GLORIOUS REVOLUTION
BACKGROUND

1215 - King John forced to sign the
Magna Carta, agreeing to obey laws
& consult with Parliament
(legislature = make laws)
Magna Carta Video

1603 Queen Elizabeth dies James I is King
(absolute monarch)
 dissolves
(gets rid of) Parliament
 raises taxes, wages war, persecutes Puritans (those
who want to purify the Anglican Church of Catholic
influences)
CHARLES I

1625 - inherits throne & rules without Parliament

1628 - Charles needs $$ from Parliament for
wars with Spain & France  forced to sign
Petition of Right
 monarch
cannot raise taxes without Parliament’s
consent
 monarch cannot imprison people without just cause

1629 - he dissolves Parliament again
ENGLAND’S CIVIL WAR

1641 - Scotland threatens to
invade England & Charles needs $
again

Parliament tries to limit power  conflict erupts  Civil
War

Royalist/Cavaliers support King Charles

Roundheads – opposition army – leader is Oliver Cromwell

1649 - Roundheads bring Charles to trial for treason &
execute him
English Civil War Video
THE REIGN OF OLIVER CROMWELL

Cromwell becomes military ruler of England
(abolishes monarchy)
passes strict laws against “sinful” acts (closes theatres,
outlaws gambling /dancing, bans books, etc.)
 crushes rebellion in Ireland & takes land for own soldiers
 religious toleration for everyone except Catholics (Ireland)

Oliver Cromwell and Charles II Video

1658 - Cromwell dies & new Parliament invites
Charles II to rule as King  “RESTORATION”
HABEAS CORPUS

Definition: anyone accused of a crime would
appear before a judge & either be released to
given a trial by jury

1685 - Charles II dies  James II is King (his
brother)
JAMES II AND THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

He suspends laws, abuses power, appoints
Catholics to government office

Parliament invites Mary (daughter of James II)
& William to take down James and rule England

James II agrees  NO BLOODSHED =
GLORIOUS REVOLUTION
ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS
 1689
- BILL OF RIGHTS &
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY ARE
ESTABLISHED!
 limited
monarchy shares power w/Parliament
(more government, less royal/absolute power)
 individual
freedoms (including habeas corpus)
guaranteed
 House
of Commons has “power of purse”