British History from 1534 to 1801

By lolachvn
  • Period: 1509 to 1547

    Henri VIII's reign

  • Mar 23, 1534

    Act of Succession

    Anne Boleyn became the legitimate Queen and princess Elizabeth, the first heir to the throne.
    This led to the Pope excommunicating Henri VIII, declaring that Anne was not his wife.
  • Nov 3, 1534

    Act of Supremacy

    The king was made "Supreme Head of the Church of England"
    This is the schism. England is not part of the Roman Catholic Chruch anymore.
  • Period: 1536 to 1537

    Pilgrimage of Grace

    These were the greatest rebellions ever faced by a Tudor monarch.
    the rebels were protesting against the dissolution of the monasteries, the Reformation and economic grievances. They asked for the restoration of catholicism and Mary Tudor as first heir to the throne.
  • 1547

    Henri VIII's death

    Henri VIII's death
    At that time, the Church of England was not entirely Protestant. It was called “Catholicism without the Pope”.
  • Period: 1547 to 1553

    Edward VI's Reign

    • Series of measures in favor of protestantism.
  • 1549

    Publication of The Book of Common Prayer

    A revision of the mass book led to the publication of The Book of common prayer replacing catholicism teaching with protestant ones.
    led to rebellions in Corwall and Devon
  • 1553

    Edward VI's death

    Edward VI's death
    He died from tuberculosis, leaving the country virtually bankrupt.
  • Period: 1553 to 1558

    Mary I's Reign

    • Restoration of catholicism
    • Married to Philip II of Spain (catholic)
  • Period: 1555 to 1558

    "Bloody Mary -> Brutal repression

    • Protestantism was confined to secrecy.
    • Over 200 protestants went to stake.
    • Protestants were forced to leave and fled to the continent. They were called the "Marian exiles".
  • 1558

    Mary I's death

    Mary I's death
    This event was greeted since she had turned the nation against her.
  • Period: 1558 to

    Elizabeth I's reign

    -Unmarried woman that needed to prove her legitimacy and to appease religious tensions.
    - Her reign is associated with the idea of a Golden Age for the country.
    Religious settlement
  • 1559

    The Act of Uniformity

    Every parish had to use the Book of Common Prayer.
    People who did not attend an Anglican service were fined.
  • 1559

    The Act of Supremacy (1559)

    • Elizabeth I became "Supreme Governor of the Church of England" > New organisation of the Church, abolished the authority of the Pope and restored the authority of the Queen over the Church.
  • 1563

    The 39 articles of faith (1563-1571)

    stated the doctrine (religious belief) of the Church
    - 3 important changes : a new ecclesiology, a new doctrine of Salvation, new definition of sacraments and of the mass.
  • 1569

    The Northern rebellion

    This rebellion was an attempt to replace Queen Elizabeth I by Mary Queen of Scots. It was was led by the Earls of Westmorland and Northumberlan. The 6 000 insurgents, were for most of them catholic nobles that were against religious reforms.
  • 1570

    Excommunication of Elizabeth I

    Excommunication of Elizabeth I
    In 1570, Pope Pius V issued the papal bull “Regnans in Excelsis”. It excommunicated Elizabeth I.This led to the persecution of catholics and more specifically small secret communities of catholics that were tolerated until 1570.

  • The Babington Plot

    The Babington Plot
    Catholics plotted against Queen Elizabeth I. They wanted to kill her and put Mary Stuart (Mary Queen of Scots) on the throne because she was catholics. Nevertheless, a letter between Mary Stuart and the group of people who plotted was found and led to Mary being convinced for complicity. She was sentenced to death.

  • Mary Stuart's execution

    Mary Stuart's execution
    Mary Queen of Scots was executed in 1587 because she plotted against the Queen, her cousin in hope of becoming queen and put catholicism back in place in England. On the day of her execution she was wearing red, the color of martyrs.
  • Period: to

    The Defeat of the Spanish Armada

    The Catholic King of Spain, Philip II plotted against the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I and attempted to invade England July 1588, in vain.
    But the British new fleet and strategy led to the defeat of the Spanish Armada and highlighted the power of Queen Elizabeth I

  • Elizabeth I 's speech to the troops in Tilbury

    Elizabeth I 's speech to the troops in Tilbury
    In August 1588, Elizabeth I delivered a speech in order to rally the troops who were preparing to repel the invasion of the Spanish Armada. This speech reinforced her legitimacy. We can quote: " I know I have the body of a weak woman but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a King of England too".

