1. Parliament Limits the English Monarchy
The Greedy Queen and Her Stingy Parliament

2. James I and the clash with Parliament
James I wanted absolute power when he inherited the throne from Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth wanted absolute power too, but was better at flattering parliament to get her way
Always conflict between the royalty and parliament over $ - royalty wants $ for royal court and foreign wars

3. James I continued
Also annoyed people b/c he refused to make Puritan reforms (get rid of Catholic practices).
Hated when anyone told him what to do (sound familiar?)
Known for the King James bible – the Puritan translation of the old bible

4. King James I

5. Charles I 1625, James I dies and his son, Charles I, gets the throne
Always needed $ for war
When parliament denied $ requests, he dissolved parliament
1628, parliament gets back together and asks Charles to sign the Petition of Right

6. Petition of Right No imprisonment without due cause
No taxation without parliament’s consent
No putting soldiers in private homes
No martial law during peacetime
Charles I signed the petition and then ignored it – even dissolved parliament again and levied mad taxes on the people

7. More of Charles I The people hated the taxes (obviously)
Doesn’t he look like a pompous jerk?

8. English Civil War
Since Charles I ruled over Scotland AND England, there were several religions
Charles I wanted ONE religion – ended up in Civil War when the Scots rebelled
War cost $, so Charles needed Parliament. Parliament hated him and wanted to limit his power
Supporters of Charles I = Royalists
The opposition supports Parliament = Roundheads

9. More Civil War
Under leadership of Oliver Cromwell, the Puritan Roundheads finally won (1646)
Took Charles I hostage, tried him in front of the public and executed him
The decapitation -

10. Oliver Cromwell
1649 he got rid of the monarchy and established a republican form of government
Sent most of the Parliamentary members home and eventually established a military dictatorship (he tore up the first constitution that his associates produced)
Since Ireland was under English rule, the Irish revolted against Cromwell and failed – 616,000 Irish were killed by war, plague and famine

11. Puritan Morality
Cromwell and the Puritans wanted to improve England’s morality
Abolished all “sinful” things – like theater
Cromwell was tolerant of other religions despite his deep Puritan beliefs (EXCEPT CATHOLICS)

12. Restoration and Revolution
The English get sick of military rule and after Cromwell dies, they ask the older son of Charles I (Charles II) to rule England
Restoration of monarch = restoration
Allowed the return of theater and sports
Passed important guarantee of freedom: Habeas Corpus
“to have the body”
People need to know why they’re arrested
Could not be held indefinitely without trial

13. James II and the Glorious Revolution
James II got the throne after Charles II died
Everyone hated James b/c he was flamboyantly Catholic and gave his Catholic friends good jobs
James was eventually peacefully overthrown by his own daughter and her husband (protestants)
William and Mary then ruled England

14. Political Changes
First Constitutional Monarchy where laws limited the ruler’s power
Bill of Rights:
No suspension of Parliament’s laws
No taxes w/o Parliament’s consent
Freedom of speech in Parliament
No penalty for complaining about the King

15. Political Changes Continued
Established a Cabinet
Cabinet was a link b/w the majority party in Parliament and the King
Became center of power and policymaking
Still exists today
Leader of Cabinet = Prime Minister