Triumph of Parliament Triumph of Parliament in England in England

The TudorsThe Tudors

Ruled from 1485-1603Ruled from 1485-1603– Henry VIIIHenry VIII– Elizabeth I Elizabeth I

Believed in divine right, but Believed in divine right, but recognized the value of good recognized the value of good relations w/ Parliament relations w/ Parliament – Elizabeth’s skill in handling Parliament Elizabeth’s skill in handling Parliament

made her a popular & successful ruler made her a popular & successful ruler

The StuartsThe Stuarts

Repeatedly clashed with ParliamentRepeatedly clashed with Parliament James IJames I

– Belief in divine right- “I will not be Belief in divine right- “I will not be content that my power be disputed on” content that my power be disputed on”

– Had disputes with Had disputes with dissentersdissenters- - Protestants Protestants who differed with who differed with the Church of the Church of EnglandEngland

King James version of bible King James version of bible

The Stuarts The Stuarts

Charles ICharles I– Son of James I, behaved like an absolute Son of James I, behaved like an absolute

monarchmonarch– Dissolved Parliament and ruled without Dissolved Parliament and ruled without

it for 11 yearsit for 11 years– Parliament launched its own revoltParliament launched its own revolt

Executed Charles’ chief ministersExecuted Charles’ chief ministers Declared that Parliament could not be Declared that Parliament could not be

dissolved without its own consent dissolved without its own consent

The English Civil War The English Civil War

Posed a major challenge to absolutismPosed a major challenge to absolutism Supporters of Charles I= CavaliersSupporters of Charles I= Cavaliers

– Well-trainedWell-trained– Wealthy nobles Wealthy nobles

Supporters of Parliament=RoundheadsSupporters of Parliament=Roundheads– Country gentry, manufacturers, PuritansCountry gentry, manufacturers, Puritans– Leader: Leader: Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell – Defeated the CavaliersDefeated the Cavaliers

The English Civil War The English Civil War

Parliament set up a court to put the Parliament set up a court to put the king on trialking on trial– Condemned him to death as a “tyrant, Condemned him to death as a “tyrant,

traitor, murderer and public enemy” traitor, murderer and public enemy” Charles I beheaded Charles I beheaded

– For the first time, king had been tried & For the first time, king had been tried & executed by his own peopleexecuted by his own people

– Parliament sent clear signal that no ruler Parliament sent clear signal that no ruler could claim absolute power & ignore the could claim absolute power & ignore the lawlaw

The Commonwealth The Commonwealth

England was declared a republic called England was declared a republic called the the CommonwealthCommonwealth under the leadership under the leadership of Oliver Cromwellof Oliver Cromwell– Abolished monarchy & Church of EnglandAbolished monarchy & Church of England

Exiled Catholics & ruled a Puritan societyExiled Catholics & ruled a Puritan society– Closed all theaters, Sunday=religious Closed all theaters, Sunday=religious

observance; no dancing, gambling or tavernsobservance; no dancing, gambling or taverns Cromwell dies, end of CommonwealthCromwell dies, end of Commonwealth

– Charles II takes the throne Charles II takes the throne

The Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution Charles welcomed back: restored monarchy, Charles welcomed back: restored monarchy,

Church of England & reopened theaters & Church of England & reopened theaters & tavernstaverns

But Charles’ brother James II inherited the But Charles’ brother James II inherited the throne- less popular ruler (Catholic) throne- less popular ruler (Catholic) – Glorious Revolution-Glorious Revolution- James’ protestant James’ protestant

daughter Mary & her husband William of daughter Mary & her husband William of Orange invited to become rulers of England. Orange invited to become rulers of England. James fled; bloodless overthrow James fled; bloodless overthrow

Established Established Limited Monarchy-Limited Monarchy- monarch’s monarch’s powers are limited by constitution or legislative powers are limited by constitution or legislative bodybody– Radical, considering absolute monarchies elsewhere Radical, considering absolute monarchies elsewhere

in Europe in Europe

English Bill of Rights English Bill of Rights

Ensured superiority of Parliament Ensured superiority of Parliament over the monarchy over the monarchy – Required the monarch to summon Required the monarch to summon

Parliament regularly Parliament regularly Restated traditional rights of English Restated traditional rights of English

citizenscitizens Established Established habeas corpus-habeas corpus- no no

person could be held in prison person could be held in prison without first being charged with a without first being charged with a specific crime specific crime