- James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England, uniting the two kingdoms under a single monarch.
- The Gunpowder Plot: A group of English Catholics attempt to assassinate James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament, but the plot is discovered and the conspirators are executed.
1605
- The Virginia Company of London establishes the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown, Virginia.
1607
- The Plantation of Ulster begins, with the English government encouraging Protestant settlers from Scotland and England to move to the northern province of Ireland in order to dilute the native Irish Catholic population.
1609
- The Parliament of Ireland passes the Poynings' Law, which requires all legislation passed by the Irish Parliament to be approved by the English Privy Council before it can become law.
1610
- The King James Bible, an English translation of the Bible, is published.
1625
- Charles I succeeds James I as king of England and Ireland.
1628
- The Petition of Right is passed by the English Parliament, limiting the king's powers of taxation and arbitrary imprisonment.
1633
- The Laudian Code, a set of religious reforms imposed on the Church of Ireland, causes widespread resentment among Irish Catholics.
1637
- The Scottish National Covenant is signed, opposing the religious policies of Charles I and leading to the outbreak of the First Bishops' War.
1639
- The Irish Rebellion of 1639 begins, as Irish Catholics revolt against English rule.
1641
- The Irish Confederate Wars begin, as Irish Catholics and Protestants fight for control of Ireland.
1649
- Charles I is executed after being found guilty of treason by a Parliamentary tribunal.
1650
- Oliver Cromwell invades Ireland and defeats the Irish Confederation.
1652
- The English Parliament passes the Act of Settlement, confiscating the lands of Irish Catholics who had supported the rebellion and redistributing them to English and Protestant settlers.
1660
- The monarchy is restored in England and Ireland, with Charles II becoming king.