…and The English Civil War (1642-1689)

The English Revolution…

The unpopular STUARTS (1603-1642)…

James I, Charles I (Catholics)

Very pro-Catholic/divisive among the people…

English Revolution: Background/History…

Tactless, Arrogant, always claiming “Divine Right”

Too friendly w/Catholic Spain, who was considered the ‘enemy’ to most… (not real smart)

Heavy taxes on the Middle Class (not real smart)

Discriminated harshly against the Puritans…

-(Why they left for America in 1620…)

Their deliberate divisiveness will lead to the English Revolution in 1642…

1603- Charles I claims absolute authority by “divine right”

Parliament then passes the Petition of Right in 1628, which forces Charles to accept limits on royal power…

Charles is belligerent, unwilling to accept this, and continues to antagonize both Parliament and the Puritans

This leads to the outbreak of Civil War in 1642…

English Revolution- Part I: Civil War

The Puritans (Roundheads), led by Oliver Cromwell- supported by many in Parliament- defeat the Cavaliers (Royalists- who supported the King), along with many wealthy nobles and Catholics…

The Civil War ends with the execution of Charles I in 1649

English Civil War…

Oliver Cromwell

Parliament has victory over the King and his absolute power

Cromwell rules from 1649-1658 as Dictator (‘Lord Protector’) over a temporary Republic

Puritan rule did NOT gain popular support, and would lead to the next phase…the Restoration…

The “RESTORATION” (1660-1688)

The Throne was RESTORED to the Stuarts (Charles II)

Followed by another Stuart, James II…

James II (again) was belligerent and tried to claim divine right, but was forced to flee after Parliament deposed him in 1688…(enough was enough…)

This led to the final phase…the ‘Glorious Revolution’…

English Revolution- Part II

James II

The “GLORIOUS REVOLUTION” (1688-89)

Parliament offered the throne to William- a protestant prince from Holland, whom was married to King James’ daughter- Mary…(William and Mary)

They HAD to agree to sign an important document known as the ENGLISH BILL of RIGHTS in 1689…

English Revolution- Part III

William and Mary

This document stripped all political power from the Monarch, and put it into the hands of Parliament- who would then choose a Prime Minister to lead the nation in political matters.

This is known as a Constitutional Monarchy, and has been the form of gov’t in England since 1721 (see chart)

Thomas Hobbes- Justified Divine Right/supported the King in the revolution

His idea of Natural Law was that Absolute Monarch was the best form of gov’t…(Leviathan, 1651)

Believed in a Social Contract for gov’t/society

Said citizens did NOT have the ‘right’ to rebel against/overthrow their gov’t…

Two Important Philosophers of the English Revolution…

Thomas Hobbes

John Locke

Foremost Philosopher of his day, and one of the most influential in modern history!

He Justified the English Revolution

Believed in Natural Law, but took it one step further:

John Locke

He DEFINED Natural Rights as: Life, Liberty, Property

Came to an entirely different conclusion on the Social Contract: That gov’t authority/power should be limited

That citizens DO have the right to overthrow their gov’t if it oversteps the limits in the social contract and/or FAILS to protect their natural rights!

He Influenced MANY great philosophers/leaders, including Thomas Jefferson and many other ‘Founders’…

Remember John Locke for US History!!!!!!!!!