The Development of English Civil Rights World History - Libertyville HS

English History, William the Conqueror ( ) – French (Norman) became King after Battle of Hastings (1066) – Brutally suppressed English nobility (English nobles held only 8% land by 1086) – Consolidated power to himself by weakening Norman nobility Around 1215, nobles rebelled vs. King John – Barons angry at his attempts to further expand power of throne (high taxes, unsuccessful wars)

Magna Carta (1215) Barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta (“Great Charter”) – First limit on King’s power – Protected nobles’ privileges – Guaranteed due process (notice & hearing) – Created a Royal Council of barons to check king’s power – Eventually became Parliament Skipping ahead 350 years…

Stuart Dynasty ( ) Elizabeth I died in 1603, without heirs Crown passed to her Scottish cousin, James I (r ) – Presbyterian – Wanted to be an absolute monarch – Fought w/ Parliament over taxes, war Parl wanted no wars on Cont. (30 Years War) Religious conflict (Parl=Puritan)

James I ( ) Gunpowder Plot (1605) – Guy Fawkes, a catholic soldier, was discovered in Parl. basement w/ explosives – James I suppressed Catholics after finding evidence of Catholic plot English culture flourished under his rule – Shakespeare; Ben Johnson; Francis Bacon cont. work Guy Fawkes, discovered

Charles I (r ) Protestant, but married Catholic princess from France Believed self to be appointed by God as king – Fought vs. Parl. for money to fight in 30 Years War – Also sought to bring Catholic & Anglican churches closer – When he didn’t get $$, he dissolved Parl. (ruled for 11 years, ) Levied taxes w/o Parl. Approval Jailed nobles w/o due process

English Civil War, : b/c of rebellion in Ireland, Charles needed $$$; brought Parl. back into session – Parl. ignored $ request and passed laws limiting king’s power – Charles tried to have Parl. arrested; Parl. fled, but commoners attacked King! Civil war started: Royalists vs. “Roundheads”

English Civil War, Royalists – Supporters of King Charles – Generally nobility, Catholics, Irish, Scottish Roundheads – Supporters of Parliament – Generally commoners, Puritans Oliver Cromwell – Leader of Roundheads – Puritan (strict Anglicans) – Creates “New Model Army”, a professional army – Royalists fought in traditional manner (peasant levies, etc)

English Civil War, After initial success, Royalists begin losing King Charles captured Parliament debated what to do… – New Model Army marched on Parliament and arrested those that wanted to negotiate with Charles – Only let 75 members in to vote to try King for treason – Tried and sentenced to death by “Rump Parliament” Executed on 1/30/1649

Cromwell’s Commonwealth of England Cromwell became “Lord Protector” until his death in 1658 – Essentially a military dictatorship – Parliament did not meet Cromwell spent his time subduing Ireland & Wales Also passed morality laws outlawing the theater, comedies In 1660, the Parl. invited Charles’ son to become king of England (already ruling as king of Scotland)

Charles II (r ) Charles II agreed to habeas corpus law – Every prisoner has the right to be brought before a judge to determine if wrongfully arrested – All prisoners have right to a trial (no indefinite imprisonment w/o trial) Attempted religious tolerance of catholics, but that was blocked by Parl. Known as the “Merry Monarch” b/c he liked to party

James II Charles II died w/o an heir = his brother, James, became James II – James was… Catholic! – James flaunts his religion to a horrified Parl, nation – Also thought he was an absolute monarch – Dissolved Parl when it spoke out against him James then had a son – Line of Catholic English kings frightened a protestant Parl.

The “Glorious Revolution” (1688) Parl. invited James II’s daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange (Dutch guy) to become king and queen of England Bloodless revolt – William & Mary showed up, James II fled to Ireland (later to Spain)

William & Mary Constitutional Monarchy – W & M are partners w/ Parl, not absolute monarchs Sign Bill of Rights that limit the power of the monarchy – No suspension of Parl. Laws – No taxes w/o Parl. Approval – No limits on speech, in Parl. – Safety for people to complain against King Est. Cabinet (link between Parl., monarch) – Prime minister runs gov’t – Center of policy making, gov’t in England