)lish revolutionP%0 while =illia 555 of Aran)e is invite! to
replace hi with a constitutional onarchy an! the kin) sub>ect to the laws of the
+arliaent "PGlorious RevolutionP%
1689' The +arliaent issues the P/ill of Ri)htsP0 thus establishin) a constitutional
onarchy un!er =illia 555
1689' <rance inva!es GeranyJs Dea)ue of :u)sbur) an! starts the (i)ht4year =ar
"(n)lan!0 &etherlan!s0 :ustria0 7pain an! 7avoy ally with Gerany%0 the be)innin) of a
century of war between <rance an! /ritain
169$' the philosopher 3ohn Docke publishes PTwo Treatises of GovernentP an! foun!s
PliberalisP "people have ri)hts0 )overnent has the !uty to protect their ri)hts0 three
branches of )overnent for Pchecks an! balancesP0 separation of church an! state0 rule of
the a>ority%
169$' the /ritish foun! ,alcutta in 5n!ia
169.' the /ank of (n)lan! is foun!e!
1692' the PD5berty of Bnlicense! +rintin)P reoves )overnent control fro the press
"free!o of the press%
169?' the treaty of Ryswick en!s the (i)ht4year war "no winner%
1?$#' kin) =illia 555 fors an alliance between (n)lan!0 the &etherlan!s an! :ustria
a)ainst 7pain an! <rance "P=ar of the 7panish 7uccessionP% to !efen! the arch!uke *arl
of :ustriaJs clai of the 7panish throne a)ainst kin) +hilip 55 of 7pain
1?$#' =illia 555 !ies an! is succee!e! by his sister4in4law :nne 7tuart
1?$.' (n)lan! captures Gibraltar fro 7pain
1?$?' the kin)!os of (n)lan! an! 7cotlan! are forally unite! in Great /ritain "Gueen
:nne 7tuart becoes the first ruler of Great /ritain%
1?$9' the ,opyri)ht :ct shifts ownership fro printers to authors
1?11' 3oseph :!!ison an! Richar! 7teele foun! the P7pectatorP0 the first a)a-ine
1?1C' /ritain an! <rance si)n a peace treaty "PTreaty of BtrechtP% that han!s ost of
,ana!a to /ritain an! leaves /ritain as the !oinant in force in north :erica0 while
7pain surren!ers the 7panish &etherlan!s "/el)iu% an! southern 5taly to :ustria an!
Gibraltar to /ritain
1?1.' Gueen :nne 7tuart !ies an! is succee!e! by Geor)e 50 first kin) of the 6annover
house
1?#1' Robert =alpole is /ritainJs first prie inister
1?C?' an (n)lish carpenter0 3ohn 6arrison0 invents the arine chronoeter to easure
lon)itu!e an! latitu!e
1?C8' 3ohn an! ,harles =esley foun! the ;etho!ist oveent
1?C9' /ritain an! 7pain )o to war0 but /ritain fails to occupy +anaa0 ,hile an!
,olobia
1?.1' Dewis +aul opens the first cotton ill
1?21' by capturin) the town of :rcot fro the <rench0 /ritain becoes the lea!in)
colonial power in 5n!ia
1?2#' /ritain a!opts the Gre)orian calen!ar
1?26' /ritain an! +russia !eclare war a)ainst <rance0 :ustria an! Russia "P7even KearsJ
=arP%
1?2?' at the battle of +lassey the (ast 5n!ia copany !efeats <rance an! )ains access to
/en)al
1?2?' 3aes =att akes the stea en)ine practical
1?28' /ritain attacks <rench ,ana!a0 its first lar)e4scale war of conLuest outsi!e (urope
1?29' /ritain sei-es Guebec fro <rance
1?29' the /ritish ;useu is inau)urate!
