English Constitutionalism versus French Absolutism

1. English Constitutionalism versus French Absolutism Cost of waging war and running the government increased so 17th century rulers looked to new sources of income. Those who raised money without the consent of a representative body became absolute, those who depended on a representative body found conflict but eventually a more democratic rule. England and France set the examples here. But what caused the English to enter into a civil war that pitted Parliament against the King?? And, what factors allowed Louis XIV to become absolute??

2. Reason 1 Evolution of relationship between English Monarchs and Parliament

3. Tudor Dynasty Strong Kings who controlled Parliament Result: Parliament won several rights to challenge a weaker ruler

4. Using PERSIA to examine situation in England before the Civil War Stuart Kings against Parliament POLITICALLY The Stuarts believed in the Divine Rights of an Absolute Ruler - wanted what Louis of France had Nobles and wealthy merchants in Parliament [House of Lords and House of Commons] felt threatened by Kings who circumvented their political power. Parliament was established and had bargaining base with king, plus legal experience, expected to be consulted Jury System Magna Carta Model Parliament Power of the Purse

5. Kings threatened economic well being of nobles landed wealth and merchants commercial wealth [House of Lords and Commons] To raise more money: Kings sold peerage 2. Did not consult Parliament No Power of the Purse Nobles gladly paid taxes in return for a voice in how the money was spent

6. Religion Extreme Protestant sects Stuart Kings appeared to possess Catholic tendencies Parliament, especially the House of Commons, had many PURITANS who wished to purify the Anglican Church of any Catholic ceremonies or Episcopal system. That also included the Scottish Presbyterian system. Remember, Elizabeth had Puritans work with her in Parliament but the extremists were exiled or executed under the Conventicle Act

7. And then there was the Stuart Kings personality Scots did not know local English customs Arrogant and refused to compromise Prone to making faulty decisions James I Charles I

8. Son of Mary Stuart - She was executed by her cousin Elizabeth Elizabeth left him a large debt ( he needed to raise money), and a fiercely divided Church. Believed in the divine right of Kings (Trew Laws of a free Monarchy) King ruled by the will of God and was responsible only to him. Therefore, he rarely expected to consult Parliament. He stood above the law, his subjects had no right to question or resist his will. James I 1603 - 1625 House of Lords (nobility and bishops) mostly supported King but some were beginning to resent his extreme claims House of Commons (merchants, lawyers, prosperous land owners) were determined to defend Parliament’s legitimate role in government and religiously were mostly Anglican but Puritans were gaining power. Needed new source of income to pay off debts so without summoning Parliament he levied Impositions (taxes) - Tonnage and poundage. Refused to give into the Millenary Petition - Puritans wanted the Anglican church to get rid of Catholic ceremonies and Episcopal governance system but the Hampton conference did yield the King James version of the Bible Issued the Book of Sport that allowed those who went to services at the Church of England to play games on Sunday. This angered the Puritans who kept Sunday holy but James felt the Puritans narrow view kept Catholics from converting to the Church of England and besides he needed physically fit soldiers. Some separatists left for Cape Cod Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony

9. James I may have come out of this unscathed had he not: Allowed his homosexual lover, Buckingham to control patronage or sell peerage. Buck was assassinated in 1628 Declared Peace with Spain (a Catholic country) Relaxed laws against Catholics, then under pressure renewed them - Gunpowder plot - Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament Hesitated to send troops to help Protestants in Germany during the 30 Years War Arranged a marriage between his son and the daughter of the King of Spain. In response, members of Parliament forced war with Spain But was his foreign policy really wrong ?????

10. Charles I 1625 - 1649 Was even more inflexible and inept than his father. Kept Buckingham until his assassination. Parliament forced war with Spain but refused to adequately fund it so Charles… Levied new taxes and duties Forced Loans and imprisoned those who refused to pay Quartered troops in private homes And… the war against Spain was not going well, now France was involved Parliament met at the King’s request and gave him the Petition of Rights that: Disallowed illegal taxes and forced loans without the consent of Parliament No Englishman could be imprisoned without a trial Disallowed quartering of troops. Charles needed the money so he signed it then disregarded it. Parliament met in 1629 and declared Charles’ religious changes “popery” and his illegal taxes treason, the King dissolved Parliament for 11 years.

11. How did Charles rule without Parliament? Religious policies were his downfall Tried to make all Protestant groups following the Anglican Church in England and Scotland…One religion … One ruler… William Laud Imposed the Episcopal governing system Court of High Commission prohibited Puritans from publishing and preaching Tried to impose the Episcopal system and Anglican Book of Common Prayer Made peace with Spain and France Supported Arminians who rejected Puritan doctrine Wentworh instituted Thorough - an administrative tool to establish the King’s control of England and allow him to rule without Parliament Instituted old taxes Enforced ‘ship money” for all towns, not just coastal Sold Nobles titles and knighthoods Scotland revolted and Charles was forced to call Parliament Nobles feared thorough might do away with them

12. Short Parliament Puritans in the House of Commons, led by Pym refused to fund the Scottish war until Charles gave into their political and religious demands. Power of the Purse So, Charles dismissed them after only one month April - May 1640 Then the Scots invaded England and defeated the British Army at Newburn. Charles had no choice but to convene Parliament

