English Revolution notes
Elizabeth I was succeeded to the throne by her cousin, James VI of Scotland. He would become the first Stuart ruler of England.
James I
· True Law of Free Monarchy – James’s book on divine right of kings. Claimed that kings only had to answer to God and were not bound by any Parliament or previous documents limiting the power of the king. What previous document had suggested there were limits on the power of the king?
· Gunpowder Plot – attempt by Guy Fawkes to kill the king and members of Parliament on opening day
· Achievements – King James version of Bible and founding of Jamestown
· Problems with Parliament over money and religion
Charles I:
· Problems over money and religion
· When Parliament refused to provide Charles with money, he resorted to force loan. Also involved England in wars against Spain and France
· 1628: Parliament called once again. Parliament refused to grant any funds until Charles signed the Petition of Right, which included the following provisions
1. King would not imprison subjects without due cause
2. King would not force loans or levy taxes without the consent of Parliament
3. King would not house soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent.
4. King would not impose martial law in peacetime.
· After Charles signed the Petition, he then ignored it. When Parliament complained, he dismissed it.
· “Ship money” and John Hampden – to raise additional funds, Charles required all counties to provide funds for the English navy. Hampden challenged the king in court and lost
· To defend the Church of England, Charles put restrictions on the Puritans and tried to force the Scots to conform by ordering them to use the Book of Common Prayer
· Many Puritans left for New World; Scots react by swearing to National Covenant and gathering army to attack England
· With the Scots preparing to invade and the Irish in rebellion, in 1640 the Long Parliament was called into session. Actions taken by Long Parliament further limited the power of the king; in response Charles attacked Parliament and a Civil War began
Civil War
· Royalists/Cavaliers – those loyal to the king vs. Roundheads – those who opposed the king
· New Model Army – led by Oliver Cromwell was composed of both Independents and Presbyterians
· Charles I surrendered to the Scots after two defeats
· Pride’s Purge – to make sure that Parliament was supportive of Cromwell, Colonial Pride blocked all opposition’s entrance into Parliament.
· Actions taken by Rump Parliament
· Abolished the monarchy
· Abolished the House of Lords
· Dissolved the Church of England
· Tried and executed Charles for treason
The Protectorate
Oliver Cromwell and the “Protectorate”
· Instrument of Government – first and only written English constitution
· Cromwell’s government might have been overthrown except for 3 factors:
1. it had enough money from taxes and the sale of confiscated royal lands to support itself and the army.
2. its own army was disciplined and powerful.
3. it enemies, the Irish and the royalists, had no organized army
· Navigation Act of 1651 – a challenge to Dutch shipping dominance
· Punished the Irish by destroying the towns of Drogheda and Wexford
· Cromwell’s government failed because of Cromwell’s failure to get along with Parliament. Like the Stuart kings, he thought only he knew what was best for England.
· With his death Cromwell’s son, Richard, came to power. He was weak and ineffective. The nobles took advantage and invited Charles I’s oldest son to restore the monarchy.
· 1660: Parliament invited Charles II to return to England and take the throne.
The Restoration – or the reign of Charles II
· “Merry Monarch” restored the monarchy, the House of Lords, the Church of England; reopened the theaters and taverns
· Problems with Parliament over money and religion
· Treaty of Dover – deal with Louis XIV for money; upset the balance of power
· Test Act – required all members of Parliament and military to take an oath rejecting transubstantiation.
· Habeas Corpus Act -- protected individuals against illegal arrest and unlawful imprisonment.
· Concern over succession – only heir was his brother James who had converted to Catholicism and had after the death of his first wife married a Catholic. This led to the first political parties in England.
· Whigs -- wanted a strong Parliament and opposed the succession of Charles’s brother, James
· Tories – wanted a strong monarchy and accepted James’s succession as long as his heirs were Protestant
James II
· He was a firm believer in divine right, but willing to tolerate all religions.
· Infuriated the Whigs in Parliament and when he ignored the Test Act and appointed Catholics to key office
· Birth of James' son by his Catholic wife in 1688, led Tories and Whigs to plot James’s overthrow
Glorious Revolution
· Plot involved inviting James II's Protestant daughter from his first marriage to take the throne. This daughter, Mary, was married to William of Orange (Netherlands). A group of nobles extended the invitation and William and Mary accepted
· William & Mary: only joint monarchs to ever rule England. In accepting the throne, they agreed to accept the English Bill of Rights which included the following provisions:
1. The suspending of laws or execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal.
2. Taxation for the use of the Crown without grant of Parliament is illegal.
3. It is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all arrests and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.
4. The raising or keeping of a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against the law.
5. Subjects who are Protestants may have arms for their defense as allowed by law.
6. Freedom of speech, and debates or proceedings in Parliament, ought not to be questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.
7. Parliament would choose the ruler, who would be merely an official, subject to parliamentary rules.
8. Parliament had to meet frequently and the monarch could not interfere in the elections of its members.
· Act of Toleration -- Granted freedom of conscience and the right of public worship to those Protestants who were not members of the Anglican church. It did not, however, bring about complete religious freedom. For example, Roman Catholics still lived under heavy restrictions, and only members of the Anglican church could hold public office.
· Act of Settlement -- Provided that if William and Mary died without children the throne would pass to Mary's sister Anne or her Protestant descendants.
· Act of Union – United England and Scotland creating Great Britain. Dissolved the Scottish Parliament.
To punish the Irish, the English passed the Penal Code which made the Irish “second class” citizens in their own country.