1?6C' the treaty of +aris en!s the 7even KearsJ =ar0 with /ritain anne9in) the <rench
possessions of ,ana!a an! 5n!ia
1?66' 3aes ,hristie opens his Don!on auction house0 the worl!Js first fine art auctioneer
1?68' +hilip :stley foun!s a travelin) show of acrobats an! >u))lers0 an! launches the
revival of the circus
1??$' 3aes ,ook lan!s in :ustralia an! clais it for /ritain
1??$' the (ncyclope!ia /ritannica is publishe! in (!inbur)h
1??C' :erican colonists sta)e an uprisin) a)ainst /ritish rule "P/oston Tea +artyP%
1??C' =arren 6astin)s0 )overnor of /en)al "5n!ia%0 establishes a onopoly on the sale of
opiu
1??.' /ritain assi)ns Ahio to GuebecY,ana!a an! reco)ni-es ,atholicis as the reli)ion
of GuebecY,ana!a
1??6' the :erican colonies ratifies the 1eclaration of 5n!epen!ence
1??6' :!a 7ith publishes PThe =ealth of the &ationsP0 the anifesto of capitalis
1??9' 3ohn =ilkinson buil!s the first cast4iron bri!)e0 the first lar)e cast4iron structure
1?8$' =ar erupts between 6ollan! an! /ritain
1?81' a seventh planet0 Branus0 is !iscovere! by =illia 6ershel
1?8C' /ritain reco)nises the in!epen!ence of the Bnite! 7tates of :erica
1?8.' The treaty of +aris )rants /ritain the ri)hts to tra!e in 5n!onesia
1?82' the P1aily Bniversal Re)isterP "later PThe TiesP% is foun!e!
1?86' =illia 3ones !iscovers siilarities between 7anskrit an! Greek an! Datin
1?8?' Robert +eel buil!s an inte)rate! cotton spinnin)0 weavin) an! printin) factory
1?9$' at the hei)ht of the /ritish slave tra!e0 one slave vessel leaves (n)lan! for :frica
every other !ay
1?91' Thoas +aine publishes PRi)hts of ;anP
1?9#' ;ary =ollstonecraft publishes PFin!ication of the Ri)hts of =oenP
1?9C' the first /ritish settlers arrive in :ustralia
1?96' :fter <rance inva!es 6ollan!0 6ollan! surren!ers ;elakaY;alacca0 7ri Danka an!
the ,ape of Goo! 6ope to /ritain
1?96' (!war! 3enner !iscovers the principle of vaccination an! pro!uces a sallpo9
vaccine
1?98' ;althus publishes the P(ssay on +opulationP
1?98' a!iral 6oratio &elson !efeats the <rench navy at :boukir /ay in ()ypt
18$$' 5relan! is forally unite! to (n)lan!
18$1' /ritainJs population is 1$.? illion an! Don!onJs population is 9290$$$
18$#' a stea4powere! coach built by Richar! Trevithick successfully copletes the
>ourney fro ,ornwall to Don!on
18$#' /ritain an! <rance si)n the peace of :iens0 reco)ni-in) /ritainJs conLuest of
<rench0 1utch an! 7panish colonies
18$C' /ritain !eclares war on &apoleon
18$C' (n)lish cheist 3ohn 1alton proposes that atter is copose! of atos
18$.' Richar! Trevithick buil!s the first locootive "it ro!e a track of 16ks in . hours0
at the spee! of . kYh%
18$2' 6orace &elson is kille! in cobat but !estroys the <rench an! 7panish fleets at the
/attle of Trafal)ar
18$2' 6orace &elson is the first cooner in the history of /ritain to be )iven a state
funeral
18$?' /ritain outlaws the slave tra!e
181#' the B7: !eclares war on /ritain
181C' :erican ships !efeat /ritish ships
181.' /ritish troops stor =ashin)ton an! burn the ,apitol an! the =hite 6ouse
181.' Geor)e 7tephenson buil!s his first locootive en)ine
181.' /ritain purchases the ,ape ,olony in 7outh :frica fro 6ollan! an! rules over the
/oers "!escen!ants of the 1utch colonists%
1812' :n!rew 3ackson0 helpe! by the <rench pirate 3ean Dafitte0 !efeats the /ritish ary
at the battle of &ew Arleans
1812' &apoleon is !efeate! at =aterloo
1812' ,eylon is occupie! by the /ritish0 who ferry Tail workers fro 5n!ia
1816' &epal becoes a /ritish protectorate
1816' <rancis Ronal!s invents the tele)raph
1819' The P7avannahP copletes the first transatlantic crossin) by a steaboat
1819' 7tafor! Raffles buys an islan! fro the sultan of 3ohore an! foun!s the /ritish
settleent of 7in)apore
18#1' 7ierra Deone0 Gabia an! the Gol! ,oast are cobine! to for /ritish =est
:frica
18#1' /ritain a!opts the )ol! stan!ar!
