THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR Mr. White’s World History
Jan 01, 2016
Objectives
After we finish this section, we should be able to: Explain how the English Civil War limited
the power of the English monarchy Analyze English rights that were protected
by the results of the English Civil War and their impact on the American Revolution
Prologue
Queen Elizabeth of England produced no children, so the crown of England passed to James I, a Stuart (Scottish)
Parliament was the government body made up of representatives who advised the king or queen on how to run the country
James would struggle with Parliament to take more power
James of Scotland
James asserted his authority over the government, and this led to conflict with Parliament James believed in the principle of divine
right – God made him king He spent lavishly on his lifestyle, and ran
up England’s expenses Also ended a war with Spain that forced
England to pay war reparations to Spain
James’ Religious Views
The Puritans were Christians who disagreed with the Anglican church and wanted to purify it of its Catholic traditions and rituals
James, who was Anglican, responded to the Puritans by threatening them – many Puritans fled to North America and settled in the English colonies
James has a group of scholars write a new translation of the Bible – King James Version
Charles I
After James, Charles I of England took over and behaved very badly Marries a Catholic woman Charles dissolved Parliament after they
wouldn’t fund a war Forced farmers to supply loans, or threw
them in jail He quartered troops in people’s homes and
declared martial law in towns – military courts and rule
The Petition of Right
When Charles was desperate and called Parliament again, they forced Charles to sign the Petition of Right Charles couldn’t collect taxes or force loans No imprisonment without cause No quartering of troops No martial law
Charles dissolved Parliament and ignored the Petition of Right, even after he signed it
Parliament’s Power
Charles again recalled Parliament to fight a war against invading Scots Parliament voiced its complaints Charles dissolved them again Charles, desperate for money, reconvened
Parliament again This new Parliament worked to decrease
Charles’ power
Nineteen Propositions
Charles was at the mercy of Parliament More Puritans were serving on
Parliament, and they opposed Charles An opposition royalist group began to
form to support Charles When Parliament sent the “Nineteen
Propositions” to Charles to increase their power, Charles uses troops to arrest the leaders
English Civil War
A war began between those that supported Charles (Cavaliers) and those that supported Parliament (Roundheads)
Oliver Cromwell led the Roundheads to victory in 1646, when the Royalists surrender
Charles is put on trial and executed – this is shocking to just about everybody
The Commonwealth
The new government was a commonwealth, an elected government
It crushed opposition from Royalists in Ireland and Scotland, and also Levellers, who supported the vote for all men
Cromwell dismissed Parliament and placed England under Puritan military rule
When Cromwell dies, his son can’t maintain power
Charles II
Charles was known as the Merry Monarch because he strongly supported the arts, science, entertainment, etc.
Parliament settled England’s religious issues The Church of England
(Anglican) became the state religion
The Puritan clergy were removed from the churches
Constitutional Monarchy
England became a constitutional monarchy Power of the monarch was limited by the
English constitution, which was based on certain official documents and other legal traditions
This limitation of the monarch made many other European monarchs (who ruled by divine right or were at least absolute monarchs) feel threatened
The Succession of James
Charles was known as a philanderer and never produced any legitimate children by a married wife
After Charles died, his brother James took the throne
James attempted to re-establish the power of the monarchy and make it absolute again
James
James wanted absolute power, and claimed the divine right of kings
He felt that as king he had the right to suspend or ignore laws, regardless of Parliament
When Parliament opposed James, he eventually fled the country in what was known as the Glorious Revolution
William and Mary
Mary, who was Charles’ nephew, married William of Orange (Dutch Netherlands), and they ruled together as William and Mary Swore to observe
the rules of Parliament
Restriction of the Monarchy
Under the rule of William and Mary, Parliament passed a Bill of Rights restricting the powers of the English monarchy King couldn’t raise taxes, maintain an army, or
suspend laws without parliament Parliament should have freedom of debate Individual rights should be guaranteed, such as the
right to a jury trial, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishments
Parliament had also previously passed a law preserving the right of habeas corpus – no one could be held without being accused of a crime