Explore the long view and dive into the political events which have shaped today's world.
1688-89

Glorious Revolution

Autocrat James II ousted by William & Mary. Parliamentary monarchy established.

1707

Act of Union

England and Scotland become one country of ‘Great Britain’.

1714

George I of Hanover King

Georgian (or Hanoverian) period begins, ending in 1830s.

1776-83

American War of Independence

American colonies declare independence; Britain defeated.

1789

French revolution begins

Storming of the Bastille & new National Assembly widely welcomed in Britain.

1792-94

French revolutionary terror

Thousands killed and guillotined, including King and Queen; civil wars.

1792

French wars begin

France at war with Britain & allies for most of the time until 1815.

1792-99

First radical reform movement

Radical societies spread but suppressed by emergency legislation.

1800-1

Combination Acts

Trade Unions banned (until 1824).

1801

Union with Ireland

Following the 1798 Irish rebellion, Ireland and Great Britain become one country, the United Kingdom.

1803-05

French invasion scare

Invasion threat from Emperor Napoleon, ending with Admiral Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar (1805)

1807

Abolition of slave trade

Britain abolishes the slave trade, principally between Africa and British colonies in the Caribbean.

1812

Crisis of war

In Britain, food riots, collapse of trade, Luddite rebellion. Napoleon invades Russia but forced to retreat.

1815

Battle of Waterloo

Final defeat of Napoleon by allied troops under Duke of Wellington.

1816-20

Radical reform movement

Mass movement for democratic reform of parliament, reaching a climax at Manchester on 16 August 1819.

1828-29

Civil rights for religious minorities

Most legislation limiting the civil rights of Roman Catholics and protestant dissenters repealed. End of the Anglican monopoly on political power.

1830

Henry Hunt elected MP for Preston

Preston is the only constituency where all adult males can vote.

1832

Great Reform Act

Breakthrough reform of Parliament, redistributing seats geographically. Manchester, Salford and many large towns get MPs for the first time, ‘rotten boroughs’. Standard voting qualifications introduced, giving middle-class property owners the vote. Number of voters up by 50% to 650,000.

1832

General election

Reforming Whig government elected. Henry Hunt loses his seat in Preston, where the electorate has been reduced.

1838

The 'People's Charter'

Mass working-class movement for the vote 1838-48 raises petitions up to 3.3 million people for adult male suffrage annual parliaments, and the secret ballot. Parliament rejects all further reforms.

1846

Corn laws repealed

Prime minister Robert Peel ends the Corn Laws, a major demand of the Peterloo meeting, but falls from power in the process.

1867

Second Reform Act

Adult male heads of wealthier households get the vote. Electorate up to 2.3 million men.

1872

Secret ballot introduced

The second of the demands of the reformers of 1819 to be granted.

1884

Third Reform Act

All adult male householders get the vote. Electorate up now 60% of adult males.

1918

Representation of the People Act

Nearly all adult males get the vote, together with women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification.

1928

Votes for women

All adult women get the vote on the same basis as men.

1968

Voting age reduced to 18

Previously people could only vote at age 21. The age of majority also reduced to 18.

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