1. Part 5 A Constitutional Monarchy
The English Civil War
Part 5
A Constitutional Monarchy
King Charles II of England

2. The Merrie Monarch
When Parliament made Charles II King he had to accept limits to his power, such as the “Petition of Right.”
He ruled within the law…and partied a lot.
During his reign Parliament passed the “Habeas Corpus Act” (1679)
A “Writ of Habeas Corpus” would compel the release of a prisoner unless he/she has been accused of a crime.

3. The Problem of Succession
Charles had no legitimate children his heir was his brother James…a practicing Catholic
In 1679 a group in Parliament, the Whigs, tried to pass the “Exclusion Act” to keep James from becoming King
A group called the Tories supported the hereditary monarchy and defeated it.
These became the original Political Parties

4. The Glorious Revolution
When Charles II died in 1685 James II became King…He appointed Catholics to Government office and tried to make England Catholic
Parliament was horrified! It debated….
“can we remove a King?”
It was decided that they could!
In 1688 Parliament invited his protestant daughter Mary and her Husband William to become Queen and King
They agreed to rule in partnership with Parliament
and James II fled England.

5. The English Bill of Rights
In 1689 Parliament passed the “English Bill of Rights”
It guaranteed Individual Rights, ensured that Parliament would be called often and limited the King, who could not raise taxes or suspend laws passed by Parliament
It formed the basis for the American Bill of Rights

6. In Conclusion
During the 17th Century Individual Rights, Representative Government and Rule of Law gradually defeated the power of the King
Parliament Executes Charles for breaking the law
1660 Parliament established a Constitutional Monarchy and (in 1679) with Habeas Corpus
Parliament removed one King
and replaced him, Established a Bill of Rights
demonstrating that Parliament ultimately ruled,
and thus Popular Sovereignty