Triumph of Parliament in England

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Triumph of Parliament in England
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The Tudors

• Ruled from 1485-1603
• Henry VIII
• Elizabeth I
• Believed in divine right, but recognized the
  value of good relations w/ Parliament
• Elizabeths skill in handling Parliament made her
  a popular successful ruler

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The Stuarts

• Repeatedly clashed with Parliament
• James I
• Belief in divine right- I will not be content
  that my power be disputed on
• Had disputes with dissenters- Protestants who
  differed with the Church of England
• King James version of bible

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The Stuarts

• Charles I
• Son of James I, behaved like an absolute monarch
• Dissolved Parliament and ruled without it for 11
  years
• Parliament launched its own revolt
• Executed Charles chief ministers
• Declared that Parliament could not be dissolved
  without its own consent

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The English Civil War

• Posed a major challenge to absolutism
• Supporters of Charles I Cavaliers
• Well-trained
• Wealthy nobles
• Supporters of ParliamentRoundheads
• Country gentry, manufacturers, Puritans
• Leader Oliver Cromwell
• Defeated the Cavaliers

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The English Civil War

• Parliament set up a court to put the king on
  trial
• Condemned him to death as a tyrant, traitor,
  murderer and public enemy
• Charles I beheaded
• For the first time, king had been tried
  executed by his own people
• Parliament sent clear signal that no ruler could
  claim absolute power ignore the law

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The Commonwealth

• England was declared a republic called the
  Commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver
  Cromwell
• Abolished monarchy Church of England
• Exiled Catholics ruled a Puritan society
• Closed all theaters, Sundayreligious observance
  no dancing, gambling or taverns
• Cromwell dies, end of Commonwealth
• Charles II takes the throne

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The Glorious Revolution

• Charles welcomed back restored monarchy, Church
  of England reopened theaters taverns
• But Charles brother James II inherited the
  throne- less popular ruler (Catholic)
• Glorious Revolution- James protestant daughter
  Mary her husband William of Orange invited to
  become rulers of England. James fled bloodless
  overthrow
• Established Limited Monarchy- monarchs powers
  are limited by constitution or legislative body
• Radical, considering absolute monarchies
  elsewhere in Europe

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English Bill of Rights

• Ensured superiority of Parliament over the
  monarchy
• Required the monarch to summon Parliament
  regularly
• Restated traditional rights of English citizens
• Established habeas corpus- no person could be
  held in prison without first being charged with a
  specific crime