Age of ABSOLUTISM DIVINE RIGHT Theory Divine Right

Age of ABSOLUTISM

DIVINE RIGHT Theory (“Divine Right of Kings”) A king’s belief that his right to rule comes directly from God and should not be challenged Absolute Monarch: a king who has UNLIMITED power and controls virtually ALL ASPECTS of the people’s lives

PARLIAMENT (law-making body of England): House of COMMONS (lower house) House of LORDS (upper house) membership is INHERITED *members are ELECTED (most were wealthy land-owners & merchants) *terms are FOR LIFE *terms are LIMITED *most were NOBLES and WEALTHY

The STUART monarchs will replace the Tudors (the first Stuart is JAMES, the cousin of Elizabeth I) Stuart Policies: 1. they ruled arrogantly, claiming “divine right” 2. they violated English law by imprisoning people without “just cause” and spent money without Parliament’s consent 3. they discriminated against the Puritans in England 4. they “buddied up” with Spain (England’s enemy)

One good thing that James I is remembered for…. A new ENGLISH translation of the BIBLE (the “King James” version)

James I dies and the throne passes to his oldest son, Charles I conveniently continues the EXACT SAME POLICIES as his father……Parliament can’t stand him, either.

Petition of Right A document created by Parliament and signed by King Charles I; it placed LIMITS on the king’s power (said the king could no longer do the BAD things he’d BEEN doing!) Within a few months, King Charles I conveniently began to IGNORE the Petition of Right; he went back to his OLD TRICKS. Then, ruling on his own, as he saw fit, he refused to allow Parliament to meet – for the next 11 years!

Clash with Parliament Because England is invaded by Scotland, King Charles I needs $$ to get his army ready to fight the Scots. He must go before Parliament and ask for funds…. . It’s no surprise that Parliament DENIES Charles his money. When he’s “turned down, ” the king orders the Royal Guard to ARREST many of the leading members of the House of Commons (many are Puritans).

This action leads to all-out violence, and soon escalates into the ENGLISH CIVIL WAR!

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (1642 -1649) King’s CAVALIERS VS. Parliament’s ROUNDHEADS

The Roundheads WIN, largely because of the leadership of a Puritan General named Oliver Cromwell. He had been a leader in the House of Commons before the war started…. .

Cromwell’s forces captured King Charles I and quickly put him on trial for treason. Charles was found guilty and sentenced to death….

Soon after the king’s execution, the monarchy was officially dissolved and England was proclaimed a REPUBLIC. Cromwell was chosen to lead the country as “Lord Protector. ”

Cromwell implemented a very strict PURITAN way of life in England. Dancing and games were forbidden, theaters were closed down…. . all forms of “fun” were taken away from the people. You could be punished for something as simple as LAUGHING in church.

Cromwell died in 1658; the English people were glad to see him (and his strict rules) go! Parliament decided to BRING BACK the Stuart Monarchy; they asked the SON of executed king, Charles I, to take throne. This “Merry Monarch’s” name was also Charles, so his title became Charles II.

This period in history, when the Stuart monarchy was returned to power in England, came to be known as the RESTORATION.

Besides being a “party animal” and BRINGING FUN BACK TO ENGLAND, Charles II was responsible for signing a very important law…… Writ of Habeas Corpus: law which contains rights of the accused (“just cause” is required for arrest, a person has a right to a “speedy” trial by jury, release on bail, etc. ) **this will also become the cornerstone of our U. S. legal system!

After Charles II dies, his YOUNGER BROTHER becomes the new King of England; his title is JAMES II. James II had two daughters from his first marriage (he and his family were PROTESTANTS at that time). His wife died and James married again, this time to a CATHOLIC woman. He eventually converted to HER FAITH – he became a CATHOLIC!

When James II has a son (who will be raised as a Catholic), Parliament “freaks out” and develops a plan to replace James with a Protestant ruler……. They sent word to the Netherlands, asking James II’s oldest daughter, MARY, to come and rule England – her husband, WILLIAM of Orange, could come, too…. .

William and Mary agree to rule England; James II flees the country, Parliament declares the throne vacant, and William and Mary becomes the new monarchs. In English history, this peaceful transition from James II to William & Mary is called the “Glorious Revolution” (or “bloodless revolution”)

Two pieces of legislation immediately signed into law by WILLIAM & MARY: 1. Toleration Act (1689): guaranteed religious freedom to all non-Anglican Protestants living in England (mainly the PURITANS) 2. The Bill of Rights (1689): placed limit’s on the King’s power & guaranteed certain rights to all English citizens *this document served as a model for the first ten amendments to the U. S. Constitution – The American Bill of Rights

When William & Mary died, they had no children, so the throne passes to Mary’s younger sister ANNE (also a Protestant).

When Anne dies, having had no children, the throne passes to her CLOSEST LIVING PROTESTANT RELATIVE…… a cousin named GEORGE from Germany. So, in 1714, there is a peaceful transition from the STUART dynasty to the HANOVER dynasty.

George I’s policy regarding England’s colonies in North America……. “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie…”

CABINET: a king’s close group of advisors PRIME MINISTER: the king’s CLOSEST advisor, usually chosen from the majority party in Parliament (he gradually took duties away from the King – managing England’s finances, appointed many government officials, supported trade laws, etc. ) England’s first two POLITICAL PARTIES also emerge at this time…. . The TORIES: upper-class, wealthy landowners, supported the King (today this is the CONSERVATIVE PARTY) The WHIGS: middle-class, supported Parliament (today this is called the LABOUR PARTY)

After all of these changes, England has transformed from an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY (where the King’s powers were UNLIMITED) to a…. . LIMITED (or “Constitutional”) MONARCHY, where the King’s powers are limited by English law

The End