Dates of Historical Events (PDF)

The Normans 1066: Harold defeats a Scandinavian invasion in the north but is defeated in the south at the Battle of Hastings by William the Conqueror Duke of Normand), who becomes King of England. This is followed by the gradual invasion of England by the Normans. 1086: The Domesday Book lists all...

The Normans 1066: Harold defeats a Scandinavian invasion in the north but is defeated in the south at the Battle of Hastings by William the Conqueror Duke of Normand), who becomes King of England. This is followed by the gradual invasion of England by the Normans. 1086: The Domesday Book lists all property and land in England. William! gradually establishes a feudal hierarchical structure by giving land to barons, who themselves grant some to knights. 1I00: Henry I becomes king. He unites the Saxons and the Normans, and rules over a kingdom which stretche from France (Normandy) to the north of England. Henry Il rules over an even larger kingdom which also includes Anjou, Maine and Touraine. He reinforces the power of central government and reorganizes the judicial system, with judges holding regular assizes all over the country to apply the law. He reforms the system of laws, creating "Common Law" customs rather than on a set of written laws. French is now spoken at court. 1170: Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, criticises the king's tights over the church and is murdered. 1215: John Lackland is forced to sign the Magna Carta.1 1284: Wales becomes part of the kingdom. 1295: Edward I summons* his "Model Parliament", which a few decades later will separate into two chambers: the nobility and the clergy will form the House of Lords, whereas the House of Commons will be for representatives of towns and counties. 1305: Scottish revolt led by Robert (the) Bruce: Scotland becomes independent. 1 presented in 1215 by a delegation of Barons in order to esablish the respective rights and duties of the King, the Church and the Barons. It - guaranteed the freedom of the church - curtailed the powers of the king (who could not impose taxes without the agreement of a council). - protected individuals against arbitrary imprisonment or punishment without prior judgement. - All individuals now had a right to a "fair trial". - protected individuals from the arbitrary seizing of their land. Faced with the imminent rebellion of his barons, King John signed the charter limiting his powers at Runnymede (a meadow near Windsor). It is considered as a rst step in the resistance against royal despotism and towards individual liberty. fi  A Hundred and fty years of war 1337-1453: The Hundred Years War, a long con ict for the domination of France. England rst holds large territories in France (1420: Treaty of Troyes), but France has gradually gained back its land (except for Calais) by the end of the war, in 1453. 1348: The Black Death (or plague") 1381: The Peasants' revolt against taxation is crushed" but leads to the end of serfdom". 1455-1485: The Wars of the Roses. They set the House of York (whose emblem is the white rose) against the House of Lancaster (the red rose), rivals for the throne of England. In 1485, Henry Tudor (a Lancaster) marries Elizabeth of York, thus bringing unity again to England. 1476: William Caxton establishes the rst press in England printing books in English. 1534 : Act of Supremacy2 : King Henry VIII breaks with Rome in order to divorce his rst wife Catherine of Aragon and Mary Anne Boleyn. He declares himself « Supreme Head of the English Church and Clergy ». This is the starting point of the Reformation. Protestantism replaces the Catholic religion, the monasteries are closed and their land taken. 1558-1603 : Reign of Elizabeth I. Anglicanism becomes the established religion. Although Catholicism is still banned, there is relative stability after a period of religious extremism (Edward VI’s persecutions of the Catholics, then Mary I's persecutions of the Protestant). Only Scotland remains outside the Anglican compromise, the radical John Knox be originator of the Scottish Presbyterian church (election of priests, belief in predestination), whose puritan members were to oppose the Anglican church and the absolute power of the monarch. These dissidents were persecuted and many ed abroad. Elizabeth's reign is a long one marked by the fear of an invasion to put a Catholic sovereign onto the throne. In 1587, Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots) is executed for treason (accused of plotting to put a Catholic sovereign on the throne), and in 1588 the Spanish Armada, ships sent to invade Britain by the Catholic king of Spain, is defeated. The reign of Elizabeth is also a period of cultural development (music, poetry, the theatre - Shakespeare) of maritime power. 2This Act, legally passed by Parliament, made Henry VIII "supreme head of the Church of England" and set aside the authority of the Pope. It established royal supremacy over the national church. This was the starting point of the Reformation in England. It became a Protestant country and the monasteries were dissolved fi fi fi fl fl fi 1603: James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England. He believes in the Divine Right of Kings and his reign is marked by a growing con ict with Parliament. 1605: The Gunpowder plot is a conspiracy by a few Catholics to blow up the Houses of Parliament while the king and the whole gouvernement are there. The plot is given away and the conspirators executed. The discovery of the plot is stil celebrated today on Guy Fawkes Day (November 5th) when bon res are lit and ef gies of Guy Fawkes seen as the leader of the plot, are burnt. 