13. Long Parliament 1640 - 1660 That is a long time Landowners and merchants resented King’s financial policies while the Puritans resented his religious policies so this Parliament had a lot of support for different reasons Imprisoned and executed Wentworth and Laud Abolished Court of High Commission and Star Chamber Imposition of new taxes and ship money was illegal Resolved to meet at least every three years and could not be disbanded unless Parliament agreed to it - Triennial Act Despite the fact that members in House of Commons initially agreed, they were divided on religion reform. Some wanted to end Episcopal system and prayer book, others wanted a Calvinist structure with congregations electing representatives to speak for them in a Presbyter, and others wanted every congregation to have its own authority, and some wanted to keep the Anglican Church When the Irish revolted and Parliament was asked to fund an army to suppress it, Pym and followers in Commons refused the King and wanted Parliament to become commanders of the army. This only divided Parliament more.

14. With all these divisions, Charles thinks he sees a chance. Parliament presents Charles with the Grand Remonstance (list of grievances against the King) and he invaded Parliament with his soldiers to arrest Pym who had been forewarned and escaped Charles knew he was in hot water so he retreated to London to raise his own army Shocked by the King’s invasion, Parliament passed the Militia Ordinance and raised their own army under Oliver Cromwell Civil War began over 2 issues: (1) Who would rule, parliamentary government or an absolute monarch. (2)Would the church be controlled by the Episcopal or Presbyterian system? Supporters of the King were called Cavaliers and resided in NW England Supporters of Parliament were called Roundheads and lived in the SE

15. Cromwell and the Puritan Republic Two factors = Parliamentary Victory Solemn League and Covenant with Scotland (accepted a Presbyterian structure for church, no more Anglican prayer book) Organized Parliamentary army under Cromwell Oliver Cromwell did not want the Episcopal or Presbyterian system but he would accept the majority religion as long as Protestant dissenters could worship New Model Army with victories at Marston Moor and Naseby but Charles did not give up so……… Colonel Thomas Pride barred the Presbyterians from taking their seats in Parliament. (Pride’s Purge) Rump Parliament (fifty remaining members) who Tried and executed the King Abolished the Monarchy, House of Lords and the Anglican Church

16. Oliver Cromwell Puritan republic but really a military dictatorship Commonwealth 1649 - 1653 Conquered Ireland and Scotland creating Great Britain Rule by a One-House Parliament and a Council of State. When House of Commons tried to disband his army, he dissolved Council and Rump Parliament and replaced them with Barebone’s Parliament. Took Title of Lord Protector supported by Army Strict Puritan - public morality, closing theatres, prohibited dance and strict observance of the Sabbath. Did not tolerate Anglicans Navigation Acts, all imported goods to England must be carried in English ships or ships owned by importing country.

17. Restoration Kings Charles II 1660 - 1685 Charles II came to the throne as a hereditary king, no legal requirement to call Parliament and the Anglican Church Wanted all religions to worship freely and remain loyal to the king but many royalists in Parliament still believed that you could not separate religion and political loyalty Claredon Code - Imposed penalties for not attending Anglican services, must use Book of Common Prayer and Thirty- Nine Articles. Swear allegiance to Church of England to hold a government job Again imposed Navigation Acts this time, it led to war with Holland Needed more money than Parliament allowed so he increased customs duties Treaty of Dover - pledged to announce his conversion to Catholicism and Louis XIV promised to pay him a large sum of money Declaration of Indulgences - ended all laws against Catholics and Protestant dissenters but Parliament refused to finance the war until he rescinded it. Test Act demanded pledge against Transubstantiation Popish Plot - Titus Oates swore that Charles’ wife plotted to kill the king so James, a Catholic could take the throne. BUT Charles did get his revenge against Whigs

18. James II 1685 - 1688 Charles left a Parliament of mostly loyalists but James blew it Repealed the Test Act and dismissed Parliament when they protested Appointed Catholics to high positions in his court and the army Declaration of Indulgences - suspended all religious tests and allowed free worship Local candidates for Parliament who opposed the declaration were removed by the king’s soldiers and replaced by Catholics Imprisoned 7 Anglican bishops who refused to publish his suspension laws He wanted Absolutism but even the loyalists (Tories) could not accept this When his Catholic wife gave birth to a Catholic male heir Whig and Tory members of Parliament offered the crown to his oldest daughter, Protestant May and her Husband William II of Orange

19. Glorious Revolution 1688 William, with his army, came to England in 1688 and was received without a battle because James fled to France and the protection of Louis XIV Bloodless Revolution was complete. William and Mary Recognized the Bill of Rights that limited the powers of the king and guaranteed liberties for upper classes Kings are subject to the laws and rule with the consent of Parliament that would meet every three years Prohibited Catholics from the English throne Toleration Acts allowed worship for all Protestants but not Catholics Supported by John Locke’s Second Treaties of Government Act of Settlement English crown went to Protestant House of Hanover in Germany if Queen Anne’s (last Stuart) children could not take the throne