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