Rise of Parliament

1640s – Civil War in Britain Fought between Calvinist Protestants

and Church of England

Background To War

This civil war was a movement of Liberalism and Representative institutions

1603 – Queen Elizabeth dies Parliament becomes restless James I, then Charles I become king Parliament doesn’t trust him-Catholic

Parliament wont’ give them adequate revenue to accomplish their goals

Why they didn’t like Charles -he supported church hierarchy Knew king would make laws and

solve cases at his own discretion They were all property owners and

feared he would raise taxes He was an absolutist

Deadlock

Parliament in England concentrated One for the whole country ,

represented by landed interest in both houses

1629 – deadlock Charles wants to expand navy, needs

money, tries to raise it without parliamentary consent

He wanted to do whatever he wanted – absolutist

Ship Money Dispute Political classes don’t accept

unlimited King Scots rebel in 1637 – Edinburgh

Charles summons parliament to quash rebellion NO

Dissolved parliament, the same men elected again

Long Parliament 20 years Passed its own demands

Emergence of Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell comes to the foreground in Parliament

Most powerful person in parliament He argues that Charles cannot be

trusted, and must be executed Parliament hesitates

‘Prides Purge’ – weeds out most of long parliament

Left a rump of 50 Charles sentenced to death in 1649

England declared a republic – Cromwell governed

He subdues Ireland and Scotland by force

1000s of Catholics killed, women and children, and priests

Cromwell had difficulty governing – had to use military law

Ruled as Lord Protector

He dies in 1658 – 2 years later Royalty restored – Charles II

Legacy of Cromwell – nightmare- had to rule by force

The Triumph of Parliament Restoration 1660-68 Parliament gets power back Abolished feudal land payments to

king, establishes private property Land owning class become a

propertied aristocracy Parliament enacts taxation instead of

feudal dues Gives power to parliament

They consolidated religion Dissenters forbidden from governing

bodies

Test Act 1673

All officeholders must take communion from church of England

Make it impossible for Catholics to serve in government

James (Brother) next in line to be king

He’s Catholic Parliament moves to keep James

from throne Whigs Supporters Tories

Revolution of 1688 James II becomes King in 1685 Acted as if there was no Test Act Appoints many Catholics Promotes religious toleration Made laws on his own will

Tories and Whigs join forces 1688 James has a son, baptized

Catholic Both Parties abandon James Offer the throne to his daughter Mary Protestant Husband of William of Orange He has support of both parties James

flees

Constitutional forces and Anglican protestants win

1689 – Parliament enacts a bill of rights

No law suspended by King No tax or army without parl. Consent William III accepted – legal contract

Act of Settlement 1701 No Catholic could be King

Glorious Revolution

1688 Becomes known as the Glorious Revolution

-establishes control of parliamentary government

-rule of law -right of rebellion against tyranny -Overthrow of James II limited John Locke