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Sep 28, 1066
Norman Conquest
William the Conqueror invades and defeats King Harold II. Ruling class of England replaced with French speaking monarch and aristocracy. Transformed culture and language, and linked England to continental Europe. -
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Nobles force King John to sign the Magna Carta. Established that the king would not rule with absolute power. -
Jan 1, 1295
Edward I calls model parliament
Edward I becomes first monarch to call parliament. Two representatives from each area are called, in addition to nobles and clergy. Edward I wanted to raise taxes, but inadvertently creates an arena where representatives can air grievances against the crown. Note: this model parliament was unicameral. -
Jan 1, 1377
Thomas Hungerford
Thomas Hungerford becomes first person to hold the title Speaker of the House of Commons. -
Jun 12, 1381
Peasants' Revolt
As a response to a Poll Tax imposed by King Richard II, Wat Tyler leads thousands of rebels on a march to London, where they storm the Tower of London. Though the revolt was violently put down, the upper classes did become more aware of the plight of the peasants and the Poll Tax was revoked. -
Jan 1, 1516
Utopia written by Thomas More
Thomas More, a catholic, writes Utopia. In it he sets up an ideal society, with many civil liberties that were unheard of, and even heretical, at the time. In 1535 More is executed. -
Jan 1, 1534
Henry VII and the Church
The Act of Supremacy establishes the monarch as the head of the Church of England, severing ties with the Roman Catholic Church. -
Jan 1, 1536
Act of Union
England and Wales unite under one crown and one set of laws. -
The Diggers
The diggers, begin to set up egalitarian communities throughout England. They focus on economic equality by "leveling" real property. By 1651 all Digger settlements had been dispersed by the authorities. -
Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes publishes Leviathan. He argues that a strong central government is essential to avoiding a "war of all against all." Also proposed an early theory of social contract. -
Battle of Worcester
Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, defeat Royalists. Charles I is tried and executed. England becomes a commonwealth (1649- 1653), then a protectorate (1653-1659) under Cromwell. Following Cromwell's death, the monarchy is restored under Charles II. Established that manarch cannot rule without Parliament's consent. -
Habeas Corpus Act
Established and strengthened the rights of accused. Though amended, the act remains on the statute book to this day. -
Glorious Revolution
After King James II produces a Catholic heir. Tories and Whigs unite in Parliament and invite William of Orange and his wife Mary to take the throne. This reinforced the ideals that came from the English Civil War that a monarch cannot rule without Parliament's consent, and ensured that Britain would remain Protestant (Anglican). -
Two Treatises of Government
John Locke publishes Two Treatises of Government anonymously. He condemns patriachalism, and promotes ideas of natural rights, social contract. Proposed that civil society was created for the protection of property. Liberalism is born. -
Bill of Rights
Parliament passes The Bill of Rights. Establishing inalienable rights of British subjects, Parliamentary sovereignty, and curtailed the power of the monarchy even more. Essentially established Britain as a constitutional monarchy. -
Bank of England created
The Bank of England is created. Making it the second oldest central bank in the world. It remained privately owned until it was nationalized in 1946. -
Liberty of unlicensed printing
Removes requirement to obtain a government issued license in order to publish printed works. Though censorship persisted, this was a significant step towards absolute freedom of the press. -
Act of Settlement
Regularized procedures for royal succession. Reasserted that monarchs had to govern in accordance to the laws passed by parliament. -
Treaty of Union
Unite Scotland and England into a single united kingdom called the United Kingdom of Great Britain. -
Robert Walpole
Though the term was not yet recognized, Sir Robert Walpole is widely regarded as having been the first prime minister, due to his leadership and political giftedness -
Acts of Union (1800)
United Great Britain and the entire island of Ireland, creating The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. -
Luddites
As a response to being put out of work by newly invented automated looms, textile workers raid textile mills and destroy machinery. The rebellion, though suppressed, highlighted the increased economic inequality brought on by the industrial revolution. -
Spencer Perceval
Spencer Percival becomes the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated. -
Roman Catholic Relief Act
Removed most of the restrictions placed on Catholics in Britain. Allowed for Catholics to sit in Parliament, thus breaking up the cultural hegemony of the ruling elite. -
First reform Act
Increased electorate to aprox. 652,000 or about 7% of the population. Disfranchised 57 rotten boroughs. -
Second Reform Act
Enfranchised urban male householders. Still placed income requirements on voters. Aprox. 16% of British population could now vote. -
The Ballot Act
Established secret voting, in order to make voters more free from intimidation and bribery. Prior to The Ballot Act, voters had to announce their vote publicly to an officer for recording. -
Representation of the People Act 1884
Granted the vote to men in the country side and to those who pay 10 pounds a year in rental fees. Aprox. 28% of the British public could now vote. -
Lloyd George's People's Budget
Prime Minister David Lloyd George introduces a series of taxes on luxuries, land, and income. The revenue generated goes to welfare for the ill, injured, and elderly. In 1911 George pushes a bill through Parliament that establishes universal health care. -
House of Lords looses veto
The house of Lords looses its right to veto legislation. This makes the House of Commons much more influential in determining the course of public policy. Also paves the way for better policy towrds the poor, as the House of Lords was made up of upper class elites. -
Minimum Wage
After threats of strike, a minimum wage is set for miners. -
Representation of the People Act (1918)
Abolished nearly all property requirements for men over 21, and enfranchised women over 30. 74% of the population could now vote. -
Irish Independence
Ireland becomes independent, while six northern Protestant counties remain a part of Great Britain as Northern Ireland. -
Labour
First Labour government. Although the coneservatives won the most seats, Labour was able to form a coalition with the Liberals. -
Equal Franchise Act
Women over 21 can now vote. 97% of the adult British public can now vote. -
War coalition
All three political parties form coalition in order to lead more effectively during World War II. Lasts until 1945. -
Decolonization in Africa
Sudan gains independence from Britain, followed in 1957 by Ghana. This trend continued until Britain lost its last mainland African colony with the independence of Swaziland in 1968. All and all nearly 20 independent countries are formed form British colonies. -
Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965
The death penalty is suspended in Britain for five years. In 1969 the suspension is made permanent. -
Civil Rights
In two separate acts, Parliament legalizes abortion and homosexuality. -
Representation of the People Act 1969
Lowers voting age to 18 -
Winter of discontent
Widespread public sector strikes, and the Labour government's inability to resolve them, leads to the election of Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher ushers in an era of new conservatism in Britain, called the "new right". Thatcher promotes deregulation, privatization, limited union power, and social conservatism. -
Parliament is televised
For the first time Britains can see their legislative body at work. -
House of Lords
The House of Lords removes most hereditary peers. This prevents people with hereditary titles from having a seat in the House of Lords without being elected. -
Constitutional Reform Act
Removes the position of Speaker of the House of Lords, and establishes a Supreme Court. -
Edgar the Peaceful
Edgar the Peaceful becomes first king of a united England
