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Topic: Modern Britain

INTERACTIVE TOPIC · CHAPTER 3 — A LONG AND FAMOUS HISTORY

Modern Britain: Empire’s End & New Beginnings

A century in fast-forward: Ireland leaves, empire ends, Europe is joined and left, and peace comes to Northern Ireland. Order the decades, match the makers, and flip the turning points.

⏱ About 9 minutesPASS PACK TOPIC6 learning blocksMastery check: 6 real questions
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STEP 1 · PRIME YOUR BRAIN

Before we start — have a guess

Two warm-up questions on the Britain you live in.

Britain joined the European Economic Community (the EEC) in…

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought peace to…

STEP 2 · THE PICTURE

The shrinking map, the changing country

🇮🇪 1922 · most of Ireland leaves the UK 🇮🇳 1947 · India independent — empire unwinds 👑 1952 · Elizabeth II’s long reign begins 🇪🇺 1973 · Britain joins Europe 🕊️ 1998 · peace in Northern Ireland; devolution follows

The empire that filled the Victorian map dissolved within a generation — while at home, money, punishment, universities and even the calendar of daily life were remade.

STEP 3 · LEARN BY DOING — 1 OF 2

Order the modern century

Tap the events in order. Each correct tap reveals its year.

LEARN BY DOING — 2 OF 2

Match the makers

Tap a name, then tap their place in the story.

TURNING POINTS

Flip the details

Answer in your head first, then tap to check.

TAP TO REVEAL

What did the Suez Crisis of 1956 show the world?

That Britain could no longer act as a lone superpower — its attempt to seize the Suez Canal collapsed under international pressure.

TAP TO REVEAL

What opened in 1969 without any campus at all?

The Open University — degrees studied at home, by broadcast and post, open to anyone.

TAP TO REVEAL

What happened on Decimal Day, 1971?

Pounds, shillings and old pence were replaced by a decimal currency — 100 new pence to the pound.

TAP TO REVEAL

What did the miners’ strike of 1984–85 become?

A year-long confrontation between the miners’ union and Thatcher’s government — one of the defining battles of the decade. The miners lost.

STEP 4 · QUICKFIRE RECALL

True or false — no thinking time allowed

STEP 5 · MASTERY CHECK

Six real questions on this topic

Score 5 or 6 and this topic is marked mastered on your path. Anything less: revisit the block you missed and retake.

Question 1 of 60 answered · 0 correct
Question 1 · Chapter 3: History
The Easter Rising of 1916 was an armed rebellion by Irish nationalists in which city?
Irish nationalists seized buildings in Dublin at Easter 1916 and proclaimed an Irish republic. The rising was suppressed within a week, but it transformed Irish politics.
Question 2 · Chapter 3: History
In which year did the United Kingdom join the European Economic Community (the EEC)?
The UK joined the EEC in 1973, after earlier applications had been blocked. Membership was confirmed by a referendum in 1975.
Question 3 · Chapter 3: History
In the 19th century, the Irish nationalists known as the Fenians campaigned for what?
The Fenians were Irish republicans who wanted Ireland to become an independent republic; some were prepared to use violence, while others campaigned politically.
Question 4 · Chapter 3: History
On 'Decimal Day' Britain replaced pounds, shillings and old pence with a decimal currency of 100 pence to the pound. In which year did this happen?
Decimal Day was 15 February 1971, when the old system of 20 shillings and 240 old pennies to the pound was replaced by 100 new pence.
Question 5 · Chapter 3: History
Which TWO new elected bodies were set up in the UK following the referendums held in 1997?
Choose TWO answers — select both to see the result
Referendums in 1997 led to the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. The Irish Free State dated from 1922, and the Northern Ireland Assembly followed the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, not the referendums of 1997.
Question 6 · Chapter 3: History
Elizabeth II became Queen in 1952 following the death of which monarch, her father?
George VI died in February 1952 and was succeeded by his elder daughter, Elizabeth II, who was crowned the following year, in 1953.

✓ green = correct · ✗ red = wrong · 🚩 red ring = marked for review · gold outline = current question

✕ Exit to Topics
STEP 6 · TEACH IT BACK

Say it in your own words

Explain how Britain’s place in the world changed between 1922 and 1998, naming three turning points. Say it out loud or write it down — then compare.

Reveal a model answer

In 1922 most of Ireland left the UK to become the Irish Free State, leaving Northern Ireland behind. After the Second World War the empire dissolved — India won independence in 1947, and the Suez Crisis of 1956 exposed Britain’s reduced power. Britain turned to Europe instead, joining the EEC in 1973; and in 1998 the Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland and led to devolved government there.

Where next?

Drill all of Chapter 3 in the Chapter 3 practice sets, or pick your next topic on the Topics path.