Things Really Get Out of Hand! The English Civil War Things Really Get Out of Hand!

Let’s review for a sec… Early 1200’s, the Magna Carta is signed, and the King agrees to share power with Parliament. Parliament has the power to approve taxes and give the King money. This goes on for about 400 years.

The Tudors The Tudors were a royal family that ruled England from 1485-1603. They were very popular. Henry VIII (broke with Catholic church during Reformation) was always asking Parliament for money- mostly for fighting wars. Elizabeth I also was always consulting Parliament for money. Parliament pretty much went along with whatever the Monarch wanted, they were happy just to be asked.

Elizabeth I becomes dead. She never married, never had an heir, so her cousin gets the throne when she stops breathing. James I was a Stuart, not a Tudor, and the Stuarts were not as popular as the Tudors. When James I needed to raise taxes, he consulted Parliament, but they refused!

James I and Parliament James I is like, “Oh, you refuse huh……..pew pew pew! (laser fingers)” James I “dissolves” Parliament which means he says they have no power, and he begins collecting taxes himself.

Charles I He is James’ son and he is also an Absolute Monarch. He is pretty tough, and he imprisons his enemies without any trial. But then he needs money……so he has to go ask Parliament for it…….

Parliament and Charles I Parliament is like “Oh lookey what we have here………” They were in a position of power to negotiate, and they forced the Chuck I to sign the “Petition of Right,” which prohibited the King from raising taxes without Parliament consent, or imprisoning his enemies without trial.

Chuck I agrees.

But then…..! Chuck I dissolves Parliament! He rules England without Parliament for 11 years!

But then………. He needs money again. For fighting wars. This time against the Scottish Calvinists (Remember, England was Anglican, but Scotland was Calvinist). It’s a religious war. So he has to summon Parliament again in 1640.

They begin to put top officials of the King on trial and execute them! But this time……! Parliament is ready to battle this time. They begin to put top officials of the King on trial and execute them!

Charles I fights back He sends his troops into the House of Commons to arrest and kill members of Parliament, but they escape through a backdoor.

Civil War! It’s on! Lasted from 1642-1651. It pitted the “Cavaliers,” supporters of the King, against the “Roundheads,” supporters of Parliament.

The Cavaliers They were the rich nobles and they had long hair. They were very good at fighting. And at partying. They would often party before battle.

Roundheads They were much more “conservative” than the Cavaliers and their leader was Oliver Cromwell. He was a great general and a very devote Christian. He leads the Roundheads to victory!

Charles I becomes dead. Parliament put Charles I on trial and found him guilty. They executed him. He showed no fear. In fact, he Told the executioner that HE would give the signal to cut his head off. He did. And he did.

England Under Cromwell The House of Commons abolishes the monarchy, the House of Lords, and the Church of England! It declares England a Commonwealth (republic).

How did that go? Not good. Not good at all. Cromwell was under constant threat from supporters of Charles II. The “Levellers” were a group of lower class English that were pushing for more rights. Due to all this Cromwell ends up naming himself “Lord Protector” and basically becomes a dictator.

What was society like? Very strict! Anyone over the age of 14 who was caught working on a Sunday would be fined. He outlawed theaters. Shut down taverns (bars). No more dancing!

Cromwell becomes dead. He stops breathing in 1658. People are pretty much sick of this “Republic” and they want a monarchy again.

Charles II returns to rule! He was popular, he reopened taverns and theaters. Reestablished the Church of England He still believed in Absolute Monarchy, however.

Next comes James II. He was Catholic, which angered many people in England, especially in Parliament. In 1688 Parliament invites James’s daughter (who was Protestant) to come rule. Her name was Mary and his name was William. They land in England, with an army, and James II runs away to France.

English Bill of Rights Before William and Mary are allowed to have the throne, they have to accept the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights solidified Parliament’s power over the Monarchy. This time period is referred to as the “Glorious Revolution.”