Untitled October 12, 2007
UNIT 2, SECTION 1: REVOLUTION IN ENGLAND
The Tudors and Parliament
- Henry VIII - consulted Parliament frequently (they OKd his split with the Roman
Catholic Church, approved the Act of Supremacy)
- Elizabeth I - followed a policy of "religious compromise" - her relationship with
Parliament was cautious
The Early Stuarts
The Royal Challenge
- James I - was James IV, King of Scotland, when Elizabeth I died in 1603 (last Tudor
monarch) - crowned King James I of England - first Stuart monarch in England
- he believed in the Divine Right of Kings: God had chosen him (and all other
English monarchs) to rule - therefore, there should be no restraints on his power
- he clashed with Parliament over the following issues:
1. religion - he persecuted Puritans (Protestants who differed with the Church of
England and sought to "purify" the church of Catholic practices - they wanted
simpler services, a more democratic church without bishops)
2. money - constantly demanded money to fight wars, spent lavishly on his court
3. foreign policy - James wanted to make peace with Spain (a traditional enemy),
tried to arrange a marriage between his son and a Spanish princess
- called for a new translation of the Bible (King James version appeared in 1611)
Parliament Responds
Charles I - 1625 - inherited the throne - like his father, believed in divine right
- dismissed Parliament when they refused to give him the money he'd demanded
- he began to demand loans from individuals, imprisoned those who refused
- 1628 - summoned Parliament (he desperately needed money)
Oct 8-4:13 PM
1
Untitled October 12, 2007
- Parliament refused his demands until he signed the Petition of Right:
1. king couldn't collect forced loans or taxes without the consent of Parliament
2. king couldn't imprison anyone without just cause
- Charles agreed, signed petition - once Parliament approved funds, he dissolved
Parliament again - he would rule without calling Parliament for 11 years, ignored
the Petition of Right
- 1638 - England tried to force Scotland to become part of the Anglican Church
- Calvinist Scots (Presbyterians) revolted - to get funds to suppress the Scots,
Charles summoned Parliament in 1640
The Long Parliament
- Parliament of 1640 became known as the Long Parliament because they met on
and off until 1653 - they tried, executed many of the king's chief ministers,
including Archbishop William Laud
- they passed the Triennial Act: king must call Parliament to meet for at least
a 50-day session once every 3 years
- some members of Parliament called him a tyrant - 1642 - Charles led troops into
the House of Commons to arrest its most radical leaders - they escaped through the
back door, soon raised their own army
The English Civil War (1642-1649)
Cavaliers and Roundheads
- Cavaliers - supported the king (many were wealthy nobles) - wore long hair
- Roundheads - supported Parliament - their hair was cut close around their heads
- 1645 - Roundheads' "New Model Army" formed - led by Oliver Cromwell
- defeated the Cavaliers, captured Charles I
Execution of a King
- 1649 - Parliament set up a court, put the king on trial - found guilty of treason,
executed - sent clear signal in England: no ruler above the law
Oct 8-4:13 PM
2
Untitled October 12, 2007
The Commonwealth
- England became a republic, known as the Commonwealth, led by Oliver Cromwell -
House of Commons abolished the monarchy, the House of Lords, and the official Church
of England
Challenges to the Commonwealth
- Cromwell attacked Ireland (they had attacked England in support of
Charles II, the uncrowned heir to the throne)
- 1652 - Parliament passed law exiling most Catholics to western Ireland (those who
disobeyed order could be killed)
- members of Parliament disagreed over how the new govt. should be run - one
group, the Levellers, wanted to give more rights to poor men, allow women to
petition Paliament
- in response to challenges, Cromwell named himself Lord Protector in 1653, ruled
England through the army
Puritan Society
- strict rule under Cromwell: dancing, theaters, taverns, gambling were banned
- to spread religious knowledge, Puritans encouraged education for everyone
- Cromwell believed in religious freedom for other Protestant groups (not Catholics),
welcomed Jews back to England (they'd been in exile for more than 350 years)
- 1658 - Cromwell died - 1660 - newly elected Parliament invited Charles II to return
to England from exile
- though Puritan rule of England ended, their ideas played and important role in
shaping the U.S.
Oct 8-4:27 PM
3
Untitled October 12, 2007
From Restoration to Glorious Revolution
- Charles II - became a popular king - reopened theaters and taverns, restored the
official Church of England but tolerated other Protestant groups
- he was very careful in his dealings with Parliament (wanted to avoid his father's
mistakes) - accepted the Petition of Right, had (secret) Catholic sympathies
A New Clash with Parliament
- 1685 - James II (Charles II's brother) became king - unlike his brother, James II
flaunted his Catholic faith - suspended laws, appointed Catholics to high office
- many feared he'd restore the Roman Catholic Church in England
- 1688 - alarmed leaders in Parliament invited Mary (Protestant daughter of
James II) and her Dutch Protestant husband (William of Orange) to rule England
- William and Mary landed with their army - James II had little support, fled to
France - this bloodless overthrow of the king was known as the
Glorious Revolution (this led to England becoming a limited monarchy)
English Bill of Rights
- 1689 - William and Mary accepted several acts of Parliament known as the
English Bill of Rights: ensured superiority of Parliament over the monarchy,
forced the monarch to call Parliament regularly, gave the House of Commons
the "power of the purse" (control of govt. spending), monarch couldn't suspend
laws, Roman Catholics barred from taking the throne, restated traditional rights
of English citizens (trial by jury), abolished cruel and unusual punishment
- Bill of Rights supported habeas corpus - no one can be held in prison without
first being charged with a specific crime
- 1689 - Toleration Act - granted religious freedom to Protestant groups, but not
Catholics
Oct 12-2:49 PM