Main Points:
Parliament Limits the English Monarchy
Chapter 5, Section 5
Parliament – What is it?
• The word Parliament derives from a French word
meaning to have a discussion.
• Today the word means a body of the people.
• Essentially, a legislature where members meet to
discuss matters of state.
• Along with the monarchy, the Parliament had a
voice in English politics.
» How to deal with Parliament would be an issue for absolute
monarchs who believe their power derived from God.
James I
• James Stuart became the King of England after the
death Elizabeth Tudor in 1603.
• At the time of James rule Parliament had a large
constituency of Puritans, a radical religious group
who called for the purification of the Church of
England.
• James struggled with Parliament over the following:
» Money
» Puritan demands to reform the Anglican Church of Catholic
Practices
» However James did commission an English translation of the
Holy Bible, referred to as the King James version.
Here’s James…
Gunpowder Plot
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMNOnYxhpOY
Charles I
• Became King of England in 1625 after
the death of his father.
• Charles continued to struggle with
Parliament over money to fund wars
with Spain and France.
• 1628, Charles is forced to call
Parliament again. Parliament refused
to grant money to Charles unless he
signed The Petition of Right.
Here’s Charles…
Petition of Right
• Under the Petition of Right, Charles agreed to the
following:
1. Charles would not imprison subjects without just cause.
2. Charles would not levy taxes without Parliament’s
consent.
3. Charles would not house soldiers in private homes.
4. Charles would not impose martial law in peacetime.
»
»
Charles pretty much ignores the Petition of Right.
However, the idea of the document, set forth the idea that LAW
is higher than the king.
English Civil War
• A civil war developed in England over religious
matters, but it had political consequences.
• Charles needed money to fight the civil war, but
Parliament refused.
• 1641 Parliament moves to limit Charles’ power.
Charles moves to arrest leaders of Parliament
• Charles leaves London to head up an army.
» Supporters of Charles were called Royalists or Cavaliers.
English Civil War Continued…
• 1642-1649
• Royalists vs. Roundheads, or Puritan supporters
• In 1644 the Roundheads were lead by Oliver
Cromwell.
• Cromwell formed the New Model Army and began to
defeat the Royalists.
• In 1647, the Roundheads held Charles prisoner.
» 1649, Cromwell and the Puritans brought Charles to trial for
treason.
» Charles was found guilty and publically beheaded on January 30,
1649.
Puritan Rule
• Oliver Cromwell ruled England as Lord
Protectorate from 1649-1658.
• Under Cromwell England…
– Established a commonwealth and dissolved
monarchy
– Was at war with the Irish
– Reformed English Society
» Closed the theatre, sporting events and
banned dancing due to sinfulness of the
activities.
» Promoted Puritan Morality but favored religious
toleration for all faiths EXCEPT Catholicism.
The English Civil War
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FyQnEDt7eA
The Restoration
• The English Monarchy was restored in
1659 at the request of Parliament.
• Charles II, Charles I oldest son, took
the throne and England rejoiced.
• Charles allowed Parliament to work.
• Most important freedom under Charles
was the writ of Habeas Corpus.
» Literally means “to have the body” in Latin
» 1679, law gave every prisoner the right to
come before a judge to hear why they were
being held in jail.
» Prisoners could not be held indefinitely
without trial
Whigs and Tories
• Charles II had no children – Who would succeed
him?
• Whigs opposed making James II the next king of
England.
• Tories supported James as the next king.
• These two groups would become the England’s first political parties, much
like the Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. today.
Charles II as
a little kid…
James II
• James II claimed the throne in 1685
after the death of his brother, Charles II.
• James was Catholic and offended many
English by appointing many priests to
high office breaking the law.
• James dissolved Parliament when they
objected to the appointments.
» Parliament set out to oust James from
power and his Catholic heirs.
The Glorious Revolution
• In 1688, James was ousted from
power by William of Orange
• Parliament asked the Protestant
William and his wife, Mary, to rule
England.
– Mary was the protestant daughter of
James II.
– They were royalty in the Netherlands
• Due to the lack of fighting that
occurred, the name Glorious
Revolution was applied.
Constitutional Monarchy Established
• England established a Constitutional Monarchy,
whereby laws limited the monarch’s power.
– Thus, Parliament became a partner in governance.
• 1689, Parliament drafts a Bill of Rights
– Basis for U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights
• Cabinet established in 1700’s
» The cabinet is a group of government ministers, or officials, who
became the link between the monarch and the majority power in
the English Parliament.
» Over time the Cabinet became the center of policy making in
England
Certain Elements of English Bill of Rights
•
•
•
•
King could not be Roman Catholic.
Laws could be made only with the consent of Parliament.
Parliament had right of free speech.
Standing army in peace time was not legal without Parliamentary
approval.
• Taxation was illegal without Parliamentary approval.
• Excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishments were prohibited.
• Right to trial by jury, due process of law, and reasonable bail was
guaranteed.
• People had the right to bear arms (Protestants but not
Catholics)
• Provided for free elections to Parliament and it could be
dissolved only by its own consent.
• People had right of petition.
American Bill of Rights
1.
2.
3.
4.
Freedom of Religion, Petition, Speech, Assembly, and Press
Right to Bear Arms
Protection from Quartering Troops
Protection from Search and Seizure w/out Warrants
5.
Due Process of the Law, Double Jeopardy, Protection from Self-Incrimination
•
All of these are rights in criminal cases
6. Right to a Fair and Speedy Trial
7. Right to a Trial by Jury
8.
Protection from Excessive Bail and Cruel/Unusual Punishment
9. Rights Retained by the People
10. Powers Reserved to the States
Exit Questions
1) Name one right guaranteed to the English people
through the English Bill of Rights.
2) What form of government did England have by the
end of the 1600s?
A. Absolute Monarchy
B. Constitutional Monarchy
C. Pure Democracy
D. Shared Monarchy