English Civil War and Revolution

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English Civil War and Revolution
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Background

• Elizabeth I dies w/ no heirs
• England now the dominant power in Europe after
  the win over the Spanish Armada
• Cousin James VI of Scotland becomes king
• Now James I of a united England and Scotland
• absolutist
• Lack of respect for English customs and arrogance
  made him unpopular
• Raised Scot Calvinist, agreed to Anglicanism,
  sympathized with Rome
• Battles with Parliament throughout his reign over
  supreme power, religion, and taxation

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Revolt Against Absolutism

• At James death, Parliament on verge of revolt
• Charles I (1625-1649)
• Wants more taxes to war, Parliament refuses
• Dissolves Parliament in 1629 ruled without for
  eleven years
• Married to a French Catholic, which added to
  resentment
• Now needs money to raise army so summoned
  Parliament
• Parliament forces Charles to sign the Petition of
  Right to restrict royal power
• No taxation w/out Parliament approval
• No jail w/out a trial
• No lodging of troops in private homes
• No martial law during peacetime
• 1642 Parliament wants supreme power denied
• CIVIL WAR

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Civil War (1642-1649)

• Britain divided between supporters of the king
  and supporters of Parliament
• 1646 - war ends Charles Royal army defeated
• Parliament tried king for treason, found guilty,
  and executed in 1649
• First and only time that the British executed
  their king

Leaders Charles I Oliver Cromwell
Called Cavaliers Roundheads
Supporters Nobles/ landowners Parliament/ business class
Religion Catholic/ Anglican Puritan
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Cromwells Commonwealth

• Parliament declared England a commonwealth
• Republic with no monarch
• Monarchy ended
• All royalists dismissed from Parliament
• Oliver Cromwell named chief of new govt.
• Conquered Ireland
• Dismissed Parliament
• Named himself Lord Protector from 1653-1658
• Enforced Puritan rules banning dancing,
  drinking, theatrical performances
• When he died, most wanted the monarch back

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Restoration the return of the king

• Charles II (1660-1685)
• wanted absolute power, but knew when to
  compromise
• Parliament made it illegal for anyone but an
  Anglican to hold office or vote
• Had secret arrangement with Louis XIV to receive
  money in exchange to turn England Catholic
• Led to a wave of anti-Catholicism
• Parliament forced a Constitutional Monarchy
• Combo of Magna Carta and Petition of Right
• James II (1685-1688)
• Often ignores constitution
• Practicing Catholic, insulted Protestants, and
  has a male heir
• Fear of a Catholic line of rulers
• England rebels in the Glorious Revolution of 1688

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The Glorious Revolution

• Almost a bloodless revolution
• Parliament invites the Protestant daughter of
  James II, Mary and her husband, William of Orange
  to rule
• James II voluntarily leaves
• William III and Mary II rule jointly
• Sovereignty shifted from the monarch to
  Parliament
• England a constitutional state
• Bill of Rights
• Act of Union
• Act of Settlement
• Act of Succession
• Glorious Revolution was worlds first significant
  move toward a full parliamentary government
• Queen Anne (1702-1714)
• Creates the first cabinet
• King George I (1714-1727)
• Appoints the first Prime Minister