1. England and Constitutionalism
The Stuarts and the Road to Limited Monarchy

2. What happened after Elizabeth I?
Remember – Elizabeth was the “virgin” queen and left no heirs to the throne.
She also left her successor a huge debt that they would have to pay for.
Her closest living relative was her cousin James Stuart, King of Scotland.
James Stuart became King James I of England in 1603 ruling over both England and Scotland.

3. James I of England
James inherited the financial problems of Elizabeth.
His worst struggles with Parliament was over money.
The Puritans hoped James would reform the English Church to rid the church of all Catholic practices.
James refused to reform the church which angered the Puritans
Agreed to a new translation of the bible, The King James Bible

4. Charles I Charles I, son of James I, took the throne in 1625
Always needed money from Parliament due to war and when Parliament refused, he dissolved the Parliament
He was forced to sign the Petition of Right to receive the money from Parliament, however he ignored it and imposed fees and fines on the English people to raise money.

5. The Petition of Right What did Parliament want from the King?
He would not imprison subjects without due cause.
He would not levy taxes without Parliaments consent.
He would not house soldiers in private homes.
He would not impose martial law in peace time.

6. The English Civil War
In 1641 Parliament passed laws to limit royal power.
Charles fled London and tried to raise an army in the north of England where people were loyal to him
Royalists or Cavaliers – those who remained loyal to the king
Roundheads – Puritans that supported Parliament
General Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army captured the King in 1647 and in 1649 found him guilty of treason and sentenced him to death

7. Cromwell’s Rule of England
Oliver Cromwell abolished the monarchy and established a commonwealth with a constitution.
Cromwell eventually ruled as a ruthless military dictator.
Cromwell ruthlessly stamped out rebellion in Ireland
Made Puritan reforms on English society. Abolished theater, sporting events, and dancing.
He died in 1658 and his government collapsed and a new Parliament was selected.

8. Charles II – The Restoration
Parliament passed the writ of habeas corpus
Writ of Habeas Corpus a monarch (or government) can not put someone in jail simply for opposing the ruler (or government) and can not hold them indefinitely without a trial

9. English Politics
Charles had no heirs, so Parliament decided that his brother James II, a Catholic, would take the throne.
The opposition that resulted to this decision created two groups that became England’s first political parties.
Whigs – opposed James II
Tories – supported James II

10. James II James offended his subjects by displaying his Catholicism.
When Parliament protested, James dissolved Parliament
Parliament asked James’ Protestant daughter Mary and her husband Prince William of Orange to overthrow James for the sake of Protestantism.

11. The Glorious Revolution
In 1688 William led his army to London and James fled to France.
Many of the English soldiers joined Williams’ army and the others surrendered without a fight.
This Glorious Revolution is also known as the Bloodless Revolution.

12. William and Mary

13. William and Mary and the English Bill of Rights
William and Mary vowed to recognize Parliament as their partner in governing
England became a Constitutional Monarchy
The English Bill of Rights was adopted which limited the power of the monarchy
The cabinet was created to help with conflict between the monarch and the Parliament..