Parliament Limits the English Monarchy

1. Parliament Limits the English Monarchy

2. Parliament’s Financial Power • Parliament is England’s legislature; they controlled “held the purse strings” • Parliament’s financial power was an obstacle to English rulers becoming absolute monarchs • In 1603, James I becomes king; doesn’t want to share any power with Parliament • Also fought with Puritans who wanted the church to be less like Catholic churches (more pure)

3. Charles I Fights Parliament • 1625 Charles I becomes king; also an absolute monarch • Charles needs money for war with Spain and France • When Parliament refuses to give him money, he dissolves it (cancels it) • 1628 - he needs Parliament to give him money • Parliament won’t give it to him until he signs the “Petition of Right” in which he agrees not to raise taxes without Parliament’s consent • Charles signs it, then ignores it

4. Charles I Unpopular • Petition of Right important • Idea that the law was higher than the king • Contradicted theories of an absolute monarchy • 1629 – Charles dissolves Parliament again and refuses to call it back • Gets money by fees and fines on the English people • Makes him very unpopular

5. English Civil War • Puritans and Protestants in Scotland unhappy with Charles trying to make them all follow the Anglican church • Scots rebel and Charles needs money to fight them • Needs to call Parliament, which sees this as an opportunity to oppose him • Parliament passes laws limiting royal power • Charles tries to arrest Parliament’s leaders, but they escape • Riots force Charles to flee London and raise an army in the north

6. English Civil War • Charles fights back and Civil War begins (1642 – 1649) • Supporters of Charles and the monarchy – Cavaliers • Supporters of Parliament – Roundheads • Leader of the Roundheads – Oliver Cromwell, Puritan • Roundheads defeat Cavaliers

7. Roundheads and Cavaliers

8. Charles I Executed • Charles I is tried for treason against Parliament and executed • First time in Europe that a ruling monarch had been tried publicly and executed by his own people • Parliament shows that in England, no ruler can claim absolute power and ignore the rule of law

9. Execution of Charles I

10. Oliver Cromwell

11. Cromwell’s Rule • After Charles is executed, Cromwell abolishes the monarchy • Declares England a republic, called the Commonwealth, • 1653 – Cromwell sends home Parliament • The first constitution of any modern European state is written, but Cromwell eventually tears it up and becomes a military dictator

12. Puritan Morality • In England, Cromwell and Puritans want to reform society by promoting Puritan morality • No theater, sports or dancing • Religious toleration for all Christians except Catholics

13. Restoration and Revolution • After Cromwell dies, people tired of strict Puritanism and strict military rule • Parliament asks Charles I’s son to rule England • Charles II comes to London amid cheering and happiness; becomes monarch in 1660 • Called the Restoration because the monarchy was restored

14. Charles II Reigns • Under Charles II, Parliament passes an important guarantee of freedom, habeas corpus • Prisoners have right to know the charges against them and could not be held indefinitely without a trial • A monarch could not put someone in jail simply for opposing the ruler • Heir was his brother James, a Catholic

15. James II and the Glorious Revolution • Next, James II becomes king; openly Catholic • Appoints Catholics to high office • Parliament protests, so James dissolves it • Worried Protestants ask his daughter Mary and her husband William, who are Protestants, to become ruler • William leads his army into London in 1688 • James II flees – becomes known as the Glorious Revolution, the bloodless overthrow of the King James II

16. Coronation of William and Mary

17. Limits on Monarch’s Power • William and Mary promise to accept Parliament as a partner in governing • England becomes a constitutional monarchy, where laws limit the ruler’s power • Parliament writes the English Bill of Rights in 1689, listing things a monarch could not do: • Suspend any of Parliament’s laws • No levying taxes without Parliament’s approval • No interfering with freedom of speech in Parliament • No penalty for citizens who petitions the king about grievances (complaints)

18. A Cabinet System Develops • After 1688, no British monarch could rule without the consent of Parliament • And Parliament could not rule without the consent of the monarch • If they disagreed, government came to a standstill • Settled by development of a cabinet, a group of officials who acted in ruler’s name

19. So… England differs from most of Europe at the time by NOT having an absolute monarchy Instead, they have a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch’s power is limited by a constitution!