  • Elizabeth I's death

    Elizabeth I's death
    Elizabeth I died in 1603 at the of 69. At the time of her death she had secured England's position in the world and imposed Protestantism.
  • Period: to

    James I's Reign

    James I was the son of Mary Queen of Scots. He was crowned King of Scotland in 1567 and King of England in 1603. He succeeded Elizabeth I and was the first King of the Stuart era. He strongly believed in the divine rights of kings.
    Catholics Placed hopes in him since he was Queen Mary's son. but he continued the repressive laws that were put in place by Elizabeth.
    His reign was marked by a lot of tensions and conflicts with the Parliament.

  • The Gunpowder Plot

    The Gunpowder Plot
    The gunpowder plot was an assassination attempted against James I led by a group of catholics. They aimed to blow up the Parliament and Kill the King at the same time because they wanted to restore Catholicism. This attempt failed.

  • Establishment of Jamestown

    Establishment of Jamestown
    Establishment of Jamestown in Virginia (under James I).
    It is the first English colony in North America.

  • "Great Contract" and the dissolution of the Parliament

    By acceding the throne, James I Inherited a £100.000 debt. The crown was in financial difficulties.
    In 1610, the "Great Contract" was supposed to increase the Crown income and reduce the debt.
    However, some members of Parliament refused to vote in favor of this plan because they feared that King wouldn't call up parliaments anymore.
    In response, James I dismissed Parliament.

  • Convocation of Parliament

    In the context of the Thirty Years War in Europe, James I summoned a parliament in 1621 to ask for money for war. But parliament was not in favor of an attack this led to James dissolving parliament again.

  • James I 's death

    James I 's death
    James died in 1625. At the time of his death, the Thirty Years War had pushed the English debt to over £1 million.
  • Period: to

    Charles I 's Reign

    As his father (James I) did, Charles I strongly believed in the divine rights of Kings. He married the Catholic Princess Henrietta Maria from France.

  • Petition of rights

    The Parliament prohibited King Charles I from collecting any tax revenue. They wanted him to accept the limits of his powers.
    The King suspended parliament seating

  • Three Resolutions of MPs

    In January 1629, MPs suspected the king's religious beliefs. They passed three resolutions saying that people woulds attempted to bring Popery or Arminianism was an enemy of the Kingdom.
    It was an act of defiance towards the King. MPs were imprisonned.
    Charles I dissolved Parliament.
  • Period: to

    The Personal Rule

    During 11 years, Charles I ruled without the Parliament. Whig historians called this period "The Eleven years Tyranny

  • The short Parliament

    in 1640, needing money to fight the Scots, Charles called a parliament. But MPs demanded the King to address their grievances, so Charles dissolved it after only 3 weeks
  • Period: to

    The Long Parliament

    The threat of rebellion by the Scots caused King Charles to call the Parliament. He lacked the military strength to oppose the rebellion. In response, the Parliament placed heavy restrictions of his authority.
    1. The Parliament must meet at a minimum once every three years.
    2. The Dissolution of Parliament required its consent.

  • The Grand Remonstrance

    Voted by Parliament, this important document caused many debates. It gave the Parliament powers to choose the King's minister, to control any army and to reform the Church.
    It also divided it into 2 groups: The Parliamentarians and the Royalists/
  • Period: to

    The Civil Wars (1642-1649)

    During this period, there were 2 civil wars, the first from 1642 to 1646 and the second from 1648 to 1649.

  • Beginning of the Civil War

    After marching into the House of Commons to arrest five MPs in January 1642, Charles I declared war on Parliament in August. This event marked the beginning of the English Civil War

  • Charles I surrendered

    In May 1646, Charles surrendered to the Scots and who handed to the Parliament who is victorious of the first phase of the Civil war.

  • Charles I is taken as hostage.

