Anyone can pass the test with some dedication and practice. You can find a number of resources online, including the official Home Office guidebooks, or you can use our study guide. It's completely free! After his campaign in Ireland and victory over Charles II at Worcester, Cromwell was recognised as the leader of the new republic. He was given the title of Lord Protector and ruled until his death in 1658. When Cromwell died, his son, Richard, became Lord Protector in his place but was not able to control the army or the government. Although Britain had been a republic for 11 years, without Oliver Cromwell there was no clear leader or system of government. Many people in the country wanted stability. People began to talk about the need for a king. The Restoration Henry VIII was most famous for breaking away from the Church of Rome and marrying six times. The six wives of Henry VIII After reading each section, ask yourself ‘What was the main point?’ If you can describe it to yourself in your own words, then you have understood and you are more likely to remember it and to be able to answer questions about it. England became a republic, called the Commonwealth. The army was in control. Oliver Cromwell, one of its generals, was sent to Ireland to establish the authority of the English Parliament.

There are several British overseas territories in other parts of the world, such as the Falkland Islands. During this war, Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross, which honours acts of valour by soldiers. Find out… In the 1970s there was serious unrest in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Parliament was suspended in 1972 and the country was directly ruled by the UK government. 71 Europe and the Common Market As the economy developed during the 19th century, canals and railways were built cross the country.Do not write too much detail. Have one key piece of information on each card with spaces between sentences so they are easy to read and remember. People may refer to their nationality as British, English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish, but they all have British citizenship. Find out… While defending Britain, British forces were fighting the Axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) on many other fronts. The Japanese defeated the British in Singapore and then occupied Burma, threatening India. In December 1941, the United States entered the war when the Japanese bombed its naval base at Pearl Harbour. During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, there were a number of rebellions, because many Irish people opposed rule from England. Land was taken from Catholic landholders and given to Protestant settlers from England and Scotland. These settlements were known as plantations. This had serious long-term consequences for the history of England, Scotland and Ireland. Find out… Make the date memorable by linking it to personal information – the year you, or a family member or friend, were born or the number of a house where you lived.

Many people regard Shakespeare as the greatest playwright of all time. His plays and poems are still performed and studied in Britain and other countries today. The Globe Theatre in London is a modern copy of the theatres in which his plays were first performed. James VI and IQueen Elizabeth I was a Protestant but avoided any serious religious conflict in England. Elizabeth became one of the most popular monarchs in English history, particularly after 1588, when the English defeated the Spanish Armada (a large fleet of ships), which had been sent by Spain to conquer England and restore Catholicism. 45 The Reformation in Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots The Industrial Revolution took place as the development of water power and then steam power led to the growth of factories. People left the countryside to work in the factories, so towns and cities grew.