The English Civil War The Triumph of Parliament: English Constitutionalism
Parliament House of Lords nobility and bishops generally support king House of Commons merchants, lawyers…growing number of Puritans
Tudor relationship with Parliament When he broke with the Roman Catholic Church or when he needed funds, Henry VIII consulted Parliament. Elizabeth both consulted and controlled Parliament.
James I James I insisted he was king by divine right King ruled by the will of God and was responsible only to God Religious Beliefs Anglican Alienates Puritans who comprised a large number of those in House of Commons More devote Protestant than Elizabeth Guy Fawkes..catholic extremist Nov 5, 1605…plot to blow up parliament …intensified anti-catholic feelings
James I Economic Issues Inherited large debt Raised money without Parliament’s consent
Charles I
Petition of Rights 1628 No imprisonment with a charge. Trial by a jury of one’s peers. No taxation without Parliament’s consent. No quartering of soldiers in private homes.
Ship Money Assessments This aggravates Parliament
Charles I Religious Wife Henrietta Maria, sister of Louis XIII Catholic Supports William Laud to enforce Anglicanism Increasingly elaborate ceremonies Puritans view this as ‘popery’ Harsh punishments for Puritan dissenters 1637 Laud pushes Anglican Book of Common Prayer in Scotland Presbyterian 1640, Scots invade Northern England Charles needs £ to fight, calls Parliament
Charles I Short Parliament (1640) Dissolved in three weeks Long Parliament ( ) Parliament must be called in session at least once every 3 yrs. Parliament can’t be adjourned without its own consent Charles enters the House of Commons to end the session and arrest those trying to curb his power Charles heads forms
Civil War ( ) Royalists (Cavaliers) Parliamentarians (Roundheads) House of Lords N & W England Aristocracy, Large landowners, Church officials House of Commons S & E England Puritans, Merchants, Townspeople
Oliver Cromwell Leader of Parliamentarians
Battle of Naseby 1648 Charles I is defeated and handed over to Parliament.
Division of Parliamentarians Split between moderate and radicals Purge Moderates ‘Rump’ Parliament results Execution of a King Guilty of ‘an unlimited and tyrannical power’
Execution of Charles I (1649)
The Commonwealth After execution, Rump Parliament abolishes the House of Lords, the monarchy, and the official Church of England. It declared England a republic, known as the Commonwealth, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. Did not tolerate dissent Strict Puritan Not tolerance for Catholics and Anglicans
The Protectorate Conflict mounts as radicals push for further reform Cromwell dissolves Rump Parliament and makes himself Lord Protector Cromwell dies in 1658; son succeeds but is not as competent
The Restoration Restoration 1660 Charles II Nothing really solved, like distribution of power between king and parliament and conflicts over religion