18#1' Giovanni /el-oni or)ani-es a !isplay of ()yptian antiLuities in Don!on
18##' The first !inosaur fossil is foun! by Gi!eon ;antell0 the 5)uano!on
18#C' ru)by is invente! at Ru)by school
18#.' +ierce ()an starts the first sportin) >ournal
18#.' =illia /ucklan! provi!es the first !escription of a !inosaur0 the ;e)alosaurus
18#2' /ritain inau)urates the first public railway in the worl! "7tockton41arlin)ton
railway%
18#6' ;alacca0 +enan) an! 7in)apore >oin in a /ritish colony
18#?' <rance0 /ritain an! Russia help the Greek uprisin) a)ainst the Attoans0 the fleet
of the Attoans an! of ;eheet :li is sunk at &avarino0 an! the e9pansion of :liJs
()yptian epire is halte!
18#9' Geor)e 7tephenson buil!s the first stea locootive train
18C$' the railway Diverpool 4 ;anchester opens usin) 7tephensonJs locootive
PDocootionP
18C$' the =hi)s coe to power
18C1' ;ichael <ara!ay !iscovers electroa)netic in!uction an! invents the transforer
1ec 18C1' The ship P/ea)leP be)ins a five4year trip to chart the waters of 7outh :erica
carryin) biolo)ist ,harles 1arwin as a )uest
18C#' the Great Refor /ill )rants votin) ri)hts to the i!!le class "but only 1.8S of the
a!ult population is allowe! to vote%
18CC' 7lavery is abolishe!
18C.' /ritain abolishes slavery in the ,ape colony "7outh :frica%
18C2' ;anchester0 the ost in!ustrial city in the worl!0 has a population of C$$0$$$ an!
1$$0$$$ people are workers
18C6' 7outh :ustralia becoes a province of the /ritish (pire
18C?' Fictoria becoes Lueen of (n)lan!
18C8' the /oers leave the ,ape colony0 !efeat the Xulus at the battle of /loo! River an!
foun! the &atal colony "the PGreat TrekP%
18C8' the ticket is intro!uce! to ri!e trains
18C8' /ritish troops are !efeate! in :f)hanistan
18C9' : ,hinese attept at suppressin) the illicit /ritish tra!e in opiu causes the
Apiu war
18C9' the port of :!en in :rabia is occupie! by the /ritish
18C9' 7cottish blacksith *irkpatrick ;acillan invents the bicycle
18.$' the first postal stap is intro!uce! "the Pblack pennyP
18.1' Russia0 /ritain0 <rance0 :ustria an! +russia at the 7traits ,onvention a)ree to ban
all warships fro the Attoan straits0 thus confinin) the southern Russian fleet to the
/lack 7ea
18.#' un!er the Treaty of &an>in)0 ,hina ce!es the islan! of 6on) *on) to /ritain
18.C' the first ,hristas postcar! is printe! "in Don!on%
18.C' /ritain anne9es the &atal colony of the /oers in 7outh :frica0 an! the /oers ove
a)ain foun!in) the Aran)e <ree 7tate in the interior an! the Transvaal in the north
18.2' Koustol 1ispa)e <roscaruffi !ies
18.2' /ritish policies cause a faine in 5relan! that will kill a illion people
18.2' an ei)ht planet0 &eptune0 is !iscovere! atheatically by 3ohn :!as
1821' )ol! is !iscovere! in :ustralia
1821' the first Bniversal (9hibition is hel! in Don!on
1821' Don!onJs population is #0C6C0$$$
1821' 2$S of the /ritish population lives in the countrysi!e
182#' the Royal Abservatory intro!uces a unifor tie stan!ar! for the whole of /ritain
182C' 5n the ,riean war /ritain0 <rance an! the Attoan (pire fi)ht Russia
1822' 3oshua 7to!!ar! intro!uces a stea4powere! or)an calle! the PcalliopeP
1822' 6enry /esseer invents the /esseer converter for ass4pro!ucin) steel
182?' +ersia surren!ers to /ritain all ri)hts over :f)hanistan
1828' +ower on the 5n!ian colony is transferre! to the /ritish )overnent
1828' a tele)raph wire is lai! at the botto of the ocean between 5relan! an! ,ana!a
1829' ,harles 1arwin publishes PThe Ari)in Af 7peciesP
186#' /aha!ur 7hah 55 !ies0 the ;o)ul !ynasty en!s an! 5n!ia becoes a /ritish colony
186C' the 7alvation :ry is foun!e!
