DEMOCRATIC

DEVELOPMENTS IN

ENGLAND

Warm-Up

• What would you make the president do to improve our country?

Warm-Up

Answer both questions:

• What is a revolution?

• Have you ever revolted against someone?

Democratic Development in England (1000 – 1700 AD)

Vocabulary1. Feudalism

1. System of rule in which powerful landowning lords divide their landholdings amongst lesser lords.

2. Common law1. A legal system based on customs and court rulings

1. Applied to everyone

3. Limited monarchy1. Government where a constitution limits the power of the king.

4. Lord 1. A man of high rank in a feudal society (loyal and below the king)

5. Vassal1. Lesser lord

6. Absolute monarch – A king or queen above the law (all-powerful)

1. Greedy King John tried to raise taxes on his nobles

Magna Carta

• Established idea that monarchy wasn’t all powerful

• Basic legal rights of people protected

2. Edward I needed money to pay for war in France

Model Parliament (created)

• Group of people used to discuss legal issues

• Increased the number of people making gov’t decisions

• Two chambers: House of Commons and House of Lords.

3. Monarchs claim more power.

Divine Right – The belief that monarchs are chosen by God and responsible only to God.

The government was inspired by the Bible

4. Charles I (absolute monarch – ruler with complete authority over the gov’t) tries raising taxes and punishes people without just cause.

Petition of Right (a document)

• Leads to the overthrow of Charles I

• Increased power of Parliament

5. The Glorious Revolution takes place.

English Bill of Rights

• Monarchs now need permission of Parliament to create taxes, maintain an army, or suspend laws.

• Juries allowed “the accused” to be heard and receive justice

• Common Law reflected customs & court rulings. They were laws most people in England agreed on, not just the king.

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

•Powers of the monarch (ruler) are limited by the constitution and laws of the country