161I: Publication of the Authorized Version of the Bible (or King James's Bible.) Two revolutions 1625-1649: Charles I succeeds Tames I. He increasingly tries to rule without Parliament, but in 1628 has to sign the Petition of Right (no taxes can be raised without the consent of Parliament). 1628 : The Petiton of Right : A Declaration limiting royal power, which the two houses of Parliament forced Charles I to accept. It demanded that: no taxes should be levied without the consent of Parliament no one be imprisoned without trial. Following from the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right asserts the rights of individuals. Although Charles I signed the Petition, he did not abide by it, which led to the Civil War. 1642-1648: The Civil War pits the supporters of Parliament (Puritans on Roundheads, led by Oliver Cromwell, and helped by the Scots) against the supporters of King Charles I (Cavaliers). The latter are nally defeated. The latter is defeated and in 1649, Charles I is executed and the monarchy is abolished. 1653-1658: The Commonwealth (a republic) is established, led by Cromwel, who has the title of Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, then by his son. England is governed under strict puritanical rules. 1660: After Cromwell's son steps down", General Monck negotiates the return of Charles II (who was in exile in France) as king. He increasingly tries to rule without Parliament, which is too hostile to royal power. 1662 : The book of Common Prayers restored. 1664 : coventicle act : forbidden religious meeting outside the Church of England. fi fi fi fl  1665: The Great Plague" in London. 1666: The Great Fire of London destroys a large part of the city. 1672 : Creation of the Royal African Company. It marks the beginning of the slave trade and triangular trade. 1673 : To work in public of ces, you have to take an oath of allegiance = Test Act. 1679: Habeas Corpus Act3 (no imprisonment without trial) + Exlusion Bill : it forbides the succession of James II because he is a catholic. 1685: James II a convert to Catholicism, succeeds to the throne. 1688 :The Glorious Revolution: the crown is taken from the Catholic James II (for fear his Catholic son should inherit it) and given to William III. The principle of Constitutional monarchy is established with the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement: 1689: The Bill of Rights establishes a parliamentary democracy by curbing the power of the monarch. 1701: The Act of Settlement makes it impossible for a Catholic king to accede to the throne. 1707: Act of Union uniting England and Scotland, led to the creation of a united kingdom to be called “Great Britain” on 1 May of that year. The eighteenth century 1714: Beginning of the Hanoverian Dynasty. Since Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch, has no descendants, George I, belonging to the dynasty of the Electors of Hanover and a descendant of James I, comes to the throne. He is succeeded by his son, George II, and by the latter's grandson, George III. The principles of constitutional monarchy mean that the executive is in the hands of the king and his Cabinet, whose powers are restrained by Parliament, itself also responsible for making laws. Two main parties appear at the beginning of the century: the 3 As a reaction against Charles Il's arbitrary detention of people, Parliament voted this act to forbid arbitrary arrests and imprisonment. Prisoners must be brought before a judge or a jury within three days of their arrest, and either charged* or freed. The Habeas Corpus Act is still in force today, although it can be suspended in times of crisis fi  Tories (more conservative and closer to the former Stuarts) and the Whigs (more liberal and defending the Bill of Rights). 1745: Jacobite rebellion defeated (the Jacobites were the supporters of James II's descendants). 1756-1763: Seven Years' War with France. 1764: Invention of the Spinning Jenny. The rst factories are built in the 1770s.The industrial revolution begins to change the face of the country. The invention of the steam engine by Watt in 1785 leads to the rapid development of railways. Canals are built. All this is made possible thanks to the use of coal as fuel. 1776: The American colonies become independent. 1801: Act of Union, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1805: Lord Nelson defeats the combined eets of France and Spain at Trafalgar. 1807 : slave trade’s abolished. 1815: The British army (under the Duke of Wellington) defeats Napoleon at Waterloo + corn laws (control over wheat import to protect agriculture) 1829: Catholics obtain freedom of worship, the Test Act is repealed. 1832: The rst Reform Act extends the right to vote to the middle class. The Victorian age 1837-1901: Reign of Queen Victoria. It is marked by the expansion of the empire and by Puritanism (strictness and austerity in social and religious matters). 1838-48: The Chartists present petitions to Parliament, asking for universal mid suffrage, vote by secret ballot, equal constituencies and the abolition of the need to own land to become an M.P. Their demands are rejected by Parliament and the movement dies down after 1850. 1851: The Great Exhibition shows displays from countries all over the world but is mainly a presentation of the latest technological achievements of British engineering. fi fl fi 1867 : vote for skilled workers. 1868: Creation of the Trades Union Congress 1870: Education Act (primary education becomes free for all). 1872: Ballot Act (voting becomes secret). 1876: Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India (in 1856 : English institutions imposed on India). 