186C' the sport of football is inau)urate!
186C' the Don!on subway opens
186.' 3aes ,lerk ;a9well unifies electricity an! a)netis in his eLuations of the
electroa)netic fiel!
186.' all the a>or power a)ree at the Geneva convention on rules for the treatent of
prisoners of war
1862' =illia /ooth foun!s the (ast Don!on ,hristian ;ission "later renae!
P7alvation :ryP%
186?' /ritish &orth :erica becoes the 1oinion of ,ana!a0 a fe!eration of Antario0
Guebec0 &ova 7cotia an! &ew /runswick
186?' in!ustrial workers are entitle! to vote
1868' /en>ain 1israeli "a 3ew converte! to ,hristianity% becoes prie inister of
/ritain
18?1' :rthur 7ullivan an! =illia Gilbert pro!uce their first operetta
18?#' the :riel0 the first hi)h4wheel bicycle "or Por!inaryP%0 is anufacture! in /ritian
18?.' 1isreali becoes prie inister
18?2' The /ritish )overnent purchases shares in the 7ue- ,anal0 borrowin) oney
fro the Rothschil!s
18?6' 1israeli akes Lueen Fictoria epress
18??' /ritain occupies 7outh :frica
18??' : tennis tournaent is hel! at =ible!on for the first tie
18?9' Xulu warriors are! with spears assacre the /ritish ary at the battle of
5san!hlwana
188$' /orneo becoes a /ritish protectorate
188#' /ritain occupies ()ypt
188.' an international Peri!ianP conference !eci!es to !ivi!e the (arth in #. tie
-ones0 startin) with GreenwichJs eri!ian
188.' un!er a new refor 1#.1S of the a!ult population is allowe! to vote
188.' a)ricultural laborers are entitle! to vote
1882' /ura becoes a province of /ritish 5n!ia
1882' the ,ana!ian +acific railway is coplete!
1891' #8S of the /ritish population lives in the countrysi!e
189#' /ritain tonna)e an! seatra!e e9cee!s the rest of the worl! to)ether
189C' &ew Xealan! is the first country to )rant woen the ri)ht to vote
189.' B)an!a becoes a protectorate
1892' Dor! *elvin !eclares that Pheavier4than4air flyin) achines are ipossibleP
1892' /ritain controls two thir!s of ,hinese forei)n tra!e
1892' PThe (pire of 5n!ia (9hibitionP opens in Don!on
1896' the electron is !iscovere!
189?' 3oseph43ohn Thopson !iscovers that electricity is !ue to the flow of invisible
ne)atively char)e! particles calle! electrons
189?' ;arcus 7auel foun!s the 7hell Transport an! Tra!in) ,opany
1898' at the /attle of A!uran "7u!an% /ritish troops assacre thousan!s of 7u!anese
tribesen
1898' /ritain occupies 7u!an
1899' /ritain inva!es the republics of the Transvaal an! the Aran)e <ree 7tate in 7outh
:frica0 foun!e! by the /oers "the P/oer warP%
1899' )eneral *itchener creates Pconcentration capsP in 7outh :frica for the failies of
the /oer rebels "#60$$$ prisoners !ie%0 while the /oers en)a)e in )uerrilla warfare0 an!
!efen! trenches with lon)4!istance rifles
19$$' :rthur (vans !iscovers the ruins of *nossos0 ,rete
19$1' Gueen Fictoria !ies
19$1' /ritainJs population is C?.1 illion
19$1' the /ritish colonies of :ustralia becoe the <e!erate! ,oonwealth of :ustralia
19$1' &i)eria becoes a /ritish protectorate
19$#' 3apan si)ns the Don!on treaty with /ritain that reco)ni-es 3apanJs ri)hts in *orea
an! /ritainJs ri)hts in ,hina
;ar 19$#' Richar! +earse in &ew Xealan! flies his hoe4a!e airplane for 91 eters
19$C' the suffra)ette oveent "=oenJs 7ocial an! +olitical Bnion% is foun!e!
