Timeline: English events that affected American history
This is a non-inclusive list of English historical events of which American colonists were aware, and which formed the culture and ideas of the colonial culture in New England.
1512 War with France
1517 Luther denounces indulgences
1522 Renewal of French War
1525 Peace with France
1525 Tyndale translates the New Testament
1531 King becomes “Supreme Head of the Church of England”
1536 Dissolution of lesser monasteries
1538 English Bible issued
1539 Suppression of greater abbeys
1542 Completion of the Tudor conquest of Ireland
1544 War with France
1547 Edward the Sixth (died 1553)
1548 English Book of Common Prayer
1553 Mary becomes Queen (died 1558)
1554 Mary restores Pope as head of Church and restores Catholic prayers
1555 Persecution of Protestants begins
1557 War with France
1558 Elizabeth I becomes Queen (died 1603)
1559 Elizabeth I restores Royal Supremacy as head of Church of England.
1559 Elizabeth I restores English Book of Common Prayer
1560 War in Scotland
1562 Elizabeth supports the French Huguenots
1562 Hawkins begins slave trade with Africa
1563 First penal statute against Catholics
1576 First public theatre in Blackfriars
11584 Colonization of Virginia
1588 Defeat of the Spanish Armada
1597 Ruin of the Second Armada 1603 James the First (died 1625) 1605 Gunpowder Plot
1610 Plantation of Ulster
1618 Beginning of Thirty Years’ War with France
1620 Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in New England
1625 Charles I becomes King (died 1649)
1630 Winthrop and Massachusetts Bay Colony migrate to New England
1649 Charles I executed
1653 Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector
1658 Death of Oliver Cromwell; Richard Cromwell becomes Lord Protector.
1660 Charles II lands at Dover and becomes King
1665 Plague of London
1666 Fire of London
1672 War begins with Holland
1674 Peace with Holland
1682 Penn founds Pennsylvania
1685 Charles II dies
1685 James II becomes King (died 1701)
1685 James II raises army of 20,000 men, trying to subdue restive Englishmen.
1689 William and Mary made King and Queen
1694 Bank of England set up
1701 Act of Settlement passed
1702 Anne becomes Queen (died 1714)
1707 Act of Union with Scotland
1714 George I becomes King (died 1727)
1715 1727 War with Austria and Spain
1727 George II becomes King (died 1760)
1738 Methodists appear in London.
1739 War declared with Spain.
1739. Handel is publishing music in London.
1745 Charles Edward (Bonnie Prince Charlie) lands in Scotland
1759 Wolfe’s victory on heights of Abraham in Canada
1760 George III becomes King (died 1820) in an era of rising superiority of England both as a military and also as an industrial power.
1763 Peace of Paris (with France)
1763 to 1776 Era of manufacturing inventions establishes domination of English industry:
- 1763, Wedgwood establishes potteries;
- 1764. Hargreaves invents Spinning Jenny;
- 1768, Arkwright invents Spinning Machine;
- 1769, Watt invents Steam Engine;
- 1776, Crompton invents the Spinning Mule
1776 Declaration of Independence,
1792 England and United States sign peace agreement.
1793 France declares war on England
1798 Irish revolt crushed at Vinegar Hill
1800 Act of Union with Ireland
1801 George the III rejects Pitt’s plan of Catholic Emancipation
1803 War declared on Buonaparte and France
1805 Battle of Trafalgar
1807 Abolition of Slave Trade