Unit 2: Lesson 1

 In medieval England the king, the Christian Church, and the nobility all had considerable wealth and influence  The three groups struggled for the most power and authority

 As a defense against threat of Viking invaders, England introduced a system of Feudalism  Feudalism: A system in which powerful local lords divide their land holdings amongst lesser lords. In exchange the lesser lords (vassals) pledged service to greater lords.  For example: Vassals would provide knights to greater lords  King= Greatest lord of all

 Monarchs were not gaining more territory  Nobles and church had at least as much power as monarchs  Nobles and church had own courts, taxes, and armies

 In 1066 King Edward dies without an heir  William of Normandy and Harold of Britain fight in The Battle of Hastings  William wins and earns name William the Conqueror

 French speaking barons (nobles) dominate England  Anglo-Saxon culture survives  Traditions blend  William requires that every vassal swear allegiance to him over their feudal lord  Taxes go to king  Monarchy stronger than nobility or church

 1154 Henry II inherits throne  Royal Justice- King had to follow accepted customs  Turned these customs into laws  System of Common Law  Common law: a legal system based on custom and court rulings, applied to EVERYONE  This is unlike feudal law  A jury was formed where people were sworn to tell the truth  Neighbors decided verdict  Ancestor of today’s jury trial

 What practices did strong monarchs introduce to England?

 Church resents Henry’s efforts to expand monarchy  Henry says that church officials should be tried in royal court  Church objects and in the quarrel a church official is murdered  Later rulers continually clashed with church and nobles

 Henry II heir is King John or “Bad King John”  Struggled with own nobles  Oppressive taxes  His nobles make him sign the Magna Carta  The Magna Carta is a list of human rights (really just applied to nobles and king)  - Due process  -No arbitrary arrest  - Judgment by peers  -Start of the idea of no taxation without representation  -A lot like our fourth, fifth, and sixth amendments in the Constitution

 English rulers used to call on a “Great Council” for advice  The council became Parliament  In 1295 Edward I asked Parliament to approve money for a war with France  “What touches all should be approved by all.”  Arranged for “common people” to join Parliament  Became basis for Parliaments 2 houses that they have today: House of Commons and House of Nobles

 Britain Fights Hundred Years War with France over territories and other issues  England ended up losing some land  English rulers turned repeatedly Parliament to approve funds  Eventually monarchs HAD to ask parliament before spending money, people were more willing to support funds which they had a say in  This limits the power of the monarch

 How does the English Parliament limit the power of monarchs?

 Between The Tudors Rule England  Henry VIII had 6 wives Catherine of Aragon (Annulled), Anne Boleyn (Beheaded), Jane Seymour (Died days after giving birth, widely believed to be following birth complications ) Anne of Cleves (Annulled), Catherine Howard (Beheaded), Catherine Parr (Survived)

 When Henry VIII wanted to divorce Catherine, England’s official religion was Roman Catholic  The Pope said “no” to the divorce  Henry VIII then started a new church, The Church of England and got his divorce

Elizabeth I  In 1603 Elizabeth I dies without an heir  Crown goes to cousins The Stuarts

Mary Queen of Scots  Mary Queen of Scots hoped to inherit the English throne  She was accused of murdering her husband and fled to England for Elizabeth’s help  Elizabeth held her as a prisoner Executed for plots to murder Elizabeth

 First Stuart monarch  Acts like absolute monarch  An absolute monarch is someone who rules with absolute power over the public  In 1611 and then again in 1614 he angrily dissolves Parliament

 Also claimed absolute power  Imprisoned foes without trial  Took as much money as he could  In 1628 he needed Parliament’s help to raise taxes  Parliament agreed but said that he had to sign the “Petition of Right”  This document said that Parliament had to approve any tax increases, and banned unjust imprisonment  Charles signs, but then dissolves Parliament a year later

 In 1640 Charles needs more money to stop a rebellion in Scotland and summons Parliament  Parliament then has their own revolt  Revolt is caused “The Long Parliament” and it lasts until 1653  Parliament tries to execute king’s chief minister  Parliament also says king cannot “dissolve” them  In 1642 King Charles tried to arrest most radical leaders, they escape and start an army

  Nobles support king  Everyone else supports Parliament  Parliament’s army was led by Oliver Cromwell who defeats the king’s forces

 2 years after the civil war King Charles is tried and sentenced to death  This was shocking to Europe  For the first time in history a king was executed by his own people  A clear message was sent that ruler’s could not claim absolute power and be above the law

 After the execution Parliament’s House of Commons abolished the monarchy, the House of Nobles and the Church of England  Parliament declares England a republic and Cromwell the head of the republic  Series of threats forced Cromwell to enforce military rule  At this time Puritans gain great influence. Catholics are banished to barren lands west if Ireland. Greater religious restrictions

 Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 and soon after Parliament restored Monarchy and invited Charles’s son Charles II to rule  Charles II had Catholic sympathies, but hid them  Charles II did well by Parliament  His brother James II inherits throne  James II suspends laws at whim and elects Catholics to high offices  Protestants become afraid that Roman Catholic church will become the official religion again

 Parliament asks James’s protestant daughter and her husband to rule  James II is fearful of Parliament and runs to France  Bloodless overthrow becomes known as glorious revolution

 Before Mary and William could be crowned they had to accept the several acts that would later be called the English Bill or Rights  Royalty could not interfere with Parliamentary debates or suspend them  No Catholic monarch  No excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishment  Habeas Corpus= people must be charged with a specific crime before imprisoned  Limited Monarchy: King or Queen has much power, but had to work with Parliament