The 20th century

Test atoms

Learn these as compact test facts. Then practise recognising the same fact in different wording.

What not to over-learn first

• Do not learn every voting reform first. Learn 1918 partial votes for women, 1928 equal voting rights, and 1969 voting age 18.
• Keep Battle of Britain 1940 separate from D-Day 1944.

Spot the correct statement

The real test often asks you to recognise a correct sentence, not write an answer from memory. You should be able to spot statements like these:

• Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.
• The voting age for men and women was lowered to 18 in 1969.
• Some women over 30 got the vote in 1918; equal voting rights came in 1928.

Main timeline

What changed in this period

The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918. Armistice Day is 11 November.

Voting rights changed after the war. In 1918 some women over 30 gained the parliamentary vote. In 1928 women and men gained equal voting rights from age 21.

The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945. Churchill led Britain for much of the war. Important terms include the Battle of Britain, the Blitz and D-Day.

The period also includes Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin. In 1969, the voting age was lowered to 18 for men and women.

Facts to remember

• The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918.
• The Battle of the Somme in 1916 is associated with very high casualties.
• Armistice Day is 11 November and links to the end of the First World War.
• In 1918 women over 30 gained the parliamentary vote and in 1928 voting rights became equal for men and women over 21.
• In 1969 the voting age was lowered to 18 for men and women.
• Ireland was partitioned after conflict, with Northern Ireland remaining in the UK.
• The inter-war period included economic problems and social change.
• The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945.
• The Battle of Britain was an air battle in 1940.
• The Blitz was a bombing campaign against UK cities.
• D-Day in 1944 was the Allied landing in Normandy.
• Winston Churchill was Prime Minister during the Second World War and became a symbol of wartime leadership.
• Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.

Common traps

• Link 1914–1918 to the First World War.
• Link 1939–1945 to the Second World War.
• Distinguish 1918 from 1928 in women’s voting rights.
• Link 1969 to the voting age becoming 18.
• Battle of Britain was an air battle in 1940.
• The Blitz was bombing of UK cities.
• D-Day was the Allied landing in Normandy in 1944.
• Churchill is wartime leadership. Fleming is penicillin.

Words to recognise

First World War, Battle of the Somme, Armistice Day, Remembrance, partition of Ireland, Second World War, Battle of Britain, Blitz, D-Day, Winston Churchill, Alexander Fleming, penicillin, voting age, 1969.

Practise this topic in history practice. Voting-rights dates also connect to Democracy.

Quick check