30 British History Quiz Questions and Answers – Free & Downloadable

British history is a complex tapestry woven over centuries, encompassing remarkable events, influential monarchs, and profound cultural transformations. Spanning from ancient times to the present day, it is a tale of conquest, exploration, scientific advancements, political revolutions, and the rise and decline of a vast empire.

The story begins with ancient Britain, inhabited by Celtic tribes and eventually conquered by the Romans in 43 CE. Roman rule brought infrastructure, urbanization, and the spread of Christianity, leaving a lasting impact on the land and its people.

The subsequent centuries witnessed the arrival of Germanic tribes known as the Anglo-Saxons and Viking invasions, shaping the cultural and linguistic landscape of Britain. The Norman Conquest in 1066 by William the Conqueror solidified Norman influence, introducing feudalism and French customs to the island.

The medieval period brought knights, castles, and the rise of the powerful Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties. The Tudor era, under the rule of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, witnessed religious turmoil with the establishment of the Church of England and exploration endeavors that expanded Britain’s global reach.

The 18th and 19th centuries marked the height of the British Empire and the Industrial Revolution. Britain became an industrial powerhouse, leading the world in manufacturing, engineering, and trade. The Victorian era, named after Queen Victoria, witnessed social reform, scientific advancements, and the expansion of the empire.

The 20th century brought two devastating world wars, which deeply impacted Britain and led to significant societal changes. The decline of the British Empire followed, with the granting of independence to many colonies.

In recent decades, Britain has faced challenges and transformations, including the process of decolonization, membership in the European Union, and the ongoing discussions surrounding Scottish independence.

Table of content

Part 1: 30 multiple-choice quiz questions about British history

1. Who was the monarch of England during the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) King Henry VIII
c) King James I
d) King Charles I
Answer: a) Queen Elizabeth I

2. Which event led to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215?
a) English Civil War
b) Norman Conquest
c) War of the Roses
d) Barons’ Revolt
Answer: d) Barons’ Revolt

3. The Industrial Revolution began in which country?
a) England
b) Scotland
c) Wales
d) Ireland
Answer: a) England

4. Who was the Prime Minister of Britain during World War II?
a) Winston Churchill
b) Margaret Thatcher
c) Tony Blair
d) David Lloyd George
Answer: a) Winston Churchill

5. Which monarch was executed during the English Civil War?
a) King Charles I
b) King Henry VIII
c) Queen Victoria
d) King George III
Answer: a) King Charles I

6. The Battle of Hastings took place in which year?
a) 1066
b) 1215
c) 1485
d) 1642
Answer: a) 1066

7. Which British king was known as the “Mad King”?
a) King George III
b) King Richard III
c) King Edward I
d) King Henry V
Answer: a) King George III

8. Who was the first female Prime Minister of Britain?
a) Margaret Thatcher
b) Queen Elizabeth I
c) Theresa May
d) Indira Gandhi
Answer: a) Margaret Thatcher

9. The Act of Union in 1707 united England and which other country?
a) Scotland
b) Ireland
c) Wales
d) France
Answer: a) Scotland

10. The suffragette movement fought for what right in Britain?
a) Women’s right to vote
b) Freedom of speech
c) Religious freedom
d) Right to own property
Answer: a) Women’s right to vote

11. Who was the King of England during the American Revolution?
a) King George III
b) King Henry VIII
c) King James I
d) King Edward III
Answer: a) King George III

12. Which city hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics?
a) London
b) Manchester
c) Birmingham
d) Liverpool
Answer: a) London

13. The Great Fire of London occurred in which year?
a) 1666
b) 1755
c) 1812
d) 1940
Answer: a) 1666

14. The British Empire reached its peak during which century?
a) 19th century
b) 18th century
c) 17th century
d) 20th century
Answer: a) 19th century

15. Who is considered the father of the British computer industry?
a) Alan Turing
b) Isaac Newton
c) Charles Babbage
d) Alexander Graham Bell
Answer: c) Charles Babbage

Part 2: Download british history questions & answers for free

Download questions & answers for free

Download quiz questions
Generate questions for any topic

16. The Battle of Waterloo was fought in which year?

a) 1815
b) 1688
c) 1588
d) 1066
Answer: a) 1815

17. Who was the leader of the British suffragette movement?
a) Emmeline Pankhurst
b) Mary Wollstonecraft
c) Queen Victoria
d) Florence Nightingale
Answer: a) Emmeline Pankhurst

18. Which queen reigned for more than 63 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history?
a) Queen Victoria
b) Queen Elizabeth I
c) Queen Elizabeth II
d) Queen Anne
Answer: a) Queen Victoria

19. The Battle of Britain took place during which war?
a) World War II
b) World War I
c) Napoleonic Wars
d) Hundred Years’ War
Answer: a) World War II

20. Which British scientist is credited with the discovery of penicillin?
a) Alexander Fleming
b) Isaac Newton
c) Charles Darwin
d) James Watt
Answer: a) Alexander Fleming

21. The Irish Potato Famine, which caused a massive loss of life and emigration, occurred during which decade?
a) 1840s
b) 1760s
c) 1910s
d) 1880s
Answer: a) 1840s

22. The Battle of Trafalgar, a significant naval battle, took place during which war?
a) Napoleonic Wars
b) American Revolutionary War
c) War of the Roses
d) English Civil War
Answer: a) Napoleonic Wars

23. Who was the first British explorer to circumnavigate the world?
a) Sir Francis Drake
b) Captain James Cook
c) Sir Walter Raleigh
d) Sir Edmund Hillary
Answer: a) Sir Francis Drake

24. The Irish Easter Rising, a rebellion against British rule, occurred in which year?
a) 1916
b) 1801
c) 1923
d) 1945
Answer: a) 1916

25. Which British king abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson?
a) King Edward VIII
b) King George VI
c) King George V
d) King Henry VIII
Answer: a) King Edward VIII

26. The Falklands War between Britain and Argentina took place in which year?
a) 1982
b) 1965
c) 1973
d) 1990
Answer: a) 1982

27. Who wrote the novel “Pride and Prejudice”?
a) Jane Austen
b) Virginia Woolf
c) George Orwell
d) Charles Dickens
Answer: a) Jane Austen

28. The Battle of Agincourt, a famous English victory in the Hundred Years’ War, occurred in which century?
a) 15th century
b) 14th century
c) 16th century
d) 13th century
Answer: a) 15th century

29. Which British scientist formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation?
a) Sir Isaac Newton
b) Charles Darwin
c) Francis Crick
d) Stephen Hawking
Answer: a) Sir Isaac Newton

30. The “Glorious

Revolution” in 1688 led to the ascension of which monarch to the British throne?
a) William III and Mary II
b) Queen Anne
c) King George I
d) Queen Elizabeth II
Answer: a) William III and Mary II

Part 3: Best online history quiz making platform – OnlineExamMaker

OnlineExamMaker is a comprehensive online quiz software that empowers educators and trainers to create and deliver customized quizzes and assessments. The online quiz system provides a user-friendly interface for creating quizzes, allowing instructors to easily add, edit, and organize questions. Its intuitive design streamlines the quiz creation process.

Create Your Next Quiz/Exam with OnlineExamMaker

SAAS, free forever
100% data ownership