The English Revolution
Religious Tensions Left Over From
the Reformation - France
• 30 years of fighting breaks out in France and
ends in 1589
• Henry IV becomes new French King. He is a
Huguenot or French Protestant
• Henry IV decides to become a Catholic to
appease the majority
• The Edict of Nantes is signed
- allowed French citizens to choose their own
religion
- France officially becomes a Catholic nation with
Huguenots given full rights
Religious Tensions Left Over From
the Reformation - Spain
• Phillip II of Spain is determined to spread the
Catholic faith through war
• Spain had recently scored a number of victories
against the Ottoman-Turks
• Phillip II decides to conquer The Netherlands
which was Protestant
• William of Orange successfully defends the
Netherlands and turns the Dutch United
Provinces into a powerful and independent
nation – Spain ends up bankrupt and weak
Early Government In England
• During the Middle Ages England
establishes a monarchy
• Kings ruled as absolute monarchs (total
power)
• In 1215 King John I signed the Magna
Carta (Great Charter)
- Established that the king is limited
- Gave birth to the parliament. The king
was to share power with this parliament
Religious Tensions Left Over From
the Reformation - England
• In England their also exists tensions between the
Catholics and the Protestants
• Henry VIII had made England a Protestant nation
(Anglican Church)
• His daughter Mary had tried to once again make
England a Catholic nation
- she repressed Protestant leaders and was known as
Bloody Mary – she had no heir, Elizabeth takes over
- Her sister Elizabeth made England Protestant again
• King Phillip attempted to invade England to restore
Catholic rule to the country
- Spanish Armada is defeated by English navy
England Moves towards revolution
• Elizabeth has no children bringing the Tudor
Dynasty to an end
- the Tudors had worked relatively well with the
English law making body (parliament)
• New family the Stuarts come to power
- James VI of Scotland become James I of
England
- believe in the divine right of kings: God put the
king in charge. The king answers only to God
and not to any man.
- Major tensions between Stuarts and parliament
England Moves towards revolution
• Puritans (English Calvinists) steadily gained
power in the parliament
- wanted to purify the church of England. This
meant removal of Catholic influence. They
believed the work of the Reformation had not
gone far enough
- Puritans were very strict and well educated.
• Charles I became next king after James I
• Charles I and Parliament did not get along at all
England Moves towards revolution
• Charles I married a Spanish Catholic. He
instituted some Catholic traditions into the
Anglican Church
• The Puritans in Parliament resented Charles I
and relations became tense
• Charles I made a habit of dismissing parliament
whenever they challenged him
• Eventually Parliament demanded the king give
them more power. Charles I was a divine right
monarch and would not compromise with
parliament.
Civil war breaks out in England
• Parliament demands that England become a limited
monarchy where the king and parliament would share
power
• Charles I dismisses parliament and war breaks out
• The Parliament is led by Oliver Cromwell and the
Roundheads (had short hair cuts to show they were not
royalty)
• Charles and his military are called the Cavaliers
• The roundheads eventually win because they are able to
raise a well trained and well paid army.
Post-Civil war England
• Immediately after the fighting the king is
captured and Cromwell declares martial law
• Cromwell dismisses much of parliament. Those
he allows to remain are called the Rump
Parliament
• Charles I is put on trial for treason. He is found
guilty and executed. England is now considered
a Commonwealth
• Cromwell eventually dismisses all of parliament
and has himself declared Lord Protectorate
Post-Civil war England
• English citizens eventually become tired of Cromwell and
the Puritans with their strict ways – plays outlawed, strict
moral codes
• When Cromwell dies Parliament restores the monarchy
under Charles II (Restoration)
- Charles has a brother James II who becomes the king
(he had no legitimate children)
James II is openly Catholic which causes problems for mainstream
Protestant England
• English decide to tolerate James II because his
daughters are Protestant and will one day take over
crown. Late in life he has a Catholic son. This scares
parliament and majority of English citizens.
Post- Civil war England
• Parliament invites William of Orange to be
the king of England
- William is Protestant and related to
English royalty through marriage
- William and his wife Mary agree to be the
monarchs of England and come to
London.
- No fighting during the transition. English
call this change The Glorious Revolution.
Post-Civil War England
• William and Mary sign the English Bill of
Rights
- parliament becomes the true ruling body
of England
- monarchy has some powers, mostly to
uphold traditions
- English citizens are guaranteed some
basic rights. Examples: rights to bear
arms, right to a trial by jury