1. Absolutism in England

2. Background
When Queen Elizabeth dies, there is no heir to the English throne
Throne must go to a Stuart cousin from Scotland
Who was Queen Elizabeth’s father? Was from the Tudor line, now switches to Stuart line

3. James I James I takes the English throne
Agrees to rule according to English rules & customs
Believes in divine right
Must deal with dissenters
Bible is translated into King James Version (still exists today)
Agrees to rule to customs, but does not, Parliament does not like him. Wants money all the time. Makes decisions without consent

4. Charles I Takes throne after death of his father, James I
Absolute monarch
Parliament wants him to sign the Petition of Right
This petition prohibited the king from raising taxes without the consent of Parliament
Prohibited imprisonment without just cause
Why would parliament want him to sign this petition so badly?

5. Charles I cont’d. Charles signs the petition, but dissolves Parliament
Ruled for 11 years without calling parliament into session
Eventually, Charles I needs money
Parliament controls the $, so has to call back into session.

6. Parliament & Charles I
Parliament reconvenes and tries and executes the King’s Chief Administrators
Abolish bishops in the Church of England
Charles sends troops to the House of Commons to arrest members
Parliament members escape & raise their own army
Parliament tries to get revenge in policies. This starts the English Civil war.

7. English Civil War Cavaliers Support King Charles Are wealthy nobles
Trained in warfare
The Cavaliers were predicted to win.

8. English Civil War Roundheads Hair cut in a bowl cut Country folk
Mostly Puritan
Lead by Oliver Cromwell

9. English Civil War The Roundheads defeat the Cavaliers
King Charles I is executed
This is the First time that a monarch in Europe has been executed by its own people.
Why is this so important? Do you think that the other monarch are going to feel secure in their positions now?

10. England without a king
House of Commons names England a Commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell
Abolishes monarchy
Abolishes the House of Lords
Abolishes the official Church of England
Why would they abolish the Church of England- too much like Catholic church

11. England under Cromwell
Supporters of Charles I start rebellions in Ireland
Cromwell puts down rebellion & enforces strict rules on Catholics
Cromwell welcomes Jews back into England after 350 years of exile
Why do you think Cromwell is hard on Catholics, but not on the Jews?

12. Puritan beliefs
Parliament enforces strict laws that reflect Puritan beliefs
Laws passed that closed theatres & pubs
But, the Puritans did promote literacy
Wanted all Christians to be able to read the Bible

13. Cromwell dies
The time of Oliver Cromwell is referred to as the “Kingless Decade”
Puritans lose their influence in England
People tired of the strictness

14. The Restoration
After Cromwell dies, Parliament lets Charles II take the throne
Charles II reopens theatres and taverns
Has a court like Louis XIV
If he has a court like Louis XIV, what kind of court would that be?

15. Charles II cont’d. Restores the Church of England
Tolerant of other Protestants
Held the same attitudes of his father about the Catholic Church and divine right, but was smart enough not to show it

16. James II Inherits throne after Charles II dies
James II flaunts his Catholic faith
People fear that he will restore the Catholic Church in England

17. The Glorious Revolution
Parliament invites James’ daughter Mary & her husband to come to England and take the throne
When William & Mary come to England, James II flees to france
This bloodless overthrow of a King is called the Glorious Revolution
William & Mary are living in Orange France

18. English Bill of Rights William & Mary had to accept or could not rule
Stated that Parliament must be called regularly
The House of Commons controlled the money
Barred Roman Catholics from being on the throne
Restated traditional rights of English citizens
Trial by jury
Habeas corpus- to be held in prison must be first charged with crime

19. Absolutism in England
With William and Mary’s acceptance of the English Bill of Rights, this began England’s limited monarchy