19$.' /ritish troops occupy Tibet
19$2' /ritain apolo)i-es to the /oers of 7outh :frica for the war an! )rants
in!epen!ence to the Transvaal an! the Aran)e <ree 7tate
19$6' the Diberal party0 representin) financiers an! entrepreneurs0 coes into power
19$?' &ew Xealan! becoes a self4)overnin) !oinion of the /ritish epire
19$?' /ritain an! Russia ne)otiate the status of +ersia0 Tibet an! :f)hanistan
19$8' /ritain an! Gerany en)a)e in a Pnaval raceP
19$8' ;ar)aret ;urray perfors autopsy on an ()yptian uy
19$9' Dloy! Geor)eJs refors ta9 lan! to pay for sickness0 invali!ity an! uneployent
insurance
191$' Transvaal0 Ara)e <ree 7tate0 &atal an! ,ape unite in the Bnion of 7outh :frica
1911' the &ew Xealan! scientist (rnest Rutherfor! !iscovers that the ato is a!e of a
nucleus an! orbitin) electrons
1911' /ritains hol!s a conference on iperial !efense
1911' universal health care is intro!uce!
1911' a +arliaent :ct weakens the 6ouse of Dor!s
191#' a iniu wa)e is intro!uce!
191#' The PTitanicP sinks in the :tlantic ocean
191#' /ritain an! <rance si)n a naval treaty to fen! off the threat of the Geran navy
191.' =orl! =ar 5 breaks out in the /alkans0 pittin) /ritain0 <rance0 5taly0 Russia0
7erbia0 B7: an! 3apan a)ainst :ustria0 Gerany an! Turkey
191.' The /ritish )overnent purchases part of :n)lo4+ersian Ail0 only the secon! tie
the /ritish )overnent has purchase! a private copany
191.' ,yprus is anne9e! by /ritain after four centuries of Attoan rule
191.' en! of the /ritish )ol! stan!ar!
191.' ()ypt becoes an! /ritish protectorate
191.' /ritain occupies the Geran colonies of =est :frica
1916' The Ducknow +act unites the ,on)ress an! the Dea)ue in their fi)ht for
in!epen!ence fro /ritain
1916' /ritain intro!uces !ayli)ht savin) tie to save ener)y
1916' /ritain an! <rance a)ree to partition the ;i!!le (ast
191?' the P/alfour 1eclarationP by the /ritish )overnent proises a 3ewish hoelan!
in +alestine
191?' (!win47auel ;onta)u is appointe! secretary of state for 5n!ia an! chapions
5n!iaJs in!epen!ence
191?' /ritain conLuers 5raL
1918' ,ivil war erupts between the Re! :ry of the /olsheviks an! the ;ensheviks
"helpe! by /ritain an! the B7:%
1918' universal ale suffra)e
1918' /ritain conLuers 7yria an! +alestine fro the Attoans
1918' the first worl! war en!s' # illion Russians0 1.8 illion Gerans0 1.C illion
<rench0 1.1 illion :ustro46un)arians0 $.9 illion /ritons0 $.6 illion Turks an! $.2
illion 5talians are !ea!.
1918' :t the en! of the war the /ritish ary has 8.2 people0 of which 2.? are fro
/ritain0 1.. fro 5n!ia0 6C$0$$$ fro ,ana!a0 .#$0$$$ fro :ustralia0 1C60$$$ fro
7outh :frica an! 1#90$$$ fro &ew Xealan! plus about C$$0$$$ ()yptian0 black :frican
an! ,hinese laborers
1919' the 5R: is fore! in 5relan! to fi)ht /ritish rule
1919' Race riots in Diverpool an! ,ar!iff
1919' /ritish troops assacre C?9 peaceful !eonstrators in :ritsar "+un>ab%0 the
be)innin) of lar)e4scale riots in 5n!ia
&ov 1919' Ross 7ith flies fro (n)lan! to :ustralia via ()ypt0 5n!ia an! 7in)apore
1919' :f)hanistan )ains in!epen!ence fro /ritain
19#$' +alestine becoes a /ritish protectorate
19#$' The airline Gantas is foun!e! to link the settleents of :ustralia
19#$' (uropean countries control alost 9$S of the (arthJs surface
19#$' :rthur (!!in)ton su))ests that nuclear fusion fuels the sun
19#1' :b!ullah0 son of 7harif 6ussein0 establishes the principality of Trans>or!an un!er
/ritish protectorate
19#1' Bneployent reaches 1?S in /ritain
19#1' The in!enture syste is abolishe!
