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The Roman general Julius Caesar lands in Britain with an expeditionary force, wins a battle and leaves. The first ‘date’ in popular British history
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The romans leave Britain
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St. Patrick converts Ireland to Chirstianity
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After several years of war between Scottish and English Kingdoms, Scotland is recognized as an independent kingdom
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An English language version of the Bible replaces Latin bibles in every church in the land
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Edgar, a grandson of Alfred, becomes king of nearly all of present-day England and for the first time the name ‘England’ is used
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The act of supremacy declares Henry VIII to be the supreme head of the church in England
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The Spanish Armada. A fleet of ships sent by the Catholic King Philip of Spain to help invade England, is defeated by the English navy (with the help of a violent storm!)
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For the first and only time, Britain briefly becomes a republic and is called ‘Commonwealth’. The Commonwealth was the period from 1649 to 1660 when England and Wales, later along with Ireland and Scotland,[1] were ruled as a republic following the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execution of Charles I.
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Charles was tried, convicted, and executed for high treason in January 1649. The monarchy was abolished and a republic called the Commonwealth of England was declared.
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The restoration of the monarchy and the Anglican religion under Charles II, and later under his brother James II.
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The Great Fire of London destroys most of the city’s old wooden buildings. It also destroys bubonic plague, which never reappears. Most of the city’s finest churches, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, date from the period of rebuilding which followed
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The Scottish parliament abolishes the authority of the Pope and forbids the Latin mass
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James Watt invents the first steam engine
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The English writer Samuel Johnson coins the famous phrase, ‘When a man is tired of London, he’s tired of life’
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The first British settlers (convicts and soldiers) arrive in Australia
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A British fleet under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson defeats Napoleon’s French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar
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After a war, Britain loses the southern half of its North American colonies (giving birth to the USA)
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The first law regulating factory working conditions limits the number of hours that children are allowed to work, was established in all of industries in 1867.
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The Civil War begins
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Slavery is made illegal throughout the British Empire
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The first old-age pensions are introduced - passed in 1908.
It was enacted in January 1909-. -
The right to vote is extended to women
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Partion of Ireland
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Great Britain declares war on Germany. Until the 1940’s, the First World War was known in Britain as ‘The Great War’
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Parliament allows written records of its debates to be published freely.
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Free compulsory education (up to the age of 15) is established
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The National Health Service is established
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The right to vote is extended again. All adults can now vote.
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Coronation of Elizabeth II
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The Clean Air Act is the first law of widespread application to attempt to control pollution
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The school leaving age is raised to 16
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British troops leave Northern Ireland
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The Falklands/ Maldivas War
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Second Gulf War
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Ireland becomes a Republic
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The channel tunnel opens