p. 40 England’s Democratic Tradition, 1215-

Brief Response

• Make Comparisons In what ways was the philosophy of Stoicism (Ancient Greece) similar to Christianity?

• Discussion: sample• Suggested answer: Like Christianity, Stoicism preached

high moral standards. It promoted ideas of equality and brotherhood and suggested that all people are morally equal, regardless of their social position. Stoicism downplayed the importance of social status and wealth. It suggested that everyone has value and that the way one lives is more important than social status.

Lecture/Discussion

• Material from your reading

Why England?

• The English were strongly affected by Classical (Greek and Roman) knowledge as well as the Judeo-Christian tradition.

• England, would conquer much of the world and spread modern Western culture to billions globally (becoming Great Britain).

• Western Civilization has become the standard for most of planet Earth.

Formative Change

• The last major invasion of England was in 1066, by the… – EC: – Norman French.

• It’s government was based on feudalism: – Powerful kings or princes divided their lands among

their loyal lesser lords. – All lords controlled the land and the people living

there, many in debt to the lord. – The lord protected the people and the people obeyed

and worked for the lord (farming, military). – People believed monarch’s power came from God

(through the Catholic Church): ……

Review: What is Western Political Thought?

• Ideas of cultures from Europe (mostly western Europe). Including, but not exclusively, (5)– Equality – Justice/Fairness– Free speech– Human rights – Ethics/morality– Love/– Tolerance

Edward,

King of England

When he died, there was a power struggle that ended in 1066 for control of France and England.

Norman England• William the Conqueror • The winner of the English royal power struggle, 1066

CE. • To what effect?

– Norman-French and Anglo-Saxon cultures mixed. – Demanded loyalty from lords. – Used census to organized society. – EC: What does a census do? Why?

• A census counts– Who’s in the country– How much can we tax ‘em– Today: where should government resources be applied?

– Began a tradition of reducing Church power over the government.

Monarchy Rising

• Henry II:

• 1154 became king.

• Changed English law.

• English law is the foundation for so many nations and international organizations today.

• English law uses “common law”

Common Law:

• English legal tradition where there are no basic laws in a constitution.

• English Law is based on….. – earlier traditions, – customs, – court decisions.

• This standardizes legal decisions in the future.

• Standardized law• Standardized punishment

English Law

• NOT!• Rather a modern skit of medieval law

– trying to use reason (logic, proof) to prosecute a suspected witch…..

• Be ready to answer when called…..• Who was the judge?

– The local noble (lord)

• What does the “judge” use to decide her innocence or guilt?– Reason, logic, – “scientific tools”

• What else did Monty Python make fun of?– The Church

Looking at the entire section…..

• What will be the prime subjects of increasing conflict between the English monarchy and the people (Parliament)? (4)

• Taxation

• Government power

• People’s rights

• Religion (Catholic vs. Protestant)

Monarchy and Legislature Conflict– An absolute monarch• A monarch believing that only he/she has the power to make

national decisions.– Most European monarchs were such.

• The Magna Carta limited the English monarch’s power in 1215.• By the 1500s the Stuart monarchs tried to restore their power. EC

• did not call Parliament to meetings

• made decisions by themselves.

• By this time there was also a religious problem with Stuart monarchs…EC:• They were Catholic Christian, • most in Parliament were Protestant Christian.

What is Parliament? (copy)

• Since 1215, the Magna Carta, started a legislature in England that the monarch had to consult with in order to get approval to use treasury funds, declare war, etc.– At first made up of Church and noble leaders.– Later made up of nobles and high-ranking commoners.– EC: Today--two houses

• Lords (entitled nobles)

• Commons (all commoners)

– EC: its power is similar to what part of the United States’ government?

– Congress

The English Civil War

• Charles Stuart (I) attempt to close Parliament and even arrest it’s leaders

• Parliament assembled an army.• After 10 years, Charles’ forces lost,

• he was arrested, tried, and found guilty as a traitor, and executed.

• Parliament abolished the monarchy.

• The new government was called the…..EC:• “The Commonwealth”

“Commonwealth”

• With only an elected legislature running the England’s government was now what type? EC• A republic.

• Oliver Cromwell: – The Leader of the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War

against Charles I• A Puritan Christian

• When Parliament won control of the government, he was selected to be in charge of the government.

• He soon grew worried about Parliament EC– Parliament argued too much and did nothing

• Cromwell seized dictatorial powers claiming England was in danger. He became….. EC

– “Lord Protector”

Parliament’s Victory

• By the mid-1680s, Parliament preferred a monarchy, but did not want the Catholic Stuarts.