19#1' 1260$$$ /ritish citi-ens rule over C$6 illion 5n!ian sub>ects
19#1' 5relan! becoes in!epen!ent e9cept for northern 5relan! that reains /ritish
19##' Gan!hi is iprisone! followin) terrorist acts a)ainst the /ritish
19##' the P/ritish /roa!castin) ,opanyP "//,% be)ins broa!castin)
19##' ()ypt !eclares its in!epen!ence
19##' <aysal0 son of 7harif 6ussein0 establishes the kin)!o of 5raL un!er /ritish
protectorate
19#C' /ritain reco)nises &epalJs in!epen!ence
19#.' first Dabour )overnent
19#.' The /ritish (pire (9hibition is hel! at =ebley
19#2' (!win 6ubble !iscovers the first )ala9y outsi!e the ;ilky =ay ":n!roe!a%0 #
illion years away fro the (arth
19#?' oil fiel!s are !iscovere! near *arkuk in 5raL an! kin) <aysal )rants oil ri)hts to the
/ritish
19#8' universal feale suffra)e
19#8' 7cottish biolo)ist :le9an!er <lein) !iscovers penicillin0 the first antibiotic
19#9' the worl!Js stock arkets crash
19#9' (!win 6ubble !iscovers that )ala9ies rece!e fro one another an! that the
universe is e9pan!in) in all !irections
19C$' Gan!hi unleashes Pcivil !isobe!ienceP a)ainst the /ritish
19C$' /ritain0 3apan0 <rance0 5taly an! the B7: si)n the Don!on &aval Treaty0 an
a)reeent to re!uce naval warfare
19C1' 7outh :frica becoes in!epen!ent
19C1' ,ana!a !eclares its in!epen!ence
19C1' (;5 opens the lar)est recor!in) stu!io in the worl! at :bbey Roa! in Don!on
19C#' 5raL becoes in!epen!ent un!er the rule of *in) <aisal
19C#' : re)ular fli)ht is inau)urate! between Don!on an! ,ape Town "with five stops en
route%
19CC' *in) Geor)e F broa!casts a speech on the ra!io to the entire /ritish (pire
19C.' whites intro!uce Paparthei!P in 7outh :frica
19C.' the +en)uin publishin) copany is foun!e!
19C2' Robert =atson4=att buil!s the first ra!ar
19C6' 3ohn ;aynar! *eynesJ PThe General Theory of (ployent0 5nterest0 an! ;oneyP
clais that )overnent spen!in) is reLuire! to en! econoic recessions
19C6' the PGueen ;aryP transatlantic linear travels fro 7outhapton to &ew Kork in
four !ays
19C8' the 5R: carries out the first bobin)s in /ritain
19C8' /ritain !ebuts the P(pire <lyin) /oatP0 a plane that can carry 18 passen)ers
19C9' (n)lan! !eclares war to 6itlerJs Gerany
19.$' Gerany bobs (n)lan! an! ,hurchill becoes prie inister
19.1' !urin) =orl! =ar 550 /ritain an! the 7oviet Bnion inva!e 5ran an! Re-a is force!
