17th Century Absolutism in England

1
17th Century Absolutism in England

• Monarchs vs. Parliament
• The monarchs believed they should rule with
  little interference from Parliament
• Parliament felt it should have a voice in
  political matters
• It will result in a new system of rule in England

2
Structure of Parliament

• Legislative branch of English Government
• 2 Houses
• House of Lords (Upper House)
• Considered the more prominent of the 2
• Members came from nobility clergy
• House of Commons (Lower House)
• Members represented towns, cities, counties

3
James I

• 1603-1625
• Originally from Scotland (James VI)
• Combined the thrones
• Followed Elizabeth I
• House of Stuarts
• Inherited a large amount of debt and severe
  problems over religion
• Not familiar with the English system
• Not considered smart Quote . . .

4
True Law of Free Monarchy

• James I believed in the divine right of kings
• Parliament expected James to work closely with
  them to rule England

5
James I Religion

• Quickly alienates most religious groups
• First The Puritans
• Many Puritans (a separate group within the
  Protestants) hoped James would continue to reform
  the Anglican Church. They were wrong No
  Bishops, no King
• Did not agree with the Puritan view of life
• 1618-he issued Book of Sport
• Some religious groups began to leave England
• Plymouth Colony
• Massachusetts Bay Colony

6
James I

• Next Catholics
• Many Catholics were hoping James would be
  sympathetic to them
• Made peace with Spain (1604)
• Relaxed laws against Catholics
• However, many Catholics felt this wasnt enough
  . . .

7
Gunpowder Plot 1605

• November
• Plan by several Catholics to kill James I as he
  entered Parliament
• 36 barrels of gunpowder under the House of Lords
• Plan compromised Guy Fawkes caught
• January 1606 conspirators executed
• November 5 Guy Fawkes Day

8
Other Problems

• Corruption and scandals
• James I raised money by selling positions in the
  government
• Not uncommon
• Many positions went to Scottish friends
• He rarely called on Parliament for money and this
  upset Parliament
• He died in 1625 and is succeeded by his son
  Charles I

9
Charles I

• 2nd son of James I
• Difficult childhood
• Speech impediment
• Poor physical health
• Blamed Parliament for his fathers troubles
• Expensive taste in the arts
• Like his dad Believed in the Divine Right of
  Kings

10
Charles I

• Personality weaknesses
• Struggled in managing people
• Wife was French . . .
• Quick to judge
• Extremely loyal
• Held grudges for long periods of time
• These qualities did not serve him well as a
  modern ruler

11
Rule of Charles I

• Parliament would not grant him money
• Raised money illegally taxes
• He did not call Parliament into session
• Petition of Right 1628- Parliaments attempt to
  limit his power
• Expressed the high level of resentment towards
  Charles and the power of the monarchy
• Charles continued to seek ways to raise money
• Sold government positions (knights, nobles)
• Ship Money (1634)
• Charles is sued by John Hampden but wins
• Cost the King support

12
The Long Parliament

• Met in stages between 1640-1660
• Attempted to Limit the Power of Charles I
• No taxes without Parliaments approval
• Charles was expected to give-up the power to
  dissolve Parliament
• Parliament must meet at least once every 3 years
• Dissolves the Star Chamber
• Charles was furious and arrests members of
  Parliament
• England falls into a civil war

13
English Civil Wars 1642-1648

• 1st Civil War 1642-1646
• Result- Charles agree to share power (but doesnt
  follow through with the pledge)
• 2nd Civil War 1648
• Charles I (Cavaliers) vs. Parliament
  (Roundheads)
• Causes of Parliaments victory
• Scottish support
• Cromwells work with the military
• Charles I is no longer in control

14
Roundheads invade the home of a cavalier
15
Map of the English Civil War

• The Roundheads benefited from controlling London
  and the coastal areas of England
• The help from Scotland also led to the victory
  from the North

16
What to Do With the King?

• Some member of Parliament want to negotiate
  further with Charles
• Other members want him punished
• Prides Purge 1648

17
Trial of Charles I

• January 1649 Charles is put on trial
• Accused of high treason
• Charles does not enter a plea in the trial
• January 30, he is executed
• The monarchy is over
• Significance and reaction in Europe?

18
Execution of Charles I

19
Oliver Cromwell- The Puritan Revolution

• Assumes control after the execution of Charles I
• Initially wanted the son of Charles I to take
  over
• Successes of foreign policy
• Rebellions in Scotland Ireland (ruthless)
• Navigation Acts
• Attack the strength of the Dutch

20
Cromwell continued

• Domestic Policies
• Criticized by various groups
• Levellers Diggers
• Appoints himself Lord Protector in 1653
• Includes England, Wales Scotland
• Written constitution
• Protectorate

21
Life Under Cromwell

• Positive
• A degree of religious toleration for certain
  Catholics and Jews
• Negatives
• Severe limits placed on lifestyle
• Dealt with opponents harshly

22
Charles II the Restoration of the Monarchy

• Ruled 1660-1685
• Had a delicate relationship with Parliament (they
  had killed his father)
• Parliament did not grant him much tax power
• Used foreign money
• Custom taxes

23
London Fire

• September 1666
• Started in a bakery
• 4/5 of the city was destroyed
• Most buildings were made of wood and had thatched
  roofs
• No true fire fighting services existed
• 6 known victims
• St. Pauls Cathedral

24
London Fire

• Impact of the Fire
• Redeveloped the city for the better
• Displaced thousands of residents
• Many lost everything and there was no insurance
• Actually saved lives in the end b/c it killed off
  the rats that carried the plague

25
Royal Society

• Established in 1660 to encourage scientific
  ventures
• Past Presidents include
• Christopher Wren
• Isaac Newton
• The Royal Society - the UK's national academy of
  science

26
James II

• Strong Catholic
• Is tolerated by Parliament because they want to
  avoid problems
• The birth of his son changes that
• 1688 flees to France

27
William Mary

• The Glorious Revolution (bloodless)
• Joint monarchs of England
• William was looking for the upper hand in dealing
  with France
• 1689 Bill of Rights
• Act of Settlement 1701
• Ensures Protestant succession to the throne

28
Battle of Boyne

• July 11, 1690
• Williams army (Williamites) vs. James army
  (Jacobites)
• Williamites win because of the decoy flanking
  movement 1
• Gave control of Ireland to William
• July 12th is a major holiday for Protestants in
  Northern Ireland