The English Civil War

In 1603, Elizabeth I died without children. The throne of England passed to her cousin James, who was already King of Scotland. James was a Calvinist Protestant and soon made enemies among the Catholics and Puritan Protestants.

The English Civil War Among these enemies was Guy Fawkes, who plotted to blow up the opening session of the 1605 Parliament.

The English Civil War James I’s son Charles succeeded him and continued upsetting various religious groups. Charles also quarreled with Parliament over the need to raise taxes to pay for wars with Spain and France. In 1628, Parliament forced Charles to agree to the Petition of Right before it would consent to more taxes. After getting the money, Charles ignored his promise.

The English Civil War In 1637, Charles I angered both English Puritans and Scottish Presbyterians by introducing a Common Book of Prayer. The Scots were so upset they raised an army and threatened to invade England. Charles called a new Parliament to raise money for his own army. Instead, the new Parliament passed laws to limit the authority of the King. When the King tried to have Parliament arrested, civil war broke out.

The English Civil War Charles’s supporters were known as Royalist or Cavaliers. Parliaments supporters were called Roundheads because many wore their hair short. Parliament chose as its general a Puritan named Oliver Cromwell Cromwell focused on building a regular, well-drilled New Model Army. One that was eventually able to defeat the Royalists. Charles I is beheaded for treason and Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the English Republic

The Restoration A constitution is written, but Cromwell soon throws it out and becomes a military dictator. Following his death, Parliament invites Charles I’s son return and become Charles II. His reign is known as the Restoration. Charles II was popular, but died without children. His younger brother becomes James II.

The Glorious Revolution James II, unlike his father and brother was Catholic and many worried he would start a new round of religious wars. In 1688, Parliament invited James II’s Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange to become King and Queen. Rather than go to war with his daughter, James flees and the revolution is bloodless.

Constitutional Monarchy While England never has another constitution, William and Mary know they rule only by Parliament’s consent. They do grant a Bill of Rights—a set of limits on royal power. This marks the end of absolute monarchy in England and the birth of constitutional monarchy. The system of government worked out in the wake of the Glorious Revolution became the model for all of today’s parliamentary democracies.