1884 : vote for unskilled workers. 1899-1902: Boer War (in South Africa). 1900: Creation of the Labour Party. The twentieth century 1902 : Education Act (= abolition of school boards, schools were placed in the hand of local education authorities ). 1908 : Old Age Pension (supplemented in 1924 + budget). 1911: Parliament Act (The Lords lose their power of veto). 1913 : Cat and Mouse Act. 1914: Britain enters World War I. 1916: Easter Rising in Dublin + conscription. 1918 The nationalist Party (Sinn Féin), led by de Valera, wins the majority of Irish seats at the election. They proclaim a Republic, with de Valera as President. 1919: Creation of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) + women obtain the right to vote, after much campaigning on the part of the suffragettes + treaty of Versailles + creation of the league of nation. 1921: Anglo-Irish Treaty: division of Ireland into Ulster (mainly Protestant) remain-ing part of the United Kingdom with its own parliament at Stormont, and the Irish Free State, a British dominion with full self-govern 1926: General strike, the result of a period of industrial crisis and unemployment. 1928: Representation of the People Act: the vote is given to all men and women of 21 and above, partly as a consequence of the suffragettes' ght. Equal Franchise Act after the 1832 Reform Act, a series of other acts gradually extended the franchise until 1928, when all men and women aged 21 and over could vote. In 1969, the age was lowered to 18. 1929: Beginning of the Great Depression: bankruptcies and unemployment. 1936: Edward VIII becomes king, but abdicates the same year to marry an American divorcee. 1939: Britain declares war on Germany, Led by Winston Churchill, Britain shows courage and determination in the war against Nazi Germany (1938 : Munich agreement). 1940: The Battle of Britain (air battles, Germany bombing strategic positions in Britain to prepare for an invasion); the Blitz (air raids on London). The war effor (rationing", women working in industry) helps to create a spirit of solidarity. 1942: Beveridge Report. 1944: D-Day (Allied forces land in France) + the Butler Act makes school free and compulsory from 5 to 15. 1945: VE-Day: end of World War II. The Labour government creates the Walfare State. 1947-1949: Many former colonies (such as India, Pakistan, Kenya) reach independence. 1949: The UK becomes a member of NATO. 1951-64: Conservative governments (Churchill, Eden, Macmillan, Home). 1956: Britain and France invade Egypt to regain the Suez canal, but have to pull out. fi 1957: The Treaty of Rome creates The European Economic Community (France, West Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg). 1964-70: Labour government (Wilson): the death penalty is abolished, the Abortion Act legalizes the termination of pregnancy, the Sexual Offences Act decrimina homosexuality and the Divorce Act liberalizes the divorce laws. 1969: Beginning of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. 1972 : European Communities Act : After the United Kingdom joined the EEC in 1973, European laws and the decisions of the European Court of Justice started taking precedence over UK laws. In the wake of 'Bloody Sunday' (when British soldiers opened re on marchers) the British government suspends the Irish parliament and applies far more 1973: Britain and Ireland enter the Common Market. 1979: During the "winter of discontent" many strikes paralyse Britain and eventually bring down James Callaghan's Labour government. 1979-1990: The rst woman Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher (nicknamed "The Iron Lady"), introduces liberal policies. 1982: Falklands War, a con ict between Argentina and Britain after the Argentinians invaded the Falkland Islands. The war is short and won by Britain. 1984: A national miners' strike (to protest against the closure of coal pits) lasts a year and is defeated.1994: The Channel Tunnel links Britain and France. 1986: The Single European Act creates the Single Market, that is to say free trade within EEC countries. 1990: Britain enters the EMS (European Monetary System), linking the pound with European currencies, but has to withdraw two years later because of the declining value of the pound. 1993: The EEC becomes the European Union. The UK rati es the Maastricht Treaty (for closer political, economic and legal cooperation) but opts out of the Social Chapter (which relates to social policy) in order to avoid EU regulations on the rights of workers. fi fl fi fi 1997: After Labour's landslide victory, Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister. Breaking with the traditional Labour doctrines, Tony Blair calls his party New Labour. It is often described as a "Third Way" between left and right, between social democracy and neo-liberalism: it is based on pragmatism and defends family values and social justice within a competitive market. Hong Kong returns to Chinese rule. 1999: Beginning of the reform of the House of Lords: hereditary peers will no longe be able to sit in the House of Lords, which will consist mainly of appointed members A Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly are created, giving more direct decision-making power to the people of these regions. 2000 : The European Convention on Human Rights It was adopted by the United Kingdom in 2000, so that the European Court of Human Rights can overrule the decisions taken in UK courts. In spite of Brexit, the UK is still committed to the ECHR, but it will not be bound by changes to EU law. Besides these acts, courts also enforce laws deriving from custom (common law) and from former decisions taken by courts (case law). They constitute precedent. 