A global power

This page covers Britain becoming a global power. Learn it as constitutional change, union, industry, empire and voting reform.

Timeline anchors

The story in order

After the Glorious Revolution, the Bill of Rights confirmed that the monarch’s power was limited. This strengthened Parliament and constitutional monarchy.

In 1707 England and Scotland joined as the Kingdom of Great Britain. Britain then changed quickly through trade, empire, science and industry.

The Industrial Revolution moved work into factories and changed transport, towns and everyday life. Names such as Arkwright, Brunel and Nightingale belong to this wider period of invention and reform.

Britain also fought major wars, including against France. Nelson is linked with Trafalgar in 1805 and Wellington with Waterloo in 1815. Later, voting reform became a major political issue.

Test facts to know

• The Bill of Rights in 1689 confirmed limits on the monarch and strengthened Parliament.
• The Act or Treaty of Union in 1707 joined England and Scotland as the Kingdom of Great Britain.
• Robert Walpole is often treated as the first Prime Minister.
• The Jacobite rebellion of 1745 ended with defeat at Culloden.
• Robert Burns is an important Scottish poet.
• The Enlightenment was a period of scientific, philosophical and intellectual development.
• The Industrial Revolution changed manufacturing, transport and working life.
• Richard Arkwright is linked with factory-based cotton production.
• Sake Dean Mahomet helped introduce Indian-style shampooing and curry-house culture to Britain.
• Britain was involved in the slave trade and later passed laws to abolish the slave trade and slavery in the empire.
• The American colonies declared independence in 1776.
• Nelson died at Trafalgar in 1805 and Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
• The Union Flag combines crosses associated with England, Scotland and Ireland.
• Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901 during major imperial, industrial and social change.
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a major engineer of bridges, tunnels, railways and ships.
• Florence Nightingale became known for nursing reforms after the Crimean War.
• Voting rights widened during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Emmeline Pankhurst led the Women’s Social and Political Union campaign for women’s voting rights.
• Dominions such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand moved towards self-government.
• Rudyard Kipling wrote poems and stories connected with empire and British life.

How questions may test it

• Link 1689 to the Bill of Rights.
• Link 1707 to the union of England and Scotland.
• Identify Robert Walpole as an early Prime Minister figure.
• Link 1805 and 1815 to Trafalgar and Waterloo.
• Identify Brunel, Nightingale, Burns, Arkwright, Pankhurst and Kipling.
• Explain why the Industrial Revolution and empire changed British society.

Key terms

Bill of Rights, Act of Union, Treaty of Union, Robert Walpole, Jacobites, Culloden, Robert Burns, Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Richard Arkwright, Sake Dean Mahomet, slave trade, Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson, Waterloo, Duke of Wellington, Union Flag, Queen Victoria, British Empire, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Florence Nightingale, Emmeline Pankhurst, Women’s Social and Political Union, Rudyard Kipling.