to ab!icate in favor of his son Re-a +ahlavi 55
19.2' Gerany surren!ers
19.2' :t the Kalta conference the 7oviet Bnion0 /ritain an! the B7: partition (urope in
spheres of influence
19.6' 3ewish terrorists0 le! by ;enache /e)in0 bob an! !estroy the *in) 1avi! 6otel
in 3erusale0 the /ritish ilitary an! civilian hea!Luarters
19.6' ,hurchill !elivers in the B7: the P5ron ,urtainP speech0 virtually openin) the
P,ol! =arP a)ainst the 7oviet Bnion
19.6' Trans>or!an becoes in!epen!ent
19.6' /ritain an! the 7oviet Bnion with!raw fro 5ran
19.?' 5n!ia an! +akistan becoe in!epe!ent
19.?' &ew Xealan! becoes an in!epen!ent country
19.?' 1ennis Gabor invents the holo)ra
19.8' The <e!eration of ;alaysia is born un!er /ritish rule
19.8' ,eylon becoes in!epen!ent
19.8' /ura becoes in!epen!ent
19.8' 5srael becoes in!epen!ent
192$' the first =orl! ,hapionship for !rivers "P<orula AneP% is hel!0 the first race
bein) the /ritish )ran! pri9 on the 7ilverstone circuit
192#' (li-abeth 55 becoes Lueen of /ritain
Act 192#' /ritain e9plo!es its first atoic bob "Triouille 5slan!%
192C' <rancis ,rick an! 3aes =atson !iscover the !ouble heli9 of the 1&:
192C' &ew Xealan!Js (!un! 6illary an! &epalJs Ten-in) &or)ay are the first e9plorers
to reach the suit of ;ount (verest
192.' :n)lo4+ersian Ail chan)es nae in /ritish +etroleu
1922' Greek ,ypriots "(A*:% start fi)htin) for unification with Greece
1922' /ritain si)ns the anti47oviet /a)h!a! +act with 5ran0 5raL0 +akistan an! Turkey
1926' /ritain )rants 7u!an full in!epen!ence
&ov 1926' /ritain0 <rance an! 5srael attack ()ypt0 an! the (n)lish poun! collapses
192?' ;alaysia becoes in!epen!ent
1929' the /ritish ;otor ,orporation intro!uces the P;iniP
196$' ,yprus becoes in!epen!ent un!er presi!ent ;akarios
196$' &i)eria becoes in!epen!ent
1961' *uwait becoes in!epen!ent un!er the protection of /ritain
1961' :nesty 5nternational is foun!e! by /ritish lawyer +eter /enenson to proote
huan ri)hts worl!wi!e
196#' the /eatles !ebut
196#' B)an!a becoes in!epen!ent
196C' *enya becoes in!epen!ent
196C' The /ritish )overnent is rocke! by the +rofuo scan!al
196.' Xabia becoes in!epen!ent
1962' Rho!esia !eclares its in!epen!ence
1962' ;ary Guant launches the ini4skirt
1966' /otswana becoes in!epen!ent
196?' :!en becoes in!epen!ent
196?' 6oose9uality an! abortion are le)ali-e!
196?' The first Pautoatic teller achinesP is !eploye! by /arclays /ank
1966' the /ritish with!raw fro :!en an! ar9ists take over "7outh Keen%
1968' the /ritish with!raw fro the Gulf an! the Bnite! :rab (irates are create!
1969' the 5R: be)ins a capai)n of terroris in &orthern 5relan! that will kill ore than
#.$$$ people
1969' The P;onty +ythonJs <lyin) ,ircusP coe!y show !ebuts on tv
1969' /ritain abolishes the !eath penalty
19?1' the first 6ar! Rock ,afe[ opens in Don!on
19?1' serial killer 6arol! 7hipan be)ins a killin) spree that will kill hun!re!s of people
19?#' The first vi!eo4cassette recor!er "F,R% is intro!uce! by +hillips
19?C' /ritain >oins the (uropean Bnion
19?2' the first oil is pipe! ashore fro the &orth 7ea
19?2' 7i9 econoic powers eet in +aris "B7:0 3apan0 Gerany0 <rance0 /ritain an!
5taly% forin) the G6
19?6' punk4rock
19?6' the supersonic airplane ,oncor!e0 built by <rance an! /ritain0 be)ins service
3ul 19?8' Douise /rown is the first baby born throu)h huan in vitro fertili-ation0 a
techniLue invente! by Robert (!war!s
19?9' ;ar)aret Thatcher of the ,onservative +arty becoes /ritainJs prie inister an!
be)ins a pro)ra of privati-ation
1981' Racial riots at /ri9ton0 Don!on
1981' Da!y 1iana 7pencer arries +rince ,harles0 heir to the throne
198#' /ritain !efen!s the <alklan! 5slan!s fro an :r)entinian invasion
198.' :lec 3effreys invents the 1&: fin)erprint that can i!entify an in!ivi!ual
1982' C9 5talian football fans are kille! by /ritish hooli)ans at the Diverpool sta!iu
198?' the ;ontreal +rotocol liits the use of substances that !aa)e the o-one layer
1988' ,olin +itchfork becoes the first an to be convicte! of ur!er on the basis of
1&: fin)erprint evi!ence
1989' 96 football fans !ie! at the Diverpool sta!iu
199$' ;ar)aret Thatcher resi)ns
199$' ;ary Robinson is electe! the first feale +resi!ent of 5relan!
