Looking Back on England 1600’s – many changes to European societies England – shift from feudalism to nationalism Feudalism: a political and military system based on the holding of land…people were loyal to the nobles, or those who controlled the land Nationalism: people began identifying themselves as belonging to a nation and were loyal to their nation. It was unifying.

Looking Back on England As a new nation, England needed to define what form of government it would have. Each King/Queen had varying ideas of the type of power they would hold on their country. Absolute Monarch : this type of ruler would have unlimited power over ones nation Divine Right : often, absolute monarch believed that God had chosen them as a ruler of their own nation

Believers of Divine Right King Charles I ( ) King James I ( )

Civil War Parliament : the English law making body Petition of Right: a document created by Parliament to limit the King’s power (King Charles was forced to sign it before Parliament would give him the money he needed to go to war.) Mid 1600’s – England rejects the Absolute Monarchy and Civil War breaks out Cavaliers – supported the King Roundheads (Puritans) – supported Parliament, were led by Oliver Cromwell

The Commonwealth Roundheads win and Cromwell takes over English government as a military dictator. DICTATOR: a non-elected official who takes control of a government and leads by force or “strong-arms” the people Commonwealth originally meant a state or nation- state governed for the common good as opposed to an authoritarian state governed for the benefit of a given class of owners Charles I convicted of TREASON and beheaded. TREASON: turning against the laws or helping the enemy

The “Restoration” King Charles II ( ) Son of Charles I Rejects Divine Right and rules with Parliament Known as the “Merry Monarch” because of his happy nature All about Charles II Restoration: Cromwell dies and Charles II brings back “restores” the monarchy – with some notable changes

The “Restoration” Charles II: * promotes religious toleration * encouraged theater, sports and other entertainment * signed “HABEAS CORPUS ACT” – Stated that a person must be charged with a crime before the government could put them in jail

Beginning of the End King James II ( ) DID YOU KNOW? James was originally known as the Duke of York, a title he was given at the age of eleven. In 1664 he led an expedition to the North American colonies to take over New Amsterdam and New Netherland. He was successful and this territory became known as NEW YORK!! * Brother of Charles II * Returns to ABSOLUTE MONARCHY * Converts to Catholicism * Has a son * Parliament does not want to continue to have a Catholic King * Parliament asks Mary, daughter of James, to return with her husband, William, to rule

The Glorious Revolution 1688 TORIES support the Monarch, WHIGS support Parliament NEITHER want another Catholic King * William and Mary return from Holland to rule * James II abdicates and moves to France * No blood is shed – thus the “GLORIOUS REVOLUTION”

Constitutional Monarchy * William and Mary sign the English Bill of Rights on December 16, 1689: (Read it!) (Read it!) English Bill of Rights – a document signed by William and Mary before taking the English throne guaranteeing certain basic rights to English citizens * England returns to a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY Constitutional Monarchy – a form of government that includes both a democracy (in this case Parliament) and a king or queen England maintains this form of government today