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Period: 1509 to 1547
Henry VIII's reign
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1534
The Schism and The Act of Supremacy
Henry VIII became the supreme head of the Church of England as it officially broke from Catholicism to Protestantism to support his divorce plans. -
1536
The Pilgrimage of Grace
Six month period of rebellions in Yorkshire and Lancashire against the dissolution of monasteries. -
Period: 1542 to 1567
Mary Queen of Scots' reign
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Period: 1547 to 1553
Edward VI's reign
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1549
Book of Common Prayer published
Edward was a strong Protestant and made many Protestant reforms including revising the mass-book which led to the publication of the Book of Common Prayer. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Mary I's reign
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Period: 1558 to
Elizabeth I's reign
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1559
The Act of Supremacy
Restored authority of the Queen over the Church and allowed Elizabeth to establish a 'middle way' to encourage national unity after the trauma of previous years of religious conflict. Allowed for return to Protestantism in a new, more moderate way. -
Period: 1567 to
James I's reign in Scotland
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1570
Pope Pius V issued the bull Regnans in Excelsis
In the face of her Catholic oppression, the Pope excommunicates Elizabeth I. Almost gave Catholics license to kill her as it would be considered a crime by Rome. -
1581
The 1581 Act
Part of Catholic repression at the time, any person converting to Catholicism received the death penalty. Forbidden to participate in Catholic Mass -
The Babington Plot
Plot by young Catholics who wanted to murder Elizabeth to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne. Some communications between Mary and the conspirators. -
Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
Raised in France as a Catholic and the legitimate heir to Elizabeth I's throne. Mary's Catholicism led to many threats on Elizabeth's life, causing her execution after supposed complicity in the Babington plot. -
Spanish Armada defeated
Spanish invasion led by the Spanish king as a Catholic power against Protestant England defeated by Elizabeth I. -
Queen Elizabeth's Tilbury Speech
Elizabeth I spoke to troops in Tilbury as they prepared for the Spanish Armada invasion. She famously said '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'. -
Period: to
James I's reign in England
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The Gunpowder Plot
Conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill James I in protest against his harsh laws against Catholics. Plot failed as the barrels of gunpowder were discovered below parliament. -
Jamestown, Virginia
First permanent British colony established. -
Period: to
The Thirty Years' War
England at war with Spain and France. War drained finances considerably. Many military defeats under Lord Buckingham, Charles I's advisor. -
First slave ship arrives in Virginia
The newly emerging tobacco trade demanded more workers which led to the beginning of the slave trade in Virginia. -
Petition of Rights
MP's wanted Charles to recognise the limits to his powers and the illegality of martial law, imprisonment without trial and more abuses. Charles was extremely angry but signed the petition. -
Period: to
The Personal Rule
For 11 years, Charles I ruled without calling a parliament. A clear defiance of parliamentary power. -
The Grand Remonstrance
Document voted by parliament summarising all the misdemeanours of Charles I, as well as listing revolutionary demands for more parliamentary power over the monarchy and church. -
First Civil War
1643-1646, The Royalists or 'Cavaliers' who believed in the Divine Right of Kings vs The Parliamentarians or 'Roundheads' who believed that parliament should make the laws. 190000 died. -
The Second Civil War
From January to Autumn of that year. Made up of many royalist revolts that were easily defeated by Cromwell and his New Model army. -
Period: to
The Interregnum
England had no monarchy during this time. -
Charles I's execution
King put on trial for high treason by rump parliament in December 1648 and executed a month later on the 30th of January 1649. -
The Irish Rebellion
Led by Irish Catholic Royalist troops and brutally crushed by Oliver Cromwell. Men, women and children killed. -
Oliver Cromwell appointed Lord Protector
This gave him executive power and he controlled the military diplomacy. -
Declaration of Breda
Issued to Charles II asking him to restore the monarchy on various conditions including sharing power with parliament. -
The Exclusion Crisis
1679-1681, Parliament tried to debar James II from succession as he was a Catholic. Charles dissolved parliament in response, -
The Glorious Revolution
Parliament invited the William of Orange (the King's son in law) to invade England and take the throne from James II. It was successful and King William III and Queen Mary II became the new monarchs. -
Period: to
William III's reign
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Period: to
Queen Mary II's reign
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Over 5000 slaves in Virginia
The quickening increase of the slave population in Virginia over time showed the fast paced growth of the slave trade between America, Britain and West Africa. -
American War of Independence
1775-1783, turning point for British Empire as they lost their North American colonies, signalling the end of the First British Empire. -
Acts of Union
Formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The parliament of Ireland and Uk merged.