Parliament Limits the English Monarchy T U D

Parliament Limits the English Monarchy

T U D O R D Y N A S T Y

Queen Elizabeth I: Tudor Dynasty • Many conflicts with Parliament, mostly over money • Parliament’s financial power was one obstacle for England’s rulers, prevented absolutism • 1603 she died, no children • closest relative was cousin James Stuart

King James I: Stuart Dynasty • He was also king of Scotland • He inherited Elizabeth’s problems • Offended Puritan members of Parliament because he refused to make Church reforms • Died in 1625

King Charles I: Stuart Dynasty • Son of James I • Always needed money because war with Spain and France • several times parliament refused to give him money so he dissolved parliament

Petition of Right • 1628 Parliament forced him sign the Petition of Right – – King can’t imprison subjects without due cause Can’t levy taxes without parliament’s consent Can’t house soldiers in private homes Can’t impose martial law during peacetime • Charles I ignored the petition, but it was important because set forth idea that law is higher than the king, contradicted theories of absolute monarchy • 1629 he dissolved parliament, imposed fees/fines for money, decreased popularity

English Civil War (1642 -1649) • 1637 Charles tried to force Presbyterian Scots to accept Anglican prayer book, Scots rebelled • Charles needed money… • Autumn 1641 Parliament passed laws to limit royal power, Charles tried to arrest them • Charles fled to N. England where ppl loyal to him • People loyal to Charles were Royalists or Cavaliers vs. Puritan supporters of Parliament, called Roundheads

English Civil War and Death of a King • 1644 Roundhead’s general Oliver Cromwell helped win war – his New Model Army began defeating the Cavaliers, held Charles I prisoner by 1647 • 1649 Charles I on trial for treason against Parliament, found guilty, and executed • Revolutionary!!!

Cromwell’s Rule • 1649 Cromwell abolished the monarchy and House of Lords • Est. a commonwealth • Drafted a constitution – first written constitution of any modern European state • Eventually Cromwell tore it up and became a military dictator

Puritan Morality • Cromwell and the Puritans sought to reform society by promoting Puritan morality and abolishing activities they saw as sinful • Cromwell was strict Puritan but allowed religious tolerance for all Christians except Catholics

The Restoration: Charles II • Cromwell died in 1658, his gov’t collapses, new parliament • 1659 parliament asks Charles I’s oldest son to rule England • Charles II restores the monarchy, so the period of his rule is called the Restoration

Habeas Corpus • During his reign parliament passes an important guarantee of freedom: habeas corpus: 1679 – every prisoner has the right to obtain a document ordering that the prisoner be brought before a judge to specify the charges against the prisoner – prisoners can’t be held indefinitely without trial • Charles II had no child, so heir was brother James, who was Catholic • Whigs opposed James, the Tories supported him – England’s first political parties

James II • 1685 Charles II died, James II becomes King • Offends ppl by displaying Catholicism, appointed Catholics to office, dissolves Parliament when they protest • James’s second wife has a son, ppl are terrified of possibility of line of catholic kings

The Glorious Revolution • James’s older daughter, Mary, was a Protestant, married to William of Orange, a prince of the Netherlands • Parliament invited William and Mary to overthrow James for sake of Protestantism • 1688 William led army into England, James fled, bloodless overthrow of King James II: the Glorious Revolution

Limit’s on Monarch’s Power • William and Mary set up a constitutional monarchy: laws limit the ruler’s power; they recognized parliament as their partner in governing 1689 Parliament drafted a Bill of Rights to make clear limits of royal power; ruler can not: -No suspension of parliament’s laws -No levying taxes without grant from parliament -No interfering w freedom of speech -No penalty for citizens who petitions king w grievances

Cabinet System Develops • After 1688 Parliament and the monarch had to rule together, if disagreed=standstill • This issue remedied with cabinet: a group of government ministers, or officials; link between monarch and majority party in Parliament • Over time cabinet became center of power and policymaking; leader of the majority party in parliament heads the cabinet, is called the prime minister

England Today Queen Elizabeth II Windsor Dynasty 1952 - Prime Minister: David Cameron 2010 -