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England’s Struggle to End Absolutism
English Civil War
Background-”Absolutism” in EnglandKing Henry II
Jury trials established“Common Law”: a single legal system “common” to the whole country
King John—1215Magna Carta: guaranteed people certain political rights
Put limits on the monarchyDue process: the king could not unfairly punish the people
No taxation without consent of the Parliament
Queen ElizabethHad frequent conflicts
with ParliamentParliament: lawmaking
body in charge of handing out the money for the government
**Rulers saw Parliament’s financial power as an obstacle to becoming an absolute monarch**
Path to DemocracyKing James I
Ruled after ElizabethJames believed he had
absolute authority to rule and did not need the consent of Parliament
Parliament was reluctant to pay for James’ expensive court and foreign wars
Died in 1625 and his son Charles I came to the throne
The Reign of James IBelieved in divine rightDid not support Puritans who wanted to “purify” the Church of England
Mother was the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots
Charles IAlways needed more money for wars against Spain and France
Several times Parliament refused to give him moneyAs a result, Charles got rid of Parliament
The Reign of Charles ISigned the Petition of Right in 1628 giving rights to Parliament
He would not imprison subjects without causeHe would not levy taxes without the consent of ParliamentHe would not house soldiers in private homes
Charles ultimately ignored this documentDissolved Parliament when they did not give him money
Appointed William Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury and he persecuted Puritans (the Great Migration)
Charles’ popularity went way down, and the country erupted into Civil War
The Reign of Charles IParliament called back because Charles needed money
Parliament refused to consent to new taxes unless Charles agreed to share power with Parliament
Charles once again dissolves Parliament (uses soldiers!!!!) and tries to arrest its leaders
End of Absolute Monarchy
Civil War (1642-1649) between Cavaliers and Roundheads
By 1644—no one was winning, until the Puritans named Oliver Cromwell as a new general
Parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell defeat forces loyal to Charles
End of Absolute MonarchyCharles is tried for treason for making war against his own people
1649 - Charles I executed The first time a king was tried and executed in public
No English monarch would again claim absolute power
English Civil War
From 1642-1649– supporters and opponents of King Charles fought
Supporters=Royalists or Cavaliers
Opponents=Puritans (loyal to Parliament)
Oliver CromwellAt first—Cromwell abolished the monarchy
and established a republican form of government
Oliver Cromwell (1653-1658)
Rump Parliament - ineffective and corrupt
Cromwell dissolved the Rump Parliament (used soldiers!!)
Became “Lord Protector” (NOT KING!!!!)
Established Puritan dictatorship
Oliver CromwellDies in 1658His son, Richard, unable to hold onto power
Charles II1660 - 16851660 – A new
Parliament restores the monarchy under Charles I’s son, Charles II
Called “The Restoration”
The Reign of Charles IIReligionPassed Clarendon Code which limited the rights of Catholics
Vowed never to convert to Catholicism
The Reign of Charles II
Relationship with ParliamentConstitutional Monarchy - monarch’s power limited by a constitution
Act of Habeas Corpus - established guaranteed legal rights of individuals
First political parties begin
Charles had no son, so there was a fight over who would rule nextThe Tories supported Charles’ brother, James
The Whigs opposed JamesThese were the first two political parties
James II1685 - 1688
The Reign of James IIHe believed in the “divine right” of kings (like his father and grandfather)
He was Charles II’s brother
The Reign of James IIReligionAppointed Catholics to government and university positions
Converted to Catholicism and pledged his son would also rule as a Catholic monarch
The Reign of James II
Glorious Revolution
Parliament encourages William of Orange and his wife Mary II to invade England (both were also Protestant)
The Reign of James II
James fled without a fight
Glorious RevolutionBecause there was no bloodshed between the change of rulers this is known as the Glorious Revolution when William & Mary take the throne
POLITICAL CHANGESWilliam and Mary recognized
Parliament’s power, creating a constitutional monarchy, where laws limit the power of the monarchy
1689: Bill of Rights signed to help define the limits placed on royal power
No suspending of Parliament or its laws
No levying taxes without Parliament’s permission
Free Speech
More Political Changes…Cabinet system
developedTo avoid a standstill between Parliament and the monarch, a third branch of government was created
Cabinet: in charge of policymaking and is headed by the Prime Minister