2002: Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. 2003-2004: Britain sends troops to Iraq. 2005: Tony Blair is re-elected for a third term. Terrorist attacks cause huge explosions in London, killing 52 people. Britain's unconditional support for the United States begins to be questioned as troops ght and die in Iraq and as violence there keeps increasing. Civil partnerships give same-sex couples legal rights. 2007: Tony Blair stands down as Prime minister and is replaced by Gordon Brown. 2008: A global credit crunch' leads to a stock market fall. The government takes a series of measures to help Britain's ailing banks. 2010: Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form a coalition government led by David Cameron. They decide on large public spending cuts 2012: Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. 2014: First gay marriages held in England and Wales. A referendum is held in Scotland on independence from the UK. To the question 'Should Scotland be an independent country?', 55.3% answer No. fi  2016: A referendum promised by David Cameron is held to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. Leave wins by 51.9%. England and Wales voted for Brexit while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted Remain. David Cameron consequently resigns and is replaced by Theresa May without a leadership. 2017: The two-year process of leaving the EU is triggered in March. There is still much uncertainty about the terms of UK's leaving the EU: Will Brexit be soft (with the UK remaining in the single market and accepting the free movement of people) or hard (with the UK refusing the free movement of people and as a result losing the single market)? Can Britain remain a global nancial centre after Brexit? What will happen to the land border between the UK and Ireland? What will happen to the EUcitzens living in the Uk and to the UK citizens living in Europe. Could Brexit revive Scotland’s desire for independence? Several terrorist attacks take place in Manchester and London. Theresa May call a general election hoping for a strong mandate to negociate Brexit. The Tories lose their majority but form a government thanks to a deal with a Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. 2016-2019: Theresa May negotiates a Brexit withdrawal agreement with the EU but with no overall majority in Parliament, it is rejected three times. She resigns. 2019: The general election which follows Theres May's resignation gives a large majority to the Conservatives. Boris Johnson, a pro-Brexit campaigner, wins to Conservative leadership contest. He later unlawfully decides to prorogue Parliament to limit opposition to Brexit. The ensuing crisis leads to another general election which once again gives a large majority to the Conservatives. Under Jeremy Coton the Labour Party is accused of poor leadership (lack of clarity over Brexit) and anti-Semitism among party activists. Boris Johnson pledges to 'get Brexit done' and not extend talks beyond December 2020. Abortion and gay marriage become legal in Northern Ireland.Abortion and gay marriage become legal in Northern Ireland. 2021: Brexit becomes of cial on January 31, but conditions and trade deals will be negotiated during a transition period ending on December 31 st. The main problem remains the Northern Ireland border "backstop 'to avoid hard border with Ireland. Since Northern Ireland remains part of the EU's single market (in order to avoid checks on the border with Ireland), goods arriving there from Britain have to undergo EU checks. They will take place in the Irish Sea, something unionists refuse as they would feel cut off from the rest of the UK. In April, this leads to renewed tension and violence on the streets of Belfast and other cities. fi fi  In its defence and foreign policy review, Britain decides to increase its nuclear stockpile for the rst time since the cold war. In September, the UK, the Us and Australia sign a historic security pact in the Indo-Paci cviolence (AUKUS), in an effort to counter China's in uence there. Australia abandons a contract with France for conventional submarines in favour of a nuclear submarine program with the US. For the UK this is in line with 'Global Britain", the UK's post-Brexit foreign policy ambitions: the country now intends to have a global outlook beyond Europe. 2022 : Partygate: Boris Johnson is criticised and ned for failures of leadership and judgement' after evidence emerged that Downing Street held parties while the rest of the country was in strict lockdown. He manages to cling to power but several Conservatives Mp call him to resign. Four days of celebration and festivities mark Queen Elizabeth Il's Platinum Jubile. A jump in energy prices (partly caused by the war in Ukraine) leads to soaring living prices. Boris Johnson resigns. Liz Truss wins the leadership contest and becomes Prime Minister. She resigns a few weeks later over unfunded budget decisions and Rishi Sunak becomes prime minister. Queen Elizabeth II dies: millions in Britain and across the world celebrate her life. Charles III becomes king in the UK and in the Commonwealth countries in which the monarch is head of state. An increasing number of migrants cross the English Channel illegally. A new agreement is signed to increase the number of migration of cers in France. Britain remains committed to helping Ukraine. 2023: With in ation over 11%, food prices up by 16% and the soaring cost of gas and electricity, the Bank of England warns of a long recession to come. Below-in ation pay deals and high in ation lead to industrial action in many sectors. fi fl fl fi fi fi fl fl