The Stuarts England

Parliament Governing body in England Today, it is the supreme legislative body in Great Britain Bicameral – House of Lords and House of Commons

James I of England From Scotland (King James VI) Protestant Elizabeth named James her successor – she had no children England was financially distressed Tried to unite Scotland and England Gunpowder plot – attempt to blow up the Parliament building – Nov 5, 1605 Guy Fawkes attempted to kill James and blow up House of Lords Wanted Catholic monarch Trouble with Parliament Wouldn’t give James the money he wanted for various expenses Puritan threat Wanted to purify the Church of England and get rid of any ritual that resembled Catholicism Wanted to take power away from church officials James believed himself to be an absolute monarch – the Puritans threatened this concept – supported the church because the church supported him King James Bible 54 scholars Took 7 years, finished in 1611 Translated from Hebrew and Greek Other English translations existed, but this translation reflected the Puritans’ demands for more cohesion with Episcopal practices

Charles I Younger son of James I Married a Catholic woman Wanted to perform expensive strategies for foreign wars – Parliament refused to give him the funds he wanted Instead, attempted to tax the English me and women in order to fund the war Parliament calls for a Petition of Right Cannot levy taxes with Parliament consent or incarcerate anyone without justification Direct challenge to absolute monarchy Taxed people anyways and forced bankers to loan him the money Charles dismisses Parliament and continues to rule without it for the next decade

English Civil War England quickly losing money due to foreign wars Called up Parliament but quickly dissolved since the King didn’t want to comply with any of their demands – Short Parliament Reconvenes – Long Parliament Passed new laws that would limit the monarchy English Civil War Charles attempted to arrest Puritan reformers for treason – this attempt exposed his plot to regain full authority Parliament rises up against the King and the King responds Charles received money from Royalists (nobles) Parliament’s army funded via voting – supporters = Roundheads Oliver Cromwell – General for Parliament 1646 – Charles surrenders and Cromwell dismisses any and all Parliament members who disagrees with him (Cromwell) – left over = Rump Parliament Charles tried and executed – 1st European monarch to be tried and sentenced to death by court of law

Oliver Cromwell as Leader House of Lords and monarchy are abolished England = commonwealth – based on the common good of the people (republican gov’t) Oliver Cromwell = Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland Very strict leader – required complete obedience, no leisure activities Thomas Hobbes – Leviathan Calls for a social contract and absolute rule A strong central government eliminates much chaos and civil wars Written during English Civil War Angered many Englishmen Oliver dies, song Richard takes his place Not a very strong leader and commonwealth collapses

Restoration Parliament reconvenes and elects to bring back monarchy Invites Charles II to be king Religious toleration for Catholics Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 Someone accused of a crime had the right to appear in court to determine if the accused should be held or released Plague returns

James II Charles II’s brother – next in line Catholic, married a Catholic and had a Catholic son Elected Catholics to high positions in society and military When there was rumor of William of Orange invading England, he fled to France and threw his seal into the river. Would later symbolize his abdication

Glorious Revolution James’ daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange were invited to be the king and queen of England. Both William and Mary were protestants Glorious Revolution = transfer of power from James to Mary Constitutional Monarchy Established by the English Bill of Rights Prevented the monarchy from levying taxes without the approval of Parliament Inspiration for the U.S. Constitution Monarchy limited by the Parliament No more absolute monarchy