Accessibility statement

Modern Sources (1750-present)

Historians usually suggest the modern era began in the late eighteenth century with the French and American Revolutions. When the modern era ended is a much more complicated issue. On the one hand, there is the question of how much distance we need from events for them to qualify as “history”, rather than “politics” or “current affairs”. But a convenient end point is often assumed to be the late 1980s when the Berlin Wall came down, symbolising the end of communism in Europe and the apparent triumph of liberal democracy in the west.  

Historians studying the modern era in Britain have asked a wide range of questions about the period. Key themes include the rise of democracy and the emergence of modern political parties; the development of capitalism; the changing relationship between people and the state; the impact of science and technology; and Britain’s relationship with the rest world of the world, particularly via its empire. Historians used to focus on politicians and other elite figures. But in the past 40 years they have spent much more time exploring a more extensive range of experiences. This broader view means there is a wide range of source material available, from government papers to newspapers to films to the diaries written by ordinary people.

Click on the resources below to find out more and access the sources

Show all / Hide all