Democratic Developments in England

1
Democratic Developments in England
2
Feudalism

• Kings, Lords, Vassals Surfs
• land ownership and duties
• Fief land grant

3
Magna Carta

• Greater Charter
• 1215 AD
• King John accepted
• feudal rights, protection for people and the
  church
• due process of law
• rule of law (including monarchs)
• Great Council advised new taxation

4
Common Law

• Henry II
• A legal system based on custom and court rulings.
• Applied to all of England not controlled by
  Lords
• Royal courts recruited jury locally

5
Common Law cont

• Jury decided what cases went to trial
• Modern Grand Jury
• 12 neighbors (modern trial jury)

6
Parliament

• Evolution of the Great Council of lords and
  clergy (1295 Edward I)
• Parler French for to talk
• Commons (2 knights per town)
• Model Parliament with two houses (lords and
  commons)
• 100 years war gained power of the purse
  influence on Monarch

7
Absolute Monarchy

• Kings to the Max!!!
• Divine Right of Kings
• Eliminate enemies
• Control Church
• Military control mercenaries

8
Absolutism in England

• James I rejected puritan demands, clashed with
  Parliament and dissolved in 1611 and 1614.
• Charles I imprisoned enemies

9
Limited Monarchy

• Petition of Right 1628 parliament must approve
  tax raises and no unjust imprisonment
• Dismissed parliament in 1629
• Ended after English Civil war Parliament tried
  and executed Charles I as a tyrant, traitor,
  murderer and public enemy.

10
Common Wealthto dictatorship

• Cromwell established a republic
• Dismissed Parliament and formed a military
  dictatorship
• Resigned 1659

11
Restoration

• Parliament restored
• Charles II
• James II

12
Glorious Revolution

• Absolute ruler - James II bloodlessly overthrown
  by Mary (his daughter) and William (who were
  protestant) who accepted the English Bill of
  Rights

13
English Bill of Rights of 1689

• Parliament power over the Monarch
• Monarch must summon Parliament often
• House of Commons had Power of the Purse
• Monarch could not suspend laws
• No Roman Catholic Monarch

14
Englands Legacy

• Rule of Law
• Parliamentary Govt
• Individual liberties
• Constitutional Monarchy
• Democratic Revolutions in America and France