    When the House of Commons disbanded the army without paying soldiers, a mutiny broke out.
    The English army seized King Charles I as a hostage.
  • Period: to

    The Interregnum (1649-1660)

    During this period, England is governed by its people, there is not King/Queen.
  • Period: to

    The Commonwealth (1649-1653)

    IRELAND
    > The Irish Rebellion led by Irish Catholics was crushed by Cromwell and his troops.
    > Catholicism was forbidden in Reland and there was a brutal repression SCOTLAND
    > Charles II (the son of Charles I) was proclaimed king of Scotland after his father’s execution
    > He raised a Scottish Army to invade England

  • Charles I's execution

    Charles I's execution
    After escaping to Scotland and the eruption of the Second Civil War, The King is executed on 30 January 1649
    March 1649: Monarchy and House of Lords abolished, England was declared a Commonwealth (a republic).

  • The Instrument of Government, 1653.

    The Instrument of Government, 1653.
    It is England’s first and only written constitution.

  • Cromwell dissolved the Rump

    On April 1653, Cromwell ordered the Members of Parliaments to leave.

  • End Of The Commonwealth and start of the Protectorate

  • Period: to

    The Cromwellian Protectorate (1654-1658)

    The protectorate aim to restore the principle of mixed government.
    - Cromwell is appointed Lord Protector
    - Parliaments of 460 MPs elected every 3 years
    - Council of State

  • Cromwell's death

    His son Richard became Lord Protector but resigned after 6 months
    Period of Anarchy (7 governments in less than a year) People wanted a return of monarchy.
  • Period: to

    Early Restoration

    In 1660, The Declaration of Breda by Charles II led to the restoration of Monarchy.
  • Period: to

    Charles II 's reign

  • The Act of Uniformity

    The Act of Uniformity compels Puritans to accept the doctrines of the Church of England or leave the church. This forces the ministers to conform to the Book of Common Prayer.

  • The Black Plague

  • Outbreak of the Second Anglo Dutch War

    The Second Anglo-Dutch War began due to England's desire to end the Dutch domination of world trade

  • The Great Fire of London

    The Great Fire of London
    The Great Fire of London rages for four days and three nights.
    This event stopped the Plague

  • The Popish Plot

    The Popish plot is a rumor saying that the French wanted to murder Charles II and replace him by a catholic King, his brother James II.

  • The Exclusion Crisis (1679-1981)

    Parliament attempted to debar James II from the succession to the English throne. In response, Charles II dissolved the Parliament.

  • Charles II's death

    Charles II's death
    Charles II died in 1685 and was succeeded by his brother James II
  • Period: to

    James II's Reign

    James tried to enforce toleration of Catholic worship.
    People were feared a return to Catholicism. It is seen as a threat for the Parliament.

  • The Glorious Revolution

    In 1688, Parliament invited William of Orange to invade England and seize the crown to keep the cron in the hands of a Protestant King.
    James II fled to France and William became King
  • Period: to

    Wiliam III's Reign (and Mary)

  • Toleration Act

    This act established religious pluralism, and freedom of worship for all Protestants.

  • The Bill of Rights

    This document:
    - listed King James' misdeeds.
    - Fixed limitations on the King's powers.
    - Set out rights for the Parliament and civil rights

  • The Act of Settlement

    This Act ignored catholics heirs and ensured a Protestant succession event though William and May had no surviving children.

  • William III's death

  • Act of Union between England and Scotland

    This act led to the creation of the United Kingdom.
  • Period: to

    Anne's Reign

    Under her reign, there is the ratification of the Act of Union:
    - A single kingdom
    - Scotland lost its parliament but gained seats in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords
    - Scotland kept its Presbyterian church and own laws.
  • Period: to

    George I's Reign

  • Final Defeat of the Jacobites

    After two risings in 1715 and 1745, the jacobites were finally defeated in 1746

  • Treaty of Paris

    Britain formally recognized the independence of the United States (1776: Declaration of Independence).

  • Britain had established a large empire with colonies

    By 1783, Britain had built a large empire with colonies in America, the West Indies and the Pacific including New Zealand.

  • Second Act of Union

    Creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England and Scotland) and Ireland