1. Parliament Limits the English Monarchy

2. Parliament’s Financial Power
Parliament is England’s legislature; they controlled “held the purse strings”
Parliament’s financial power was an obstacle to English rulers becoming absolute monarchs
In 1603, James I becomes king; doesn’t want to share any power with Parliament
Also fought with Puritans who wanted the church to be less like Catholic churches (more pure)

3. Charles I Fights Parliament
1625 Charles I becomes king; also an absolute monarch
Charles needs money for war with Spain and France
When Parliament refuses to give him money, he dissolves it (cancels it)
he needs Parliament to give him money
Parliament won’t give it to him until he signs the “Petition of Right” in which he agrees not to raise taxes without Parliament’s consent
Charles signs it, then ignores it

4. Charles I Unpopular Petition of Right important
Idea that the law was higher than the king
Contradicted theories of an absolute monarchy
1629 – Charles dissolves Parliament again and refuses to call it back
Gets money by fees and fines on the English people
Makes him very unpopular

5. English Civil War
Puritans and Protestants in Scotland unhappy with Charles trying to make them all follow the Anglican church
Scots rebel and Charles needs money to fight them
Needs to call Parliament, which sees this as an opportunity to oppose him
Parliament passes laws limiting royal power
Charles tries to arrest Parliament’s leaders, but they escape
Riots force Charles to flee London and raise an army in the north

6. English Civil War
Charles fights back and Civil War begins (1642 – 1649)
Supporters of Charles and the monarchy – Cavaliers
Supporters of Parliament – Roundheads
Leader of the Roundheads – Oliver Cromwell, Puritan
Roundheads defeat Cavaliers

7. Roundheads and Cavaliers

8. Charles I Executed
Charles I is tried for treason against Parliament and executed
First time in Europe that a ruling monarch had been tried publicly and executed by his own people
Parliament shows that in England, no ruler can claim absolute power and ignore the rule of law

9. Execution of Charles I

10. Oliver Cromwell

11. Cromwell’s Rule
After Charles is executed, Cromwell abolishes the monarchy
Declares England a republic, called the Commonwealth,
1653 – Cromwell sends home Parliament
The first constitution of any modern European state is written, but Cromwell eventually tears it up and becomes a military dictator

12. Puritan Morality
In England, Cromwell and Puritans want to reform society by promoting Puritan morality
No theater, sports or dancing
Religious toleration for all Christians except Catholics

13. Restoration and Revolution
After Cromwell dies, people tired of strict Puritanism and strict military rule
Parliament asks Charles I’s son to rule England
Charles II comes to London amid cheering and happiness; becomes monarch in 1660
Called the Restoration because the monarchy was restored

14. Charles II Reigns
Under Charles II, Parliament passes an important guarantee of freedom, habeas corpus
Prisoners have right to know the charges against them and could not be held indefinitely without a trial
A monarch could not put someone in jail simply for opposing the ruler
Heir was his brother James, a Catholic

15. James II and the Glorious Revolution
Next, James II becomes king; openly Catholic
Appoints Catholics to high office
Parliament protests, so James dissolves it
Worried Protestants ask his daughter Mary and her husband William, who are Protestants, to become ruler
William leads his army into London in 1688
James II flees – becomes known as the Glorious Revolution, the bloodless overthrow of the King James II

16. Coronation of William and Mary

17. Limits on Monarch’s Power
William and Mary promise to accept Parliament as a partner in governing
England becomes a constitutional monarchy, where laws limit the ruler’s power
Parliament writes the English Bill of Rights in 1689, listing things a monarch could not do:
Suspend any of Parliament’s laws
No levying taxes without Parliament’s approval
No interfering with freedom of speech in Parliament
No penalty for citizens who petitions the king about grievances (complaints)

18. A Cabinet System Develops
After 1688, no British monarch could rule without the consent of Parliament
And Parliament could not rule without the consent of the monarch
If they disagreed, government came to a standstill
Settled by development of a cabinet, a group of officials who acted in ruler’s name

19. So…
England differs from most of Europe at the time by NOT having an absolute monarchy
Instead, they have a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch’s power is limited by a constitution!