• They hired a foreign king EC– Prince William of Orange (the Netherlands). Why? EC (3)

• Dutch Prince, husband of James II’s daughter• Protestant Christian, (like Parliament)• Agreed to give Parliament total control of nation.

• Because James II left England peacefully and England’s government changed with no argument, this change is called…..– The “Glorious Revolution.”

Parliament’s Victory

• With William’s agreeing to Parliament’s Bill of Rights, in 1689, a new government was established.

• Also in the English Bill of Rights was “habeas corpus”:

• ancient concept that one had to be accused of a crime in order to be arrested.

Parliament’s Victory

• With signing of the English Bill of Rights, England became the first “limited monarchy”: – Parliament has almost all power over the

nation, including the monarchy.– Most monarchies in the world, today, are run

the same way.• Most powers held by the British monarch,today,

are ceremonial or ritual.

Homework and Notes

Divine Right.

• It was common belief that all lords, including the king, got their power to rule the people from G-d.

• EC: This was reinforced by the ______ Church

• Catholic (later, Anglican)Because a monarch’s acts and words came from Heaven, nobody, except the Church could challenge him.

EC: Nobles and the Church:

• They had their own _____, to judge the law– Courts

• Lords collected _________ from their people (to operate the manor, pay monarch and monarch).– taxes

• Lords fielded their own _________ in time of war.– armies

Standards Check: p. 41 (3)

• Question:

• William the Conqueror:– Required vassals (nobles) to be loyal to him– Introduced a census for tax purposes

• Henry II:– Set up a justice system (nobles had the power

before)• Based on common law• Used juries

Democracy Begins

• In 1215, Henry’s son, John, was forced to sign the….EC• Magna Carta, • It gave the Lords and Church the “power of the purse”

– Control over tax revenues and government spending. • the right to control government spending.

• It also guaranteed Englishmen “due process of law”– Protected people from false arrest – required government have a reason for arrest.

• Stated that monarch is also subject to the law, not above it.

Representation Begins

• The monarch has to call meetings of the Lords and Church, to legislate (vote) on financial and social issues. This meeting is called the….

• Parliament (“Great Council”)• House of Lords

– The nobles’ assembly • power to approve or veto the monarch’s will. • Membership was by birthright.

Standards Check, p. 43

• Question:

• Parliament began to control the monarch by requiring him/her to meet its demands if they wanted funding.

Review

• Since 1215 CE, the English had an increasingly difficult political struggle over what ideas? (2)– Controlling the power of the monarch– Giving more political power and rights to the

people.

Growing Inclusion of Classes, 1700 to the present

• The merchant and freed poor classes grew in power in a few hundred years and were made part of the Parliament through the…..EC

• House of Commons– It now controls Britain’s government, today.

• The political group (party) that controls the most votes becomes the…..– Ruling party– The ruling party chooses the person who will lead the

government• Prime Minister (Britain’s PM takes weekly questions from

Common’s members. Notice the noisy background banter showing support or opposition.)

Review (did you read? Have you paid attention?)

• What English Documents increasingly made the people (Parliament) more powerful than the monarchy? (3)

• 1215 – Magna Carta

• 1628 EC – Petition of Right

• 1689 – The English Bill of Rights

Text, p. 45, Thinking Critically

• 1• The expensive Hundred Year’s War forced the king to

ask Parliament for more Money.– Parliament then forced him to give them more power or they

would not give him the money.

• 2• Disagree: MORE than just the monarch having to obey

the law– Due process of law for all – Right to private property– Right to petition the government

Standards Check, p. 46

• Question: English Bill of Rights:– Ensured the supremacy of Parliament – Monarch had to summon Parliament regularly– House of Commons controlled the “Power of the

Purse”– Monarch could not stop debates or suspend laws.– Forbid Roman Catholic monarchs– Abolished excessive fines or cruel/unusual

punishment– Affirmed “habeas corpus” (no arrest without a crime)

p. 47, Thinking Critically

• 1• To do their job, members needed to speak without fear

of retaliation or arrest by anyone, especially the monarch.

• 2• NO• Certain of the monarch’s powers we LIMITED, not

eliminated.– Monarchs HAVE to ASK for permission but still make decisions

for the country once they have Parliament’s consent.

Brief Response

• Read the excerpt. What events caused this document to be written? What was it meant to accomplish?

• Text on next slide…..

Brief Response

• “Whereas, the late King James II . . . did endeavor to subvert [undermine] and extirpate [destroy] the Protestant religion and the laws and liberties of this kingdom. . . . The said lords [Parliament] . . . declare:

• 1. That the pretended power of suspending of laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal. . . .

• 6. That . . . raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law. . . .

• 8. That election of members of Parliament ought to be free. . . .”

• –English Bill of Rights, 1689