1956 Suez Canal crisis. British and French debacle in Egypt. Most of remaining colonies given independence. Britain's proposed entry into the European Common Market vetoed by France, 1963. 1968 Legislation to stem Asian immigration into Britain.
Major violence begins in Northern Ireland.
1971 Decimal currency introduced after 150 years of discussion. IRA explodes bombs in London. 1974 Major production of North Sea oil begins. 1979 Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain's first woman Prime Minister. Continuing violence in Northern Ireland.