199$' Ti /erners4Dee of ,(R& invents the 5nternet protocol 6TT+ an! the hyperte9t
lan)ua)e 6T;D "i.e.0 the =orl! =i!e =eb%
1991' /ritain fi)hts alon)si!e the B7: a)ainst 5raL
199.' the P,hunnelP between /ritain an! <rance opens
1996' the Pa! cow !iseaseP sprea!s in /ritain an! illions of cows have to be
slau)htere!
199?' /ritain ce!es 6on) *on) back to ,hina
199?' Tony /lair of the Dabour +arty is electe! prie inister0 the youn)est prie
inister since Dor! Diverpool in 181#
199?' 3oanne *athleen Rowlin) publishes the first 6arry +otter book0 !estine! to becoe
a worl!4wi!e phenoenon
199?' /ritish biolo)ist 5an =ilut clones a sheep0 1olly.
199?' Da!y 1iana !ies in a ysterious car acci!ent
1998' /ritain an! northern 5relan! a)ree on a solution for autonoy
1999' 7cotlan! inau)urates its own +arliaent
1999' &:TA bobs 7erbia to stop repression a)ainst ethnic :lbanians in *osovo
#$$$' the serial killer 6arol! 7hipan0 a !octor0 is sentence! to life in prison for
ur!erin) 12 patients while workin) at a hospital0 but is suspecte! to have kille!
between #12 an! #6$ people over a #C4year perio!0 ainly el!erly woen0 by lethal
in>ection.
#$$$' Koustol 1ispa)e <roscaruffi !ies
#$$$' (va ;orris !ies at 1120 the ol!est /ritish person of all ties
#$$$' /ritish an! :erican biolo)ists !ecipher the entire huan 1&:
#$$1' /ritain fi)hts alon)si!e the B7: a)ainst :f)hanistan
#$$C' /ritish :irways retires the supersonic >et ,oncor!e
#$$C' Tony /lair an! Geor)e = /ush or!er the invasion of 5raL to !epose 7a!!a
6ussein
#$$C' Tony /lair a!its that 7a!!a 6ussein ha! no weapons of ass !estruction
"which was the reason to inva!e 5raL%
#$$.' anufacturin) accounts for only 18S of the /ritish econoy
#$$.' There are 1.8 illion ;uslis in /ritain
#$$.' the uneployent rate plun)es to ..?S0 the lowest in C$ years
#$$2' the price of oil reaches an all4tie recor!
#$$2' Tony /lair is reelecte! an! becoes the first Dabour politician to be prie inister
for three ters
#$$2' <our +akistani suici!e bobers kill 22 people in Don!on
#$$2' the 5R: "5rish Republican :ry% )ives up its are! stru))le for a unite! 5relan!
#$$6' Royal 1utch 7hell posts the lar)est profit of any copany in /ritish history
#$$?' e9plosives4ri))e! cars are foun! in Don!on
3an #$$?' :ustralian hacker 3ulian :ssan)e launches the website =ikiDeaks
#$$?' 3oanne *athleen Rowlin)Js P6arry +otterP books have sol! over C$$ illion copies
worl!wi!e
#$$?' crash of the stock arkets worl!wi!e0 tri))ere! by the crisis of B7: sub4prie
ort)a)e len!ers
#$$2' Tony /lair resi)ns an! is succee!e! by Gor!on /rown
#$$?' /ritain has plutoniu for 1?0$$$ nuclear bobs
#$$8' 5n!ian car anufacturer Tata buys 3a)uar
#$$8' The /ritish econoy )oes into a recession after 16 years of )rowth
sep #$$8' ,rash of the stock arkets worl!wi!e0 tri))ere! by the collapse of B7: banks
oct #$$8' The /ritish econoy shrinks for the first tie in 16 years an! the poun! has its
bi))est one4!ay !rop a)ainst the !ollar since 19?1 on Act #.
!eceber #$$8' The Don!on stock arket loses C1S in #$$80 the worst loss in #. years
!eceber #$$8' The population of /ritain is 61.. illion0 the bi))est increase in
population in alost 2$ years
septeber #$$9' The /ritish stock arket posts the best three onths in #2 years
ay #$1$' The ,onservatives win elections0 en!in) 1C years of Dabour rule0 an! 1avi!
,aeron becoes /ritainJs new prie inister0 the youn)est since 181#
>un #$1$' : )unan kills 1# people in (n)lan!
nov #$1$' Bnable to pay its !ebt0 5relan! applies for a loan fro the (uropean Bnion