Government Timeline

  • 1225

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta
    Moved England from rule of Mante rule of law
  • 1337

    the hundred years war

    the hundred years war
    a prolonged conflict between England and France that had a significant impact on English politics and society.
  • 1455

    the war of the roses

    the war of the roses
    a series of civil wars for control of the throne of England between the houses of Lancaster and York.
  • 1517

    the protestant reformation

    the protestant reformation
    a religious movement that led to the creation of the Church of England and the separation from papal authority.
  • 1534

    act of supremacy

    declared king henry VII as the supreme head of the church of England, marking a significant shift in religious and political power.
  • petition of right

    petition of right
    was presented to King Charles I by the English parliament and established certain liberties that the kind could not infringe upon, such as protection against arbitrary imprisonment and the imposition of taxes without parliaments consent
  • Individual rights

    Individual rights
    rights that are required to live a free and equitable life and cannot be interfered with or denied by the government or other individuals
  • English civil war

    English civil war
    a conflict between the royalists and parliamentarians that resulted in the execution of King Charles I and the establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.
  • parliament erupted into civil war

    parliament erupted into civil war
    Charles declared Parliament in rebellion and began raising an army, by issuing a competing Commission of Array. At the end of 1642, he set up his court at Oxford,
  • the restoration

    the restoration
    the return of the monarchy with Charles II after the period of the Commonwealth.
  • habeas corpus act

    habeas corpus act
    this law strengthened protections against unlawful detention, ensuring that anyone detained could request a judicial review of their arrest.
  • renewed conflicts and rebellions

    renewed conflicts and rebellions
    A rebellion is when you rise up and fight those in power, usually on a large scale
  • the glorious revolution

    the glorious revolution
    the overthrow of James II and the ascension of Williams III and Mary II to the throne, leading to the Bill of Rights in 1689 and the strengthening of parliamentary power,
  • bill of rights

    bill of rights
    was passed by the English parliament and further limited the powers of the monarch, establishing fundamental rights and freedoms for citizens, such as freedom of speech and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.
  • act of settlement

    act of settlement
    established clear rules for the succession to the English throne, limiting the power of the monarch and ensuring that parliament had a significant role in the succession process.
  • treaty of union

    treaty led to the acts of union 1707, uniting the kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
  • act of union

    act of union
    this act united the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of great Britain, creating a single parliament and government.
  • the industrial revolution

    the industrial revolution
    this period marked a significant shift in the British economy and society, with technological advancements and changes in production that profoundly affected government and labor rights.
  • american declaration of indpendence

    american declaration of indpendence
    inspired by principles similar to those in the Magna Carta and individual rights, this declaration marked a milestone in the fight for self determination and individual rights in the American colonies.
  • treaty of paris

    treaty ended the American revolutionary war and recognized the independence of the united states, significantly impacting British colonial policy.
  • constitution of the united states

    constitution of the united states
    established the framework of the U.S. government and ensured a series of individual rights through its first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights
  • French declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen

    French declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen
    influenced by the American revolution and advances in individual rights in England, this declaration was fundamental document of the French revolution that proclaimed the natural and inalienable rights of man.
  • battle of waterloo

    this battle marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and solidified Britain's position as a dominant global power.
  • reform act

    reform act
    this law reformed the electoral system in England and Wales, expanding the franchise and eliminating corrupt electoral districts.
  • slavery abolition

    this act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire, a significantly moral and legal milestone.
  • women's suffrage

    women's suffrage
    in 1918, women over the age of 30 gained the right to vote in the UK, and in 1928, this right was extended to all women over the age of 21, equalizing voting rights with men.
  • the parliament act

    the parliament act
    reduced the powers of the House of Lords and strengthened the House of Commons, promoting a more representative democracy.
  • representation of the people act

    representation of the people act
    significantly expanded the right to vote, including all women over 30 and all men over 21.
  • the Treaty of Versailles

    the Treaty of Versailles
    although primarily known for ending WWI, it also had important implications for the British Empire and its foreign policy.
  • Anglo-Irish treaty

    this treaty ended the Irish war of independence and led to the creation of the Irish free state, marking a significant shift in British-Irish relations.
  • statute of westminster

    this act granted full legislative independence to the self-governing dominions of the British Empire, marking a significant step towards the formation of the Commonwealth.
  • World War II

    World War II
    during this period, the British government experienced significant changes in it structure and policies, especially with the creation of the Welfare State after the war.
  • education act

    education act
    also known as the butler act, it made secondary education free and compulsory for all children in England and wales.
  • decolonization

    decolonization
    after World War II, the UK began to decolonize many of its colonies, leading to the independence of numerous countries and changes in British foreign policy.
  • National Health Service

    stablished the National Health Service in the UK, providing healthcare free at the point of use for all residents.
  • universal declaration of human rights

    universal declaration of human rights
    adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the declaration sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
  • the suez crisis

    the suez crisis
    a conflict that marked the end of British imperial influence in the Middle East and had significant repercussions on British foreign policy.
  • civil rights act

    civil rights act
    in the United States, this law prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, marking a significant milestone in the civil rights movement.
  • race relations

    race relations
    this act made it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public places and employment.
  • European communities act

    European communities act
    the legislation that allowed the UK to join the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union.
  • the united kingdoms accession to the European economic community

    the united kingdoms accession to the European economic community
    an important step in the UK's European integration.
  • Maastricht Treaty

    Maastricht Treaty
    this treaty led to the creation of the European Union and was a major step in the process of European integration.
  • constitution of south Africa

    constitution of south Africa
    is known for its progressive approach to human rights and equality, establishing a series of rights for all South African citizens after apartheid.
  • human rights act

    human rights act
    this act incorporated the European convention on Human Rights into British law, allowing citizens to defend their rights in UK courts.
  • the equality act

    the equality act
    unified and strengthened anti-discrimination laws in the UK, promoting equal rights for all citizens.
  • fixed term parliaments act

    fixed term parliaments act
    established fixed term elections for the house of commons every five years, reducing the prime ministers power to call elections at will.
  • the Scottish independence

    the Scottish independence
    a significant event in recent UK history where Scottish voters decided to remain part of the United Kingdom
  • Brexit

    Brexit
    the 2016 referendum resulted in the UK's decision to leave the European Union, which has had significant political and economic implications.
  • the European union

    the European union
    established the legal framework for the UK's departure from the EU, commonly known as Brexit.
  • data protection act

    data protection act
    updated data protection laws in the UK and aligned them with the General Data Protection Regulation of the EU, enchanting privacy rights.