The Rise of the British Parliamentary System
Netherlands’ golden age Government Parliamentary monarchy Republic States General Holland dominates Tolerance Calvinists official religion Agriculture, trade, and finance, commercialism Dikes Shipping trades produce and serves as “trucking” Cheap grain for rest of Europe, dairy, beef, tulips Fishing Shipbuilding East Asia, Eastern Pacific (Dutch East Indies Company) Indonesia, Java, Sri-Lanka Fall of Dutch Provinces fear strong stadtholder, prevent central government Slow decline Naval supremacy to British Continue to be financially dominant and banking
2 Types of Government Parliamentary Monarchy Absolute Monarchy England France, Russia Divine Right
England
James I (r. 1603-1625) Son of Mary Queen of Scots (James VI) Role of Parliament To prevent parliamentary power, he needed new way to collect finances Impositions (customs duties) Parliament offended by this challenge to their authority Staunchly Anglican Pushes Puritans to America (Plymouth and Massachusetts) Sold government positions, ruling through favorites, scandal Foreign policy Peace with Spain Pro-Catholic? Hesitant to rush troops to assist Protestants in Germany
Charles I (r. 1625-1649) Parliament favored war with Spain, but distrusted monarchy Would not fund British war Charles levies taxes, forced loans, imprisonment and quartering of troops Parliament allows for finances to Charles if he recognized Petition of Right No forced loans or taxation without Parliament’s consent, no imprisonment or quartering without due cause Dissolving of Parliament Parliament frustrated with monarchy Arrests and executes king’s advisors Abolishes courts enforcing royal policy, forbids ability to levy new tax without Parliamentary approval Refuses to give Charles finances to declare war against Scotland
English Civil War (1642-1660) Frustrated Charles I invades Parliament to arrest opponents, flees England to amass army Parliamentary army organized by Oliver Cromwell Captures and executes Charles I Abolition of monarchy, House of Lords, Anglican Church Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of England Religion converts to Puritan England Brutally conquers Scotland and Ireland (Catholic) Establishment of military dictatorship Prohibition of drunkenness, dancing, theater
Charles II (r. 1660-1685) Parliament reestablishes monarchy, House of Lords, Anglican Church Invites Charles II (son of Charles I) to return to England Politique, but favors Catholicism Clarendon Code Excludes Catholics and Presbyterians from power in England Charles wants to ally with France (Catholic) against Dutch (Protestant) Creates Declaration of Indulgence, suspending laws against Catholics Parliament refuses to fund war until Declaration rescinded Issues Test Act, forcing all political and military leaders to deny transubstantiation
James II (r. 1685-1688) Issues new Declaration of Indulgence Suspends religious tests, permits free worship English invite William III of Orange and his wife Mary to take English throne (Netherlands)
William and Mary (r. 1689-1702) William arrives with army James flees without bloodshed, “Glorious Revolution” W&M issue Bill of Rights Limit monarchical power, guarantees civil liberties of upper classes Monarchy subject to power of the Parliament, called every three years Prohibited Roman Catholics from ruling throne Toleration Act Permitted worship by all Protestants Outlawed Catholicism Act of Settlement Makes Queen Anne (daughter of James II) monarch (r. 1702-1714) After Queen Anne, if no heir, monarchy passes to House of Hanover in Germany (George I) COME IN TO FIX ENGLAND AND PASS MONARCHY BACK TO ENGLISH
George and Walpole (1714-1727) Anne dies w/o heir Monarchy passes to House of Hanover, George I Sir Robert Walpole dominates politics of England beginning in 1721-1742 Makes England what it is Nation of prosperity through trade New overseas colonies Political liberties and true free speech Significant religious tolerance