A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 18 May
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 18 May?
- 1756 The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France
- 1803 Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares…
- 1843 The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of…
- 1850 Born: Oliver Heaviside
- 1872 Born: Bertrand Russell
- 1900 The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga
- 1919 Born: Margot Fonteyn
- 1922 Seamus Woods and Roger McCorley lead an Irish Republican Army attack on the…
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1756 | The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France | 2026 − 1756 = | |
| 1843 | The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of… | 2026 − 1843 = | |
| 1872 | Born: Bertrand Russell | 2026 − 1872 = | |
| 1919 | Born: Margot Fonteyn | 2026 − 1919 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of…
- The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga
- The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France
- Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares”?
- A. 1803
- B. 1942
- C. 1872
In which year did this happen: “The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France”?
- A. 1922
- B. 1803
- C. 1756
Which of these happened first?
- A. Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares
- B. The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga
- C. The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 18 May. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1756 → 270 years; 1843 → 183 years; 1872 → 154 years; 1919 → 107 years.
Order: 1 = The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France (1756), 2 = Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares… (1803), 3 = The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of… (1843), 4 = The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga (1900).
Quiz: 1. A (1803); 2. C (1756); 3. C (The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France).