How did the struggle between King and Parliament
How did the struggle between King and Parliament End Divine Right in England? A look at the English Civil War By Mr. Stankus
Vocabulary • Commonwealth • Oliver Cromwell • Cavaliers • Roundheads • Charles I • Constitution • Rump Parliament • Long Parliament • Petition of Right
Constitutionalism in England • James I: belief in “divine right of kings” – King of Scotland; son of Mary “Queen of Scots”
Charles I (1625 -1649): • sought to rule without Parliament and to control the Anglican Church
Petition of Right, 1628: • Parliament attempt to bribe king (taxes) in return for accepting Parliament’s right to tax, habeas corpus, no quartering, and no martial law in peacetime – Charles dissolved Parliament in 1629; did not reconvene until 1640 – Religious persecution most important reason for civil war: led by Archbishop Laud – Long Parliament – summoned in 1640 (after failure of 2 -month “Short Parliament”) – In return for granting taxation, Parliament made demands: – certain high leaders be tried: (Laud eventually executed) – Star Chamber abolished – Parliament could not be dissolved w/o its consent
The English Civil War • (Puritan Revolution; Great Rebellion) – 1642 -1649 – Cavaliers: supported the king – Roundheads, Puritans opposed king; Oliver Cromwell led “New Model Army”
Causes of Civil War • Long Term Causes: – James I vs. Parliament • Short Term Causes: – Charles I personality – Money and Religious differences
Charles I beheaded in 1649 • Interregnum: 1649 -1660 rule without king
The Commonwealth (1649 -1653) • a republic – abolished monarch and House of Lords • House of Commons runs the entire government
The Protectorate (1653 -1659), • Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector (Dictatorship) • Leviathan- written by Thomas Hobbes
The Restoration (1660 -1688) • Parliament in 1660 reelected according to old franchise: Anglicans back in power • Charles II “The Merry Monarch” (1660 -1685): Stuarts restored to the throne • Declaration of Breda: Charles agreed to abide by Parliament’s demands • Habeas Corpus Act (1679): A person accused of a crime is entitled to be brought before a judge and informed in writing of the charges against him. (Writ of habeas corpus). trial. Prisoners are entitled to be released on bail and a speedy jury
Parliament was split- two political parties • Tories: king’s supporters, nobles • Whigs: middle-class and merchants; also high aristocracy – Scotland gained its independence in 1660 as result of Restoration – Charles attempted to impose Anglicanism in Scotland; war resulted
Review • Was the execution of Charles I justified? • What if Charles I and Parliament reached an agreement on control of the government and the army, would the civil war have happened anyway? • Why was the throne restored after Cromwell’s commonwealth?
Vocabulary • Habeas Corpus • Toleration Act • Prime Minister • English Bill of Rights • Restoration • James II • Thomas Hobbes • John Locke • Constitutional Monarchy • William and Mary • Tories • Whigs • Glorious Revolution
James II (1685 -1688): sought to Catholicize England; forced to abdicate Glorious Revolution (1688) William III (William of Orange) and Mary: Protestantism secured in England Toleration act 1689 Freedom of worship for non-Anglican Protestants. Bill of Rights 1689
English bill of Rights - signed by William and Mary • The Monarch may not do the following unless Parliament approves: – A. Suspend or make laws – B. Levy taxes – C. Maintain an army • Monarch may not interfere with Parliamentary elections or debates. • Parliament may meet frequently • King or Queen must be Anglican in religion. • People are guaranteed: – A. Right to petition the government – B. Impartial and speedy trial – C. Protection against excessive bail and fine. – D. Protection from cruel and unusual punishment. • The English Bill of Rights (1689) served as a model for the American Bill of Rights (1789).
Hanover Kings: George I, George III • George I did not speak English; he came from Germany. He delegated his power to his chief minister. • George II allowed Parliament to choose his advisors. The chief minister became known as Prime Minister. The advisors became known as the Cabinet • By the reign of George III, the Prime Minister and Cabinet were coming from the Parliament exercising both legislative and executive power. • Under the Hanover Kings, the monarch was becoming a figurehead.
How did the growth of suffrage influence British politics? • Suffrage - right to vote • evolution — slow, gradual change
Undemocratic Features of English Government in 1750 • • Property qualifications for voting Only male adults could vote Voting by show of hands; not secret ballot Unfair representation — seats in House of Commons did not change as population shifted to the cities. • Only property owners and Protestants could hold public office • Hereditary House of Lords had the same power as an elected House of Commons
Reform Bill of 1832 • Reduced property qualifications thereby extending suffrage to the middle class • Cities received more representatives in House of Commons • House of Commons shifted from representing landed aristocracy to industrial middle class
Other Reform Bills • 1867 — Further reduced property qualifications for voting • 1884 - Extended vote to farm workers • 1918 - Universal manhood suffrage. Women over 30 could vote • 1928 — Universal suffrage for all people over 21
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