Constitutionalism
in England
1603-1689
English Leaders
1603-1689
1. James VI of
Scotland becomes
James I of England
1603-1625
3. Oliver Cromwell
Lord Protector
1649-1660
2. Charles I
1625-1641(48)
4. Charles II
1560-1685
5. James II
1685-1688
6. William and Mary
1688-1700?
Tudors



War of Roses—aristocracy fought over who would
control the monarchy
Henry VIII r.1509-1558—strengthened power of
monarchy, lots of wives, created Anglican Church
Queen Elizabeth r. 1558-1603 (daughter of king and
Anne Boleyn and nicknamed the Virgin Queen) very able
and practical ruler, used the prospect of marriage to
create political alliances. Kept Mary (her half sister)
Queen of Scots locked up because she thought Mary was
plotting against her. Mary was the rightful heir to the
throne after Elizabeth.


Act of Supremacy 1559 —repealed all antiProtestant legislation of Mary and gave
Elizabeth supreme rights over spiritual affars
Puritans gave her trouble, wanted to reform
the church but Elizabeth wouldn’t have it
Treaty of Berwick 1586 —Elizabeth entered a
defensive alliance w/Scotland and recognized
James, Mary’s son (protestant) as the rightful
heir to the throne
 1588—Philip II’s Spanish Armada was defeatedthis was the greatest achievement of her reign
 English Renaissance happened during her
reigion (Shakespeare)
 1587, Elizabeth ordered the execution of Mary,
Queen of Scots

James I of England
1603-1625 (aka James VI of Scotland)
 1st
thing he told Parliament—”Do not try
to challenge me”
 King has the power to dismiss Parliament
but Parliament has control of revenues—
this will be a constant battle in the coming
years
 Puritans were more demanding of
reforms, many left to found a colony in
MA
Charles I
Politically inept
 Parliament would only grant him customs duties
for one year instead of the life of the monarch
which was tradition
 Due to military failures, he asked Parliament for
more $--they didn’t give it to him
 Parliament forced him to sign Petition of
Rights—no $ w/out consent of Parliament, no
imprisonment w/out just cause, no martial law
against citizens

Charles dissolves Parliament and rules 11
years w/out them, collecting ship money
 When he tried to impose religious changes
on the Scots, they rebelled. Charles called
back Parliament to ask for $ (Short
Parliament)—they said no
 He called them again (Long Parliament),
they gave him a list of grievances called
Grand Remonstrance –Charles fled

English Civil War
Roundheads vs. Cavaliers
 Oliver Cromwell supported Parliament, and
with his New Model Army, captures
Charles I
 Rump Parliament (all Presbyterians
removed) condemned Charles and he was
executed

Oliver Cromwell
1649-1660
Known as “The Commonwealth”
 Military dictatorship, he was Lord Protector
 Had religious troubles to deal with
 Parliament was difficult to control

Charles II
Church of England restored as official
church but signed a secret treaty
w/France in which he agreed to make
England Catholic
 Parliament grew suspicious of Charles and
passed the Test Act of 1673—only
Anglicans could hold public office

James II
1685-1688
Catholic
 Repealed the Test Act
 He appeared to champion religious
toleration but this was deceptive—he
really wanted to bring back royal
absolutism
 He fathered a child which made
Parliament nervous—they didn’t want to
continue w/Catholic kings

Glorious Revolution

Political elite invited William of Orange and
Mary to take over the throne. They had
to sign the Bill of Rights, recognizing the
supremacy of Parliament and agree to
other acts (Act of Toleration, Mutiny Act,
Act of Settlement, Act of Union)