2-1 English Kings vs. Parliament The birth of Limited Government

 Vocabulary  Restoration – return of the English Monarchy  Limited Government (Taco Bell)– a type of government where power is divided between two different people or groups (Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, Republic)  Unlimited Government (Golden Coral) – a type of government where all the power lies with a small group or one person. (Dictatorship, Communism, Fascism, Nazism, Absolute Monarchy)

 Roundheads – (Puritans) supported Parliament & wanted to rid England of the monarchy during the English Civil War  Cavaliers – supporters of Charles I and the monarchy during the English Civil War

The clash with Parliament  In the 1500’s Queen Elizabeth had been the absolute ruler in England.  Parliament existed, but Elizabeth had managed to always get her way by flattering Parliament and manipulating them.  She ruled with complete control, thus having an unlimited government.  When Elizabeth died, she was followed by her cousin James.  King James did not get along with Parliament and fought them over the absolute power that he claimed he possessed.

 In 1625 James died and Charles, his son, took the throne.  Charles I and Parliament fought even more. Several times, Charles dissolved Parliament.  Charles and Parliament grew angry at each other. Soon people all over England began taking sides. The people wanted to limit the power of the King.  The puritans in England supported Parliament. They had short hair and were called “roundheads.”

 The supporters of Charles I were called Cavaliers.  From 1642 to 1649 the Roundheads and Cavaliers fought in the English Civil War.  The supporters of Parliament wanted to limit the powers of the English King, changing England from an Absolute Monarchy to a Constitutional Monarchy.  Charles I and the Cavaliers wanted the power to stay with the king.

Cromwell  Neither side could win, until Oliver Cromwell took over the Roundhead forces and defeated the Cavaliers in  King Charles I was captured and sentenced to death.  Charles was publicly executed.  Oliver Cromwell was now the leader of England.

Cromwell’s Rule  Everyone thought that Cromwell would be a fair ruler and give Parliament the power, but he quickly became a military dictator.  He changed England from a Kingdom into a commonwealth.  Cromwell ruled until his death in When he died his commonwealth collapsed and the English asked King Charles’ son to be the new King of England.

Restoration  Monarchy had been restored to England. Charles II was the King.  Following Charles II was James II.

 James II was Catholic, which was an outlawed religion in England.  Soon James II offended Parliament by appointing several Catholic friends to high ranking offices.  The English Parliament became scared that England would become a Catholic country.

 When James II had his first son, Parliament became very scared, because they knew that his son would inherit the throne.  This would mean that England’s next king would also be a Catholic.  James II had a daughter that had moved to the Netherlands and married a Protestant, William of Orange.  Soon Parliament invited William and his wife Mary to overthrow King James II of England.

Video Clip  Glorious Revolution Glorious Revolution

 Once James II realized that all of England was united against him, he stepped down as King.  He gave the throne to William and Mary.  Both William and Mary were Protestant.  This event happened without bloodshed.

Video Clip  Glorious Revolution Clip Glorious Revolution Clip

 William and Mary vowed to give Parliament the power that they deserved.  William agreed not to be an Absolute Monarch, but to share power with Parliament. This created a limited government for the first time in England.  It is called a limited government because the King has limited power and parliament has limited power.  This officially changed England from an Absolute Monarch to a Constitutional Monarchy.  A Bill of Rights was established to limit the power of the King and protect the people.

English Bill of Rights  The English Bill of Rights Stated:  1. No suspending of Parliament’s laws  2. No taxes without permission from Parliament  3. No interfering with free speech This was the first time England's government was truly limited and the rights of citizens were protected.

Order of English Rulers  Queen Elizabeth (mid 1500’s)  King James I (cousin of Elizabeth)  King Charles I (son of James I)  Oliver Cromwell (dictator)  King Charles II (son of Charles I)  King James II (son of Charles I brother to Charles II)  William and Mary (early 1700’s